Moments of Grace - January

Click to view the Moments of Grace January - Mary Booklet: Click Here

Christmas Message from Fr Christian Fini OMI

As another unusual and difficult year comes to an end, on behalf of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Australian Province I wish you and your families peace and all the blessings of the Christmas season.

I thank you for all your prayers and support over the last challenging twelve months; I pray you in return will be richly blessed.

May 2022 be a year of peace, prosperity and joy for all of us.

God bless

Fr Christian Fini OMI

Br Joshua's Ordination to the Diaconate

We invite you to join us live at 7pm AEDT on Friday 17th December 2021 for the celebration of Br Joshua Nash’s ordination to the diaconate at St John Vianney’s Parish, Springvale North.

The livestream link is here: https://youtu.be/_COAbqrEMaY

Moments of Grace - December

For the December Moments of Grace, we take a look at the symbolism behind the statue that encouraged St Eugene to persist with his newly founded Oblate order. We are reminded that Mary - the Immaculate Conception, who can crush the devil, is also there for us as spiritual Mother.

Click to view the Moments of Grace December - Mary Booklet: Click Here

Perpetual Vows for Br Josh & Br Luan

They say third time’s a charm! And indeed we hope and pray it is for Br Joshua Nash OMI and Br Luan Ha OMI who will be professing their perpetual vows on Sunday 28th November, at St David’s Tea Tree Gully, South Australia. Due to Covid restrictions and border closures, this is the third attempt to get the brothers to Adelaide to profess their perpetual vows as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Br Joshua’s home parish of St David’s, Tea Tree Gully are excited to welcome him back as the first Oblate vocation from that parish. This is a great occasion for our Province and we congratulate and thank Brs Joshua and Luan for their commitment, their perseverance and their upcoming oblation, giving themselves fully to the will of God.

We ask that you continue to pray for these brothers as they make their final commitments as Oblates and also pray that more young men will follow in their footsteps and the footsteps of our founder, St Eugene de Mazenod. We invite you all to participate in the perpetual vows ceremony via our livestream. The Mass will be celebrated at 5pm ACDT (5:30pm AEDT) on Sunday 28th November 2021.

LINK AVAILABLE HERE

New Web Series OMI LIFE is out now!

An exciting new venture from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has been to release a new web-series called OMI LIFE. This new series aims at sharing the charism, history, lifestyle, mission and spirituality of our congregation with the wider De Mazenod Family and the wider Church community. The web-series will feature interviews with Oblates from around Australia and some special international guests as well. It will also share snippets of Oblate life and give you insights into the special life and charism of our community.

The web-series can be accessed via the OMI Australia Facebook page, the OMI LIFE Instagram page and the De Mazenod Family YouTube channel.

The first episode was released today featuring Fr Austin Cooper OMI and Fr Christian Fini OMI. We hope you enjoy it, there is plenty more to come!

De Mazenod Family Gathering 2021

With much excitement and success, we held our Annual Gathering of the De Mazenod Family on 7 August 2021. This is the third such Gathering that has been held, with the first meeting held physically in Fremantle in 2019, with different representatives from the various Oblate ministries across Australia. This year’s Gathering was also meant to involve some physical hubs but with the yoyo-ing of COVID restrictions, we met online instead – over 120 participants from the various ministries including Oblate Parishes, Youth Ministry, Oblate schools, Rosies and St Pats, priests and laity. As a team, it was a delight to see so many of you at the Gathering. The sense, even over Zoom, was one of warmth and connection.

The aim of these Gatherings is to annually come together as the one family – to connect, inform, unify and engage with the wider Oblate community across the common foundation of St Eugene’s charism.

The theme this year was Being the Most United Family. The program included a welcome from the Provincial, Fr Christian Fini, and a reflection by the Seminary Rector, Fr Andrew Chen, on Being the Most United Family using St Eugene’s charism. There was time for sharing and discussion on the reflection, as well as input from participants on what it takes for the De Mazenod Family to meet St Eugene’s dream of Being the Most United Family. We even had a surprise visit by the Superior General Louis Lougen.

The Vision and Mission Statement for the De Mazenod Family was presented and feedback sought on aspects of the Statement that most resonated with participants.

A summary of projects completed in the last 12 months was also presented along with the context in which these fit into the overall scheme. An overview of the new website and the courses available, was also presented, as well the commencement of a DMF Committee (still looking for members! See more details on this website).

Projects in the last 12 months included:

• the online prayer resources and prayer programs held online during COVID;

• the courses on St Eugene of varying lengths developed and available on this website;

• the Chat newsletter with its activities, updates and reflections on the charism;

• this fancy new website you are on, constructed to provide greater connection, and ease of access to the available resources;

• an upcoming parish mission and,

• involvement in international Lay Association Gathering.

There are many more upcoming events and programs, keep checking in on the De Mazenod Family website.

Evangelisation in today's digital world

The efforts of our seminarians and Camberwell community to connect to people through digital means has recently been acknowledged by an article in Adelaide’s Southern Cross newspaper. During the constant lockdowns in Melbourne, Br Joshua, Fr Christian and other members of the Camberwell communities have sought new ways of reaching out through digital media and technology. From livestreaming masses from the Seminary Chapel, to developing short prayer videos for social media and building online training courses; the Camberwell community has found a new way in which the Church can mission and ‘go out’ to the world to preach the Good News.
This recent venture has inspired Br Joshua for the topic of his Masters thesis as he finishes his seminary studies, focusing on the way we as Oblates understand mission within this new digital reality. It has been great to see more Oblates take up this challenge and find ways, through technology, to connect with their parishioners and reach out to the poor and abandoned of this world. With the social isolation that lockdowns bring, it is important, now more than ever, to find ways through technology that we can continue building community and the family of the Church that St Eugene envisioned.
You can read the full article from The Southern Cross here: https://thesoutherncross.org.au/people/vocations/2021/07/29/evangelisation-in-todays-digital-world/

St John Vianney's: Building Community

Recently, Melbourne Catholic, the new Archdiocesan News Service, published a wonderful article about the parish community of St John Vianney’s in Springvale North. The article mentions Fr Eric Alleaume’s 30th anniversary of priesthood, the multicultural communities at home in the parish, the connections to the local schools and the great youth ministry of Oblate Youth Australia vibrantly alive in the parish. Many things to give thanks to God for!

You can read the full article at https://melbournecatholic.org/news/st-john-vianneys-parish-a-family-community

Oblate Safeguarding May 2021

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate remain committed to the safety and well-being of all in our ministries, especially children and vulnerable adults.

We continue to prioritise healthy and respectful support for those affected by the trauma of abuse and the following report demonstrates some of the ways that the Oblates monitor and ensure the highest standards of care possible.

In Dec 2017 Australia witnessed the conclusion of the Royal Commission into the Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse and the handing down of the findings of this 5-year inquiry. In response an organisation called Catholic Professional Standards or CPSL (recently changed to Australian Catholic Professional Standards) was formed. It operated independently of the church and was responsible for developing the 10 National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and auditing all Catholic Church entities.

In 2019, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate employed a National Safeguarding Coordinator, Megan Vardanega, to oversee the safeguarding audit on behalf of the Oblates and their ministries in Australia. Work began in early 2019 and the final report of the Safeguarding Audit of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate has recently been published.

The Oblates as an order were audited alongside their ministries which included Rosie’s Oblate Youth Mission and Oblate Youth Australia. Iona College and Mazenod College WA are already regulated and have accreditation and external oversight processes already in place to operate as a school, so they were not reaudited by CPSL but CPSL did require a Declaration of Assurance and Compliance from each school to demonstrate how the individual schools meet each of the ten standards.

Audit procedures included the following:

• interviews, observations and enquiry with the OMI Leadership Team, Safeguarding Coordinator, individual OMI members and relevant personnel.

• ·review of key safeguarding documents, policies and procedures; and

• assessment of the design, and testing of the operation of safeguarding controls implemented by OMI.

The Oblates have demonstrated compliance with 98 % of the indicators relevant to their operations under the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards. A further two Indicators (2%) are in the initial stages of implementation. There are 6 recommendations – no Priority 1 (high rated) audit recommendations and three Priority 2 (medium rated) recommendations and three Priority 3 (low rated) recommendations.

This excellent result reflects the significant work undertaken by so many people across all Oblate ministries to ensure that the Oblates have the safest places possible for children and vulnerable adults. The Oblates remain committed to building a culture into the future which places safeguarding at the core of all thinking and action.

See below for the link to view the full report.   

https://www.cpsltd.org.au/safe-church/church-reports/

De Mazenod Family May Program

Happy Easter from the Oblates!

This Easter is doubly special and a great occasion to celebrate. Last year, all of us missed out on our normal Easter festivities. There were no church services (apart from online), there were no family gatherings. Much of the year has been spent ‘in the tomb’, waiting for the resurrection. Although this year still had its limitations, we can all rejoice that we are ‘out of the tomb’ and have some possibility to pray at Church and to be with family. Easter is the culmination of the Church year and the time for us Christians to reflect on many important things. We commemorate Jesus’ acts of humble service and his image of servant leadership on Holy Thursday; we give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist, the ever-lasting sign of his love for us. We acknowledge his suffering and death on Good Friday; with gentle hearts we offer our praise for his sacrifice that redeems us all. Then, together we rejoice on the most holy of nights, on Easter Saturday, that Christ’s love triumphed over death and restores us to new life. Finally, on Easter Sunday, we go to the empty tomb with the women and in faith we say, “He is Risen, Alleluia!” That empty tomb is a simple and stark image for us, which reminds us of God’s great power and that everything is not in vain. God works wonders in the darkness and he brings us all to the light of new life. There have been many dark days over the last twelve months and in many parts of the world there still are. So thank God for his blessings on us today and we pray for those still in darkness, that soon they will see the light.

Many blessings upon you and your families this Easter season.

From the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Feast of St Joseph - Protector of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate

St Patrick's Day Reflection - Fr Austin Cooper OMI

On 17th March we celebrate the feast day of St Patrick, who brought the Christian faith to Ireland and through many Irish missionaries across the centuries, has helped to spread the Good News to all parts of the world. Fr Austin Cooper OMI reflects upon the life of St Patrick and the influence of Celtic Spirituality on our Church.

More reflections available here: https://demazenodfamily.com.au/spiritual-reflections/

Fr Ian Mackintosh OMI, RIP

Fr. Ian Mackintosh OMI, RIP

Ian Joseph Mackintosh was born on the 7th November 1939, in Geelong, Victoria, and was educated at St Joseph’s College Geelong.

He joined the Oblates in 1959 at Sorrento, and did his scholasticate studies at Cedara, South Africa, from 1959 to 1965; he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Africa. He was ordained in Geelong, on the 8th December 1965.                              

Fr Ian’s first obedience was to teach at Mazenod College, Lesmurdie, arriving there in 1966, its first year. He became Rector in 1973, and subsequently was Rector, Mazenod College Mulgrave from 1978 to 1983. Then in 1984 it was back to Mazenod College, WA as Head of Religious Education for nearly 6 years, before a final school appointment teaching at Iona College until the end of 1992.     

He then moved in to parish work, with 12 years at St John Vianney’s, Springvale North, firstly as assistant Parish Priest, then as Parish Priest. From 2005 to 2010 he was Parish priest at Sorrento, then spent 6 years as Parish Priest of Dernancourt before his final appointment in 2017 as Parish Priest of Sorrento.

True to his down to earth nature, Fr Mack spent his 3 month sabbatical in 2016 supplying in Geraldton diocese, as acting Parish Priest of Newman, Tom Price and Paraburdoo, driving many kilometres through the outback, ministering to miners, their families, and aboriginals, assisted by Josephite sisters. All in all an experience he enjoyed.

In January 2020 he retired to Camberwell community house. He died suddenly at Camberwell on the morning of February 19, 2021.

Affectionately known as “The Bear”, Ian was a passionate sportsman, loved Richmond AFL team (wore Richmond socks) and disliked umpires and referees. A great reader who loved history and politics, he was passionate about the Oblates and the Church, prepared his sermons in great detail, loyal and steadfast. He was a home body, who did not like sleeping away; gregarious, great company, and honest. He saw the best in people, was kind, and responded to needs.

We thank God for Fr Ian’s faithful service to the Australia Province and Church for over 55 years.

Anniversary of the Approval of the Congregation and Rule

17th February
Anniversary of the Approval of the Congregation and Rule

17 February, 1826, ten years after the foundation of the Oblate congregation, the congregation and its Rule were officially approved by the Church. From the Rule and Constitutions, it states that these "...set out a privileged means for each Oblate to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. They are inspired by the charism lived by the Founder and his first companions; also, they have received the approval of the Church. Thus, they allow each Oblate to evaluate the quality of his response to his vocation and to becomea saint.”

The preface to the Oblate Rule sets out advice on how “…those who want to follow in the footsteps of their divine Master Jesus Christ (should) conduct themselves…

They must strive to be saints.
They must walk courageously...
They must wholly renounce themselves…”

As members of the De Mazenod Family, the above words of St Eugene to the Oblate priests can apply to us as well. As we mark the anniversary of the Church's official recognition of St Eugene’s vision - for an order of priests willing to “oblate” themselves or fully lay down their lives in order to bring others to Christ -let us spend a moment asking ourselves: How do we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, how can we present Him to those we come across each day?

How can we more readily lay down our own life for the other?

Click here to read the Letter by the Superior General to the Congregation on the Anniversary of the Papal Approval of theConstitutions and Rules.

Lenten Reflection - Fr Austin Cooper OMI

More reflection avaliable HERE

Fr Bernard O'Brien OMI, RIP

Fr Bernard Maurice O’Brien OMI, RIP

It is with great sadness that the Australian Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate received the news of the passing of Fr Bernard Maurice O’Brien OMI, on the 16th January 2021.

Fr Bernard was born on 12 December 1937 in Melbourne, one of four siblings, and educated by the Christian Brothers at Brunswick and North Melbourne. After meeting the Oblates through his summer holidays at Sorrento, he joined the Oblate Juniorate in Geelong in 1951 to complete his studies and discern his vocation. He joined the Oblate Novitiate at Sorrento in 1955 and was sent to study at Cedara, South Africa. He was ordained in Durban on 3rd February 1962.

His first obedience was to the teaching staff at Iona College from 1963 - 1977 followed by 5 years teaching at Mazenod College, Lesmurdie. Fr Bernard was one of the few Oblates who studied and trained specifically for primary education.

He moved from education ministry to parish ministry in 1983 as assistant at St Paul’s, Massey, New Zealand, for two years, then 6 years as parish priest at St Michael’s, North Melbourne. His next ministries were assisting at Dernancourt 1991 Apr- 95, Tea Tree Gully 1996 - 2000 and St John Vianney’s 2001 - 04. From 2005 to 2014 he ministered at Moe, the first 4 years as assistant, then as parish priest.

Early in 2014 he moved to Sorrento to assist, but his health deteriorated and in October 2018 he retired to Camberwell and moved the next month to aged care at East Hawthorn.

In January 2021 his health deteriorated and he died on 16th January at Cabrini Palliative Care, Prahran.

Fr Bernard was an open and approachable priest. His ministry was characterised by a warm and friendly pastoral approach, able to use his own sensitivities to connect with people very effectively.

We thank God for Fr Bernard’s faithful service to the Australia Province and Church for over 59 years.

The Oblates would like to extend their deepest sympathies and assurance of prayers to all of Fr Bernard’s family and friends.

Fr Bernard will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.

Christmas Message

De Mazenod Family Gathering 2.0

August 2019 saw us celebrate our inaugural De Mazenod Family gathering in Fremantle and was the beginning of setting up the De Mazenod Family Office. Nimmi Candappa was appointed as Charism Coordinator and shortly after, Emma Hoad joined the team as Charism Coordinator assistant. Emma Rice and Luisa Amati help round out the current team, bringing their expertise from their current roles. It was always the intention of the team to hold a gathering each year, with every second year being held online. With everything that has been thrown our way this year in 2020, we were all becoming familiar with zoom and the wonders that can be achieved with technology.

Sunday 29th November was the day we gathered. We had around 100 people gathered with most connected as individuals, plus a small number who connected in Parishes as a community. De Mazenod Family Gathering 2.0 was an opportunity for us to introduce our team, and be able to “see” them, given that COVID-19 stopped us in our tracks. We heard about the programs that have been developed, as well as how they might morph into the future. A tour of our digital platforms including our De Mazenod Family website, our YouTube Channel and our newly developed Learning Management System. 

We also heard about the plans that we have for the coming 12 months. Meeting with people in the communities as travel restrictions ease and travel remains safe, connecting with those who are abandoned or inaccessible, developing a national committee for the De Mazenod Family with a cross representation of as many of our mission’s communities as possible, planning for our next De Mazenod Family Gathering in 2021 in June, and more.

If you missed joining us for this year’s gathering you can find all the sessions plus questions from the discussion group on our De Mazenod Family website.