SPECIAL EDITION 4th CONGRESS OF BENEDICTINE OBLATES Rome, November 4-10, 2017 Dear Brothers and Sisters, From all I hear, our WCCM Oblate participation in the recent Congress has been a blessing for all concerned. We can learn from and enjoy fellowship with others following the Oblate path from around the world. And we can offer our own particular experience as a monastery without walls (Bonnevaux will not change that identity but support it) and as a community whose special work it is to share the gift of meditation from our own tradition. At this and in previous Congresses we have seen that there is a vitality and hunger within the living transmission of the Benedictine tradition. We have also been able to understand better the specific contribution we have to make – ecumenically, contemplatively, and creatively. Thank you to Eileen and the other delegates who went to Rome and represented us all at this very special global gathering. The expression and witness of the WCCM Oblates will continue at Bonnevaux in new and exciting ways. Please keep in your heart the small pioneering oblate community who have started there already as we prepare for the renovation work to start. It is a new expression of the inspiration which St Benedict and John Main have given us. With much love
Laurence Freeman OSB
Bonnevaux - A new home for Oblates 1
Abbot Primate Geoffrey Polan OSB The theme of this Congress is A Way Forward: The Benedictine Community in Motion (Extract of the Address of the Abbot Primate) Such a title can leave no doubt that the way forward of which we speak is a spiritual path, taking us into deeper communion with God. You will walk this path in relationship with the monastery of your oblation, and with one another. In this session I would like to reflect together with you on the relationship between you as an Oblate and the monastery to which you are connected. I want to consider how that relationship keeps guiding you ever more profoundly into a wondrous and mysterious communion with God. What does it mean to be an Oblate, to be thus connected to a monastic community? What is your experience of the relationship you find in relating to your monastic community? How is your relationship with God deepened, and how does that have an impact on your day-to-day life, your relationship with others? What expectations do you have of the monastic community of your oblation, and of its individual members? Do you think the monastic community has expectations of you? These are important questions to consider, because if you want your contact with the community of your oblation to be something that enriches you personally, something that gives a spiritual direction to your life, something that has a positive impact on you and the life you lead and establishes ties that continue to grow over time—then you want to think seriously about this relationship. What can it mean for you, what do you want it to mean for you and others, and how do you keep alive and fresh something that is part of your daily life? You must want it to be life-giving for you and for those who are dear to you. We have to face the fact that you live as lay people in the world. You are people who have a relationship with God through a monastic community, but you also have families, neighbours, friends, co-workers and acquaintances to whom you relate every day. You have an impact on the lives of these people in any variety of ways—sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly. People see what you do, observe how you act, how you speak, what you say and what you don't say. As the volumes." What we say and do, how we choose to live our lives: this communicates to others what our values are, what is important to us—who we are becoming as men and women of faith and followers of Jesus in the spirit of Saint Benedict. Doing good things for others must be more than a humanitarian gesture: as a Christian, your activity must be rooted in God, and flowing from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I would like to think that being a Benedictine Oblate says something important about your faith to the many people who weave their ways in and out of your life. ------------------------------------------------------------Eileen Dutt - International Oblate Coordinator & Member International Planning Team The Lord waits for us daily to translate into action, as we should, His holy teachings. (RB, Prolog 35) When bookings opened for this Congress I was unsure whether I wanted to attend, or not but reflecting on the whole experience now I am thankful I did go because, in my mind, it show-cased the very best of Benedictine spirituality. Delegates attending this Congress exceeded number at 3rd Congress: 197/156 and there was also an increase in the number of countries represented 35/23. It was conducted in six languages and Elba, our novice oblate from Colombia, was a member of the team covering translation into Spanish. Henriette, who is also gifted with languages beside her mother-tongue of Dutch frequently, was often called upon to use her Italian most particularly, I think, around mealtimes! I thought the Masses were beautiful and were given an extra lift by organist Fr. Mark Hargreaves OSB of Prinkash Abbey who was primarily at the Congress to act as chaplain for UK Oblates. Lectio and prayer which included meditation all had a place in the ‘official’ programme - ‘add-in’’’ not ‘addon’. Success! And again and in keeping with the Rule, other aspects of Benedictine spirituality such as hospitality, work, (as in full participation in workshops), caring, support and service were all practiced and 2
this had a big impact on everyone: I sensed we were beginning to think ‘community’ rather than personal; sharing instead of holding and global over local. By living the Rule and almost in spite of ourselves we began coming together in a new way – no long many individuals we had bonded to become one body sharing a common vision which, to use the words of Keynote speaker at the Congress, Sr. Joan Chittister, put this way, “You are not meant to simply be consumers of the Benedictine tradition. You are meant to be carriers of the tradition. You are the future of the order.” That, for me, was a wake-up call! During the course of the week there were many opportunities for listening to oblates sharing how they were living out there call, some in difficult, even dangerous, conditions. I think it caused us all to reflect on our call and if there might be ways we could put our feelings into action by doing something by way of supporting our brother and sister oblates when we returned home. The theme chosen for the Congress “A Way Forward – The Benedictine Community in Movement” (vision shared on front cover of this VV Special) raised some very interesting, and exciting, ‘new visions’. In the workshop I was leading it soon became clear some oblates in the group were attached to monastic communities where they were already being invited to think about ways they could become more involved in the prayer and work of the monastic community others appeared to be thinking about this, as if for the first time. Judith Valente, a delegate at the Congress, put it this way: “Benedictine Oblates — people like me who vow to live the monastic values of listening, community, hospitality, humility and daily prayer in our secular lives — stand at an important crossroads in history……... If the nearly 1,600-year-old Benedictine tradition of ora et labora — work and prayer, contemplation and action — is to survive, lay associates of monasteries will need to play an increasingly critical role in transmitting that tradition.” It is good to hear this. It confirms what WCCM have always known, ‘we are transmitters of Benedictine tradition.’ Let us remind ourselves of the vision shared by Fr John in 1977 – 50years ago! He said, “In my own experience, it has often not been from monks that my faith in the monastic life of the future has been awakened but from contemplative laypeople. They have recognised and embraced something in our tradition that we as monks have forgotten or undervalued. This is leading to a new kind of monastic community, different from the past and yet in harmony with its most fundamental principles. Not everyone will agree, but I offer these letters as a contribution to the work of renewal. They have grown from a sincere attempt in community and in solitude to reconnect to the core experience of the gospel and our humanity, so at least the words are related experience – and the words come from the heart. They are a small part of a long tradition of Chrisitians writing to each other, trying to share their joy and struggles. Hopefully, they are a means of mutual encouragement to persevere in the way of prayer and service.” John Main OSB Monastery Without Walls pg. 31. And Hilda Frost OSB put it this way for her article in Via Vitae 2001. “John Main was very well aware of the signs of the times in which we live. While, vocations, the Oblate community is growing all the time. John Main saw the Oblate community as an extension of the monastic community and closely linked to it. According to Laurence Freeman: “John Main’s vision was to introduce a new form of monasticism: open not only to monks and nuns, but to lay people as well. He believed that the Benedictine Oblates had a vitally important place in the new monasticism arising in the Church today.” (Community of Love). But is there further to go? What might the future hold for Oblates of the World Community for Christian Meditation? Perhaps we can explore other ways of bringing Oblates even closer together to build up a strong Oblate Community. If we are open to the Spirit, some new and exciting developments could emerge among our Benedictine Oblates.”
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It is so exciting to think WE are in a position to get actively involved in, as Sr. Hilda’s puts it, ‘bring Oblates even closer together to build up a strong(er) Oblate Community now we are Steward-Owners of Bonnevaux. Another area ‘new and exciting development that (has) emerged is the increase in numbers of On-Line groups which are playing a pivotal role by offering many opportunities for oblates, and meditators, regardless of where they are domiciled, to come together in the John Main Chapel on a daily basis: worldwide borderless’ community. How we choose to respond to these and other opportunities as they present themselves, will, I would suggest, be the true measure of how authentically we are living our call as Benedictine Oblates of the World Community for Christian Meditation. ------------------------------------------------------------Dinner at Fraterna Domus
WCCM delegates enjoying their last meal – Clockwise from left: Ray Lamb – UK, Xiao Xiao – China, Elba Rodriez – Colombia, Julia Burdett – UK, Angela Greenwood – UK, Henriette Hollaar - Resident Oblate (Holland), Vicky Lamb – UK, Eileen Dutt UK Gloria - National Oblate Coordinator Australia My thoughts: The Congress emphatically illustrated a shift from the restrictive idea that only vowed religious were called to a committed life to one that expressed a more inclusive understanding of one’s potential and relationship with the mystery that is God. It is the heart and not designation that is core to one’s oblation. One can also argue this shift from an elitist view of spirituality is reflected in the dynamic life of WCCM through its in-reach and out-reach programmes. Furthermore, John Main’s prophetic concept of a monastery without walls bear witness to a viable alternative that can address some of the concerns voiced by oblates from'' traditional communities as they face the closure of their monasteries.
Pam, a Prinknash oblate and Gloria a WCCM oblate coordinator from Australia
More and more monasticism will fulfil its prophetic role in society by living in the cities where the experience of community and of daily spiritual practice are all but lost. In the modern deserts of our cities the new monastery will bloom and prove how the power of faith and generosity of heart can achieve the impossible in liberty of spirit. ‘Let the wilderness and thirsty land be glad; Let the desert rejoice and burst into flower.’ Laurence Freeman, Monastery without Walls: The Spiritual Letters of John Main.
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Julia – Novice Oblate UK In a few words.... As a novice (one of three) attending the Congress, I felt completely welcomed in this warm international environment. The days where long and packed but very well organised with excellent speakers lively workshops and lovely services. The joy for me was to meet so many oblates from around the world and be part of this Benedictine community. I would recommend anyone to go and to be blessed. -------------------------------------------------------------
Henriette & Xiao Xiao
Xiao Xiao’s Poster
Oblate Cote Loire – Ivory Coast
Supper at St. Anselm’s
Celebratory lunch for Abbot Nokter Woolf OSB
Social time – Fraterna Domus
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Oblates of the Sisters of Eire selling merchandise made by the community
Audience with Pope Francis St. Peter’s Square, Rome
Fraterna Domus
Fraterna Domus
Fraterna Domus
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Swiss Guard, St Peter’s Square St. Benedict
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Henriette Hollaar – Resident Oblate Meditatio House 4th Benedictine Oblate Congress 2017 Rome was surprisingly cold and wet when, at 6.30 am, I walked to the chapel in the mornings. The chapel was big and dark till I lit a candle, put a chair and the gong in its place, and laid out the bookmarks of our community in several languages. When all was ready I would simply begin to meditate and, at 7 am, one of the nine members of the WCCM team would introduce meditation to all who had gathered. One morning it was introduced in Spanish but the others mornings in English. After meditation I could not believe how the chapel had filled up! Over three mornings there where about 80 people who had come to meditate with us! All the members of the congress received a CD with teaching on meditation by Fr John or Fr Laurence. They were all so pleased to receive this. Trish had done years of ground work for our role at the International Oblate Congress to come so far. She will be so happy to hear that this has happened. Trish, many of us wished you were here! The congress theme was ‘A Way Forward’, and in a carefully programmed week we looked at the theme from different perspectives and in different ways. We were 260 participants; people had come from as far as Brazil, Australia, Côte d’Ivoir, US and India. Prayers and daily Mass where beautiful prepared and felt uplifting and bonding partly because the readings, psalms and songs where in several languages and everybody could participate. From these nurturing times we would enter in our discussion groups and reflect on questions: how much importance do we give to contemplative disciplines? to the handing on of the Benedictine tradition? to the developing formation for Oblates? to social responsibility? to the living the Rule? How do Oblates relate to the ‘Laudate Si’? Etc. Sr Joan would shake us up by her usual refreshing views and taking us out of the comfort zone of living Oblation as a soft cushion by asking, ‘Why would anyone would be attracted by a Benedictine monastery? How can I change my way of life, so that I become a good example for others? What skills or abilities do I have? What could I do as part of a group of likeminded oblates or persons on a local, regional or an international level?’ She both challenged and empowered us: "You are not meant to simply be consumers of the Benedictine tradition. You are meant to be carriers of the tradition," she told the gathering. "You are the future of the order." Indeed, Oblate life in the past largely was centred on following the rituals of particular monasteries and deepening one's personal spirituality under the direction of monks and sisters. Now, the Abbot primate said, Oblates are required to become not only witnesses to the values espoused in the Rule of St. Benedict, but to be the active bearers of those values. We who are Oblates must now become spiritual directors to the world at large. One Oblate director from a convent told us that she asks the Oblates every year, ‘What do you need from us?’ And thereafter shares with them what her monastic community needs from the Oblates! To me this seems a good way of growing into a friendship which the former Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, O.S.B. describes to the assembly of Benedictine Abbots: ‘the Oblates are your best friends’. At meals we had time to listen to each other’s experience as oblates - sometimes, it was a brave and difficult reality. Even at the congress we could not escape our broken world. The visas for a number of people was declined, which was particular sad for one Indian Oblate who had been part of the organizing team. Quite shocking was it to hear that a group of Nigerian Oblates were denied visas: we heard that, as part of their Oblation back home, they volunteered to dig graves and help give a dignified burial to those killed in the ongoing civil violence in their country. The organizing of the congress is mainly done by white-Europeans because the organisation team has to pay for their own expenses. Oblates in South Korea - a land where communist forces executed an Abbot during the Korean War and occupied some of its monasteries - are willing to spend six years in formation. They get
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together one Sunday each month for Mass, Scripture study and a lecture, returning home after Vespers. They make an annual retreat and pilgrimage together. In the Philippines, Oblates daily prepare meals that are distributed to the poor and those who are disabled. They make regular visits to people in prison as well as to the families of prisoners. Oblates from Ferdinand, Indiana, have an active prison ministry to women: they use the Rule of St. Benedict and its emphasis on peaceful living, balance and mercy as a guide. Oblates in the Netherlands and Germany support an African reforestation project that involves planting drought- and pest-resistant breadfruit trees. A phrase which I took away from the congress and put above my computer is ‘the wisdom we seek with one another can lead us to the truth’. I find this, and the whole Congress, an encouragement to keep seeking; seeking wisdom and seeking each-other. ------------------------------------------------------------Vicky Lamb – Oblate UK This was my first Oblate Congress and I found it very enjoyable and inspiring. The WCCM oblates started each day by leading a 7am meditation session in the church. We invited all who were interested in experiencing Christian Meditation to join us. We had 20 minutes to explain how to meditate, say our opening prayer, meditate for 15 Vicky Lamb - UK minutes, and finish with the closing prayer. We then invited those new to meditation to come and take a book mark which contained all they initially needed to know about Christian Meditation. Those who came to collect a book mark were delighted that we had them in several languages and we were delighted by the amount of interest shown. Each day we joined the workshop to which we had been allocated. At the workshops we explored ‘The Changing Landscape of Oblate Life around the World’ and we had various tasks to complete including coming up with 5 priorities to take forward in the future. We discussed with each other when and where and why we became an oblate. I very much enjoyed talking with the group and getting to know them better. We had several very interesting and eminent speakers during the week. The keynote speaker was Joan Chittister and the title of the talk was ‘Let the Call be Heard’ and it was a rallying call to all Benedictine oblates. She made the point that ‘vowed Benedictines and committed oblates need one another’ and stated that the questions are then simple ones: Why do you exist as an oblate? Where did you come from? Who are you in this great Benedictine story? What must you do for the charism to thrive? Then she skilfully talked us through each of these questions. My task now is to read this talk through several times to try to get the full meaning of what Sr Joan is saying to us. There is no doubt that she is an inspiring speaker and I believe it is worth taking the time to pondering over what she has to say to us. The highlight of our week was the visit to the Vatican and be present at the Pope’s weekly audience. We were all excited with see him in person and after the ceremony had finished he took a long time talking to people individually. Unfortunately, I was too far away to hear any of the conversations. There were approximately 200 people from 36 countries attending the congress and it had taken 15 people 2 years to organize. Fr Edward Linton OSB was responsible for the organisation. He is based at Sant’Anselmo in Rome where he is the Director of International Benedictine Formation.
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Angela Greenwood - Oblate UK Attending the 4th World Congress of Benedictine Oblates, 2017 I would encourage anybody wondering about attending the next World Congress of Benedictine Oblates to take the plunge, as it is a wonderful experience of friendship, community, diversity, patience, understanding, kindness....Benedictine hospitality at its fullest. I knew that I wanted to attend but was anxious at each step of the process. The two preparation days, at Douai Abbey before we left, were extremely reassuring, however, and it was the openness of oblates from other monasteries that gave me confidence. The title of the Congress was 'a Way Forward - The Benedictine Community in Movement'. One of the speakers, Charles from the Netherlands, talked about three challenges. He touches on a number of themes and ideas that were discussed at the Congress and I hope this gives a flavour of what we heard. Firstly, since the second Vatican Council there have been many changes in monastic life, a change in the balance of things. The Oblation lost its traditional shape. It was only in the 1980s and 90s that monasteries started new forms of oblate communities in Europe. (Fr John Main OSB started the community in Montreal in the 1970s). There were changes such as concentrating on general Christian principles rather than the specific monastic charisms, abolishing long rituals and placing the Rule of Benedict at the centre of the commitment, stimulating communities of oblates rather than just individual commitment, changing names and realities, the vulnerabilities of monasteries, joys and sorrows of monastic heritage. What is our role as oblates in the process of ageing? Secondly, there are challenges for oblates and oblate communities today, such as Conversatio Morum, long term formation, Lectio study and personal growth, facing stability and stagnation. Thirdly, long term development of friendship and community life...living our hopes, sharing our dreams, enjoying encouraging friendships, listening to God. He encouraged us to arrange visits to other monasteries, other countries to experience their oblate life and to read Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167). Aelred possessed a personal charm which drew friends and disciples naturally to him. He was novice master before he became abbot and had great pastoral insight, particularly in his ability to form monks. Fr Edward Linton, one of the main organisers of the Congress, remarked that for him the oblate life, living in harmony, was all about organisation. St Benedict organised his monasteries so that they lived in harmony. Charles pointed out that mentoring, informal meetings, friendship, are all part of this. On return home from the Congress I found in Fr John Main's 'Community of Love' the following paragraph form the chapter on Monastic Prayer Today, pages 113 and 114, which seemed to sum up for me much of what the Congress was about: 'The summary of the monastic tradition of prayer that I have tried to put before you is, of course, little more than a sketch of a rich all-pervasive experience. But in order to make it a living tradition it is not necessary to study it so much as to practise it, to live its vision in our lives. This is the challenge to the Church and particularly to monasticism today: not to write monographs on prayer but to produce people committed to a 9
life of prayer in the fullness of the tradition. The wonderful thing about the monastic life when it is really lived like this is that it cannot help but communicate its experience to all around it and to lead all who come into contact with it to participate in this mystery'. -------------------------------------------------------------
Elba's poster from South America WCCM
Henriette with two oblates from the Netherlands
A workshop group surrounded by posters from monasteries around the world
Mass in the Church
Group from Cote Loire – Ivory Coast
Fr Edward Linton and Abbot Primate Emeritus Notker Wolf at the abbot's celebration lunch
Eileen with Sr. Joan
Xiao Xiao with Abbot Primate Geoffrey Polan OSB
One workshop group’s collage
Meditation is a way to mature human relationships, relationships that enable us to really rejoice in the being of another. In the silence of our own heart we enter the harmony that reveals to us the oneness with all. John Main, 'Door to Silence'.
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Raymond Lamb – Oblate UK The Benedictine Community in Movement - A Way Forward - Some thoughts from Raymond Lamb I’ve practiced as a Benedictine Oblate with the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) for several years now and a few months ago an opportunity arose to attend the 4th World Congress of Benedictine Oblates in Rome. A week in Rome with over 200 oblates always held the promise of being something of a spiritual adventure. It presented an opportunity to meet with others from around the world, to talk, to listen, and to gain new insights; and the Congress did not disappoint. I set out below a few thoughts and impressions which I hope may be of interest. But first – what is an oblate? Oblates are individuals, either lay or clergy, who, whilst not professed monks or nuns, have affiliated themselves with a monastic community of their choice. They make a formal promise to follow the Rule of Benedict in their lives as closely as their individual circumstances and prior commitments permit, and they are considered an extended part of the monastic community to which they are attached. The central theme of the Congress was to explore the future. The ongoing problem of a decline in the number of vocations and the increasing average age of our monastic communities present significant problems, and it was suggested that it was time to ‘give wings’ to the oblate community. Speakers presented glimpses into the lives of their own communities, including oblates from Korea, USA, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Ivory Coast, and Viet Nam. The vision opened up for me was of a jigsaw of very active, dedicated, and committed oblate communities covering all continents of the world. Abbot Primate Gregory Polan (head of the Benedictine Order) described the sacred triangular nature of our communities with ‘God at the top, the oblates in one angle, and the monastic community in the other.’ Joan Chittister OSB in her ‘keynote’ speech entitled ‘Let the Call be Heard’ said we can no longer simply hide in our spiritual jacuzzis, our pious spas and say that we carry forward the charisms of those who came before us. The charisms of Jesus are preserved to this day by the workings of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of seekers everywhere. These charisms are alive; they go on, as Jesus goes on going on. They are not frozen in time; they are not fixed or static. They leap with life, they never die, they are the electricity that powers every good in us. We should now carry these vibrant and world-changing visions back into a world that needs them so badly. We exist for one reason and one reason only: to become, like the great monastics before us, the blazing, flaming, searing light to others that we are really meant to be.’ Her inspirational words are well worth reading in full; (https://www.monasteriesoftheheart.org/monks-our.../joan-chittister—let-call-be-heard.).
Fraterna Domus
Fraterna Domus Collage 11
Mealtime at St. Anselmo
Sant’ Anselmo, all’ Aventini, Rome
Sant’ Anselmo, all’ Aventini, Rome
A highlight of the week was a visit to St Peter’s Basilica to attend the regular Wednesday Papal Audience. The congress organisers had arranged seats at the front with excellent views of the Pope and his entourage, and the weather was perfect – ‘wall to wall’ blue sky and pleasantly warm November sunshine made for a very special setting. An audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English and other languages depending on groups visiting, and as is the custom the Pope greeted the Benedictine Oblates and other visiting groups as part of his address. At the end of the Audience we prayed together the Our Father in Latin, following which Pope Francis imparted his Apostolic Blessing upon all those attending. In concluding the congress Fr Edward Linton OSB, asked us to reflect on friendship; oblates as best friends of monasteries and monastics as best friends of oblates. Oblate life is fundamentally about relationships; the church, monastery and fellow oblates, always new, always fresh, and always moving. Through Holy reading, the Rule of Benedict and friendship we can work out for ourselves the changes needed and see and develop ourselves as the best sort of oblates. Attending the Congress proved to be a wonderfully enriching experience – opening up a vastly expanded vision of the Benedictine world, its traditions from the past, and possibilities for the future, and my place in all of this. So much food for thought!
Vision of the 4th Benedictine Oblate Congress in Rome – November 2017 A WAY FORWARD – THE BENEDICTINE COMMUNITY IN MOVEMENT The brothers (and sisters) should serve one another (RB 35) What does it mean to be an oblate in the 21st century? Formed by the Rule of St Benedict, what is our responsibility for our broken world? How can we act as peacemakers showing hospitality in the face of war, terrorism, refugee crises and religious fanaticism? How can we serve as stewards of an abused planet as challenged and inspired by Pope Francis and his encyclical “Laudato Si”? How can we experience stability when monastic communities are shrinking and disappearing? How can we live a life of silence, contemplation and simplicity surrounded by chaos, idolised entertainment, digital noise and consumerism? How can we as oblates create and contribute to communities around us – in our oblate groups and chapters, in our families and neighbourhoods, in our workplaces and in society as a whole (and even, in our own
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Without men and women of contemplative vision and spiritual depth, our hopes for building up the kingdom of God’s love are destined to be based in the shifting sands of passing fads and momentary movements. What will last must be founded in the vision of the past and must look to the dreams of the future. Only the contemplative spirit of the old and the young together can provide such a pathway for contemporary people. Freeman, Laurence. Monastery without Walls: The Spiritual Letters of John Main. NATIONAL OBLATE CO-ORDINATORS/CONTACTS ARGENTINA: ..................................... Marina Müller, marinam@sion.com AUSTRALIA: .......................................Gloria Duffy, ausoblwccm@gmail.com BELGIUM: ......................................... Henriette Hollaar, henriettehollaar@gmail.com BRAZIL: ..............................................Tayna Malaspina, taynacoaching@gmail.com CANADA: ...........................................Polly Schofield, polly.schofield@sympatico.com CZECH REPUBLIC………………………….…. International Coordinator, eduttobl@btinternet.com CHINA: .............................................. Xiao Xiao Augustine, 87982037@qq.com COLOMBIA: ........................................Elba Roderiguez, elbarsan@gmail.com DENMARK: .........................................Lene Boisen, lene.bobo@gmail.com ECUADOR: ..........................................International Coordinator, eduttobl@btinternet.com FRANCE: .............................................Imogen Hassan, imogenohlso@icloud.com GERMANY: .........................................Christiane Floyd, christiane.floyd@hamburg.de INDIA: .................................................Christopher Mendonca, pach7882@gmail.com ITALY: .................................................Giovanni Foffano, foffanog@gmail.com IRELAND: ............................................Stefan Reynolds, stefandreynolds@gmail.com MEXICO: .............................................International Coordinator, eduttobl@btinternet.com NETHERLANDS: ..................................International Coordinator, eduttobl@btinternet.com NEW ZEALAND: ..................................Hugh McLaughlin, hugh.mclaughlinnz@gmail.com PARAGUAY: .......................................Mary Meyer, memseso@gmail.com PHILIPPINES: ......................................Argel Tuason, argel.tuason@gmail.com POLAND: ............................................Maria, Albert Zakharova, info@wccm.org.ua SINGAPORE: .......................................Saralee Turner, saralee.turner@gmail.com SWITZERLAND: ...................................Catherine Charriere, catherine.charriere@gmail.com UKRAINE: .......................................... Maria, Albert Zakharova, info@wccm.org.ua UK: ......................................................Eileen Dutt, eduttobl@btinternet.com USA: .................................................. Mary Robison, maryrobison@mac.com VENEZUELA: ..................................... Josefa Vegas, josefavivas@hotmail.com
The Oblate as the Good Steward Oblate involved in the care of the planet at the personal , local, regional and international levels as skills allow. The Oblate use their spiritual and material gifts responsibly. Oblates take action in the society they live in.
Oblates as the Good Steward
Conclusion:
Christians, particularly Benedictine Oblates, are urged to act in such a way that “The Power of
the Gospel might shine forth in their daily social and family life”
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