Adore 2022 - Advent Program
This Advent, we hope this program allows you time and space to forget about the busyness of our daily lives, and to stop and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord while trying to find the beauty in all that is around us.
OUR ADVENT PROGRAM – 2022
Welcome to Adore, the De Mazenod Family Advent Program for 2022. Over the past couple of years our program has been centred on Sunday’s scripture through December leading to the birth of Christ. This year, we have decided to be a little more adventurous and try something new. This year we are going to spend some time focusing on Mary, and her early life, explored through art.
This Advent, we hope this program allows you time and space to forget about the busyness of our daily lives, and to stop and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord while trying to find the beauty in all that is around us.
To dowload this year’s program click the link below.
Online sessions on Thursday evenings
Our online sessions will be each Thursday in Decemeber leading up to Christmas. A break down of the timezones and the zoom link are below.
VIC and NSW 8.00 pm
SA 7.30 pm
QLD 7.00 pm
WA 5.00 pm
Zoom link
Fremantle community continues great tradition of the Blessing of the Fleet
Fr Giancarlo Iollo OMI reflects on the timeless traditions of the Italian community in Fremantle and its importance for our Church today.
On the 23rd October, the Fremantle community celebrated the annual Blessing of the Fleet, a great tradition that has been celebrated by the Italian communities of the Fremantle parish since 1948.
Fr Giancarlo Iollo OMI reflects on the origins of this feast and what it means for us today:
On 8th September 1947, due to bad weather, some fishermen from Fremantle, of Italian origin (specifically from the Molfetta province of Bari) decided to go to church to honour the feast of the nativity of Our Lady.
They came out of church and had the idea of forming a committee to organise a feast in honour of Our Lady of Martyrs every year, inspired by their own tradition from Molfetta which had been happening for centuries.
Over the years, the celebration has grown bigger and bigger, integrating in 1954 the devotion to Our Lady of Capo d'Orlando (from the island of Sicily) and later involving many other Catholic committees and associations from the entire city of Fremantle.
Today, the celebration in honour of Our Lady is known as the Blessing of the Fleet.
For three days leading up to the feast, there is a Triduum of masses celebrated in our Oblate parish, St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle. On the day of the feast there is a solemn celebration of Holy Mass, followed by a procession through the streets of Fremantle to the harbour, where the fishermen carry the statues of Our Lady. At the harbour, the Bishop blesses the boats, the fishermen and the whole city of Fremantle. All who are gathered return to the parish church for great festivities, finishing with fireworks.
This year I was asked to preach the Triduum in preparation for the feast and to give the homily on the day of the Sunday Mass.
It was an opportunity for me to learn about the history of these two devotions to Our Lady of Martyrs and Capo d'Orlando, and to become aware of a religious and cultural heritage, which on the one hand highlights a past history, which is continued even today in a totally different and changed context, and on the other hand emphasises the opportunity for a wide-ranging evangelisation effort that touches the entire city of Fremantle in some way, and which must be taken into account for the future.
- Fr Giancarlo Iollo OMI
Pope Francis addresses the Oblates of Mary Immaculate at 37th General Chapter
Pope Francis meets Capitulars and new Superior General in Rome.
Pope Francis met on Monday with members of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) on the occasion of their 37th General Chapter. The missionary order was founded in 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod in the south of France.
In his address to members of the Congregation, the Pope offered his well-wishes to Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, who was elected last Thursday as the new OMI Superior General for a 6-year term. He also thanked the previous Superior General, Fr. Louis Lougen, for his service over the past 12 years.
For the occasion of their 37th General Chapter, the Oblates have chosen the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope in Communion.”
Pope Francis noted that this theme embodies their very identities as disciples of Jesus, who are “called to bring the Gospel of hope, joy, and peace” in a time where wars and conflicts, the struggles of migrants and refugees, and an economy focused on the rich engulf the world in darkness.
“Only the Gospel can keep the light of hope burning,” said the Pope.
He also said the core mission of the Oblates is to be pilgrims who travel the world serving the Church in 70 countries, “always ready to go like Jesus with His disciples.”
“Pilgrims of hope, you walk with the holy people of God, living in fidelity your missionary vocation, together with the laity and young people who share in the Church the charism of your holy Founder and who wish to be an active part of your mission.”
Furthermore, being a “missionary of hope”, the Pope continued, means learning how to recognize virtue amongst the poor, daring to let themselves be evangelized by those less fortunate, so that they may “teach you the way of hope, for the Church, and for the world.”
Living in communion today, Pope Francis went on to say, is the foundation upon which the “future of the world, the Church and consecrated life may depend.”
This future must first be rooted in communion amongst ourselves, cultivating it with “everyone without exception.”
“I urge you to be promoters of communion through expressions of solidarity, closeness, synodality, and fraternity with all.”
Taking care of our “mother earth”, Pope Francis noted, remains crucial, as our planet is the source that continues to feed us “without asking for anything in return.”
Similarly, the Pope continued, it remains necessary to return to God the Father as the source of life and mission, the “first love that prompted you to leave everything to follow Jesus.”
The charism of the founder, St. Eugene, should remain as a point of reference for Oblate life, “rooted in missionary vocation” in mutual love for the other and “zeal for the salvation of souls.”
St. Eugene’s great love for the poor and mission, to spread God’s love through faith, remains an inspiration for the Oblates, Pope Francis said.
“In your immense field of mission which covers the whole world, may Jesus always be your model, as he was for St. Eugene. Before the crucified Saviour, he decided one day to offer his life so that everyone, especially the poor, might experience the same love of God that had brought him back to the path of faith.”
Focusing on the special grace St. Eugene received before the statue of Mary Immaculate in Aix-en-Provence at a difficult moment for the Congregation, Pope Francis said Mary can play a special role “as your traveling companion” along the pilgrimage path.
Mary, the Pope said, gave her “yes” to God, leaving in haste to “share God’s gift and place herself in service”.
Therefore, Our Lady can serve as a model of how best to live in service to the mission and God’s people.
Finally, Pope Francis concluded his address with a prayer for the Oblates as they continue their General Chapter, and blessed the OMIs and those associated with them, asking them to “please pray for me.”
Article written by Sophie Peeters, (c) Vatican News 2022
Oblates elect a new Superior General!
The 37th General Chapter of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has elected Fr Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso as the new Superior General.
On Thursday 29th September 2022, during the 37th General Chapter, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate elected Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, O.M.I. as its 14th Superior General for a term of six years.
Fr Luis, commonly known as Chicho, was not present at the Chapter, as he has been serving in the Oblate mission in the Western Sahara.
Fr Chicho was was born on 4 December 1963 in Madrid, Spain. He professed his first religious vows as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate on 19th September 1982, and received priestly ordination on 21st May 1988. Within the Oblate congregation, he has held the following roles:
Vocation director for the Province of Spain (1988-1992)
Superior of the Scholasticate in Pozuelo, Spain (1996-1999)
Provincial of the Province of Spain (2000-2004)
General Councilor for Europe (2004-2016).
From 2017 he has been serving in the Western Sahara Mission of the Mediterranean Province.
Upon arrival to Rome, the outgoing Superior General, Fr Louis Lougen, presented the Founder’s cross to Fr Chicho as a sign of him taking up this important office. Fr Chicho then proclaimed a profession of faith and oath of fidelity to the Church, before kneeling and washing the feet of three Oblate representatives, showing how he will follow the model of servant leadership set down by Christ himself.
Please pray for Fr Chicho as he begins to lead our congregation.
37th OMI General Chapter begins today in Rome!
Today, the 14th September 2022, brings about the 37th General Chapter for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Every six years, representatives from around the world gather in Rome to make important decisions for the future of our congregation.
Today, the 14th September 2022, brings about the 37th General Chapter for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Every six years, representatives from around the world gather in Rome to make important decisions for the future of our congregation. This year, Fr Christian Fini OMI, our Provincial, and Fr Slawek Kalisz OMI, delegation superior of Hong Kong-China, are in Rome representing our province. The theme for this year's chapter is 'Pilgrims of Hope in Communion' and all of us, the whole De Mazenod Family, are invited to reflect upon how we are called to journey together, in communion, towards the hope that we share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This year's chapter is important as the representatives will have to elect a new Superior General after Fr Louis Lougen's tremendous 12 years of service to the congregation. The chapter will spend a month in session, discerning the needs of our modern world and adapting our Oblate Constitutions and Rules to direct our missionary works in bringing the Good News to the poor with their many faces. We invite you all to pray for the Oblate congregation, and in particular the capitulars, that the Holy Spirit will bless and guide them in their discernment and in their decisions for the future of our congregation.
If you want to stay up to date with what is happening over the next month in the General Chapter, then follow OMI World on Facebook or visit their website: https://www.omiworld.org/general-chapter/
LIVE STREAM 22 July and 23 July: Ordination Joshua Nash to the Priesthood
We would like to formally invite you to the Ordination of Joshua Nash as a priest on Friday 22nd July. He will be also be celebrating his first mass of thanksgiving the following day, Saturday 23rd July.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate invite you all to join in this great celebration of the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Joshua NashOMI. Joshua will be ordained on Friday night in his home parish of St David's, Tea Tree Gully in Adelaide SA. We rejoice with his family and his community in this gift to our congregation and to the Church. If you are unable to join us in person, then please join us online.
Livestream link for Friday night Ordination (7pm ACST): https://youtu.be/aBg7O9e1Q-o
Livestream link for Saturday morning Mass of Thanksgiving (10am ACST): https://youtu.be/_szKwfTZmv0
Invitation to Ordination Joshua Nash to the Priesthood
We would like to formally invite you to the Ordination of Joshua Nash as a priest on Friday 22nd July. He will be also be celebrating his first mass of thanksgiving the following day, Saturday 23rd July.
We would like to formally invite you to the Ordination of Joshua Nash as a priest on Friday 22nd July. He will be also be celebrating his first mass of thanksgiving the following day, Saturday 23rd July.
Both events will be held at St David's Parish, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia. If you are able to join us for this celebration you would be most welcome! We hope to see as many of you there.
De Mazenod Feast Day
Celebrating the Feast of St Euegene De Mazenod as part of the De Mazenod Family.
Dear De Mazenod Family,
Today we celebrate an important day in our year when we remember the man whose faith, vision, passion and enthusiasm, which he chose to share, continues to influence us today some 200 years later.
As the De Mazenod Family we embrace his charism as the lens through which we focus our faith and through which we see the world in a different way.
I wish you every blessing on today's feast day.
I invite you to explore the De Mazenod Family Website (Link to Website) and reflect on St Eugene’s life. The resource Litany of De Mazenod is a particularly good one to focus on an area of his life. Link
You may like to join in praying with Oblates throughout the world in a Novena for Vocations. Link to Prayer
Or reflect on the Superior General’s Feast Day letter to the congregation. Link to Letter
May St Eugene intercede for your intentions.
God bless
Fr Christian Fini OMI
Australian Provincial
Easter Message from Fr Christian Fini
On behalf of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Australian Province, I would like to wish you and your families every blessing this Easter Season.
On behalf of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Australian Province, I would like to wish you and your families every blessing this Easter Season.
May the joy of the Risen Lord fill you with peace and hope as we continue to journey through challenging times in our world and in our nation.
May Mary our mother, who boldly stood at the foot of the cross in solidarity with her son suffering the indignity and injustice of the Cross, be a model of strength and faith as we stand in solidarity with many of our brothers and sisters who suffer the injustices of war and the indignity of being refugees.
Let us be thankful for all that we have and be generous in our support and advocates of peace in our world.
God bless
Fr Christian Fini OMI
Provincial of Australia
Easter Reflection - Fr Austin Cooper
Fr Austin Cooper shares his reflections for Easter.
Fr Austin Cooper shares his reflections for Easter.
Moments of Grace - March 2022
In this month’s Moment of Grace, we choose to look at how our relationship with our planet is vital. We are blessed to walk on our beautiful planet earth, and it is our responsibility to live gracefully as we journey through life.
In this month’s Moment of Grace, we choose to look at how our relationship with our planet is vital. We are blessed to walk on our beautiful planet earth, and it is our responsibility to live gracefully as we journey through life.
Moments of Grace - February 2022
For this month's Moments of Grace, please join us on a virtual pilgrimage, as we visit several Marian shrines around the world where the Oblates minister. We invite you to reflect on the place Mary has in the history of our congregation, our mission and our charism.
Click to view the Moments of Grace February Video - Click Here
Lenten Resource 2022
A De Mazenod Family Lenten Resource is available for use individually or together as a Ministry prayer group. Resource reflections identify some key sufferings of Jesus, and focus on how we can see Jesus as companion in our life journey and rely on Him for support through our various trials, knowing He has gone through these sufferings Himself. (Resource available for download on the De Mazenod Family website).
OYA Reconnect 2022
On Saturday 22nd January, several members of Oblate Youth Australia (OYA) gathered for “Reconnect”. Due to COVID-19, OYA has not been able to host the annual National Oblate Youth Encounter since January 2020.
On Saturday 22nd January, several members of Oblate Youth Australia (OYA) gathered for “Reconnect”. Due to COVID-19, OYA has not been able to host the annual National Oblate Youth Encounter since January 2020.
“Reconnect” was organised to give the young people in the Victorian contingent of the community an opportunity to finally gather in person and ‘reconnect’ with one another, after two years of extended lockdowns and online ministry. The theme of the day was “The Most United Family” - exploring ways in which each of us as individuals are connected to the wider De Mazenod Family. It was a great chance for us to explore the importance of community in our lives and the way in which each of us is called to serve our community and each other, making use of our unique gifts and talents.
The day involved a combination of prayer, personal sharing, discussion and finished with Mass, where each participant was given the chance to reflect on the experiences and challenges faced during the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was a great way to begin 2022 with a sense of renewal in the community of OYA participants in Victoria, as we now turn our attention towards the opportunity to “reconnect” with our wider national community at the National Oblate Youth Encounter 2022, planned for April (so stay tuned for more info!).
Moments of Grace - January
Once the chaos of the Christmas period has passed us by, and we have rejoiced in the birth of Christ while celebrating with our nearest and dearest, we can often find ourselves thinking about the upcoming year, which often pairs with new years resolutions.
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
Join us online via the De Mazenod Family livestream for 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.
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
We congratulate Br Joshua Nash and Br Luan Ha on their upcoming Perpetual Vows, their final commitment as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
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.
New Web Series OMI LIFE is out now!
A new web series OMI LIFE has been released today, first episode available 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!