15
FORMING FOR MINISTRY TO RENEW THE POOR
SETTING: The animator of the encounter arranges the ambience so that all may be comfortably
seated in a circle to facilitate prayer and discussion. A candle, the Bible, an Oblate Cross may be
placed in the center of the community.
SONG: An appropriate song
MOTIVATION: Holy Spirit, show us not only to understand the life-situation of the poor but also to
“encounter” Jesus Christ present in the poor; help us to share our Oblate life of faith with them and
may we be renewed in our Oblate charism and ministry with the poor.
THE WORD OF GOD: JEREMIAH 1:4-10: Jeremiah’s Call and Commission
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and
before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah,
Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not
say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I
command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” Then the
Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in
your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
(Time for silent reflection)
RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD: Mary’s Song of Praise
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on
the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty
One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from
generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the
lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his
servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to
Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Lk 1:46-55)
OBLATE TEXTS
General Norms of Oblate Formation: Missionary love for the poor, Nº 14-15
Oblate formation is characterized by our mission to evangelize the "most abandoned ... the poor with
their many faces" (C 5; MTW 10-30). Oblate formation, therefore, communicates an understanding
and an appreciation of the mission proper to Jesus, as he himself described it in the synagogue of
Nazareth (cf. Luke 4: 16-30) and concretely lived it out until he died in complete poverty upon the
cross. It communicates a like understanding and appreciation of the mission to the poor lived by Saint
Eugene de Mazenod and his first companions, and of the authentic missionary tradition of the
Congregation.
Formation to a missionary love of the poor requires experience of the value and freedom of
evangelical poverty and fosters solidarity with the poor. On the one hand Oblates allow their lives to
be enriched by the poor. On the other hand, they become aware of and learn to counter the unjust
situations of which the poor are often the victims. Our closeness to the poor is witnessed by a life
style of simplicity…
GOING DEEPER INTO THE THEME:
50. In our own time, there are so many needs which demand a compassionate response from
Christians. Our world is entering the new millennium burdened by the contradictions of an economic,
cultural and technological progress which offers immense possibilities to a fortunate few, while
leaving millions of others not only on the margins of progress but in living conditions far below the
minimum demanded by human dignity. How can it be that even today there are still people dying of
hunger? Condemned to illiteracy? Lacking the most basic medical care? Without a roof over their
heads?
The scenario of poverty can extend indefinitely, if in addition to its traditional forms we think of its
newer patterns… threatened by despair at the lack of meaning in their lives, by drug addiction, by
fear of abandonment in old age or sickness, by marginalization or social discrimination. In this
context Christians must learn to make their act of faith in Christ by discerning his voice in the cry for
help that rises from this world of poverty. This means carrying on the tradition of charity which has
expressed itself in so many different ways in the past two millennia, but which today calls for even
greater resourcefulness. Now is the time for a new "creativity" in charity, not only by ensuring that
help is effective but also by "getting close" to those who suffer, so that the hand that helps is seen not
as a humiliating handout but as a sharing between brothers and sisters.
We must therefore ensure that in every Christian community the poor feel at home. Would not this
approach be the greatest and most effective presentation of the good news of the Kingdom?
51. And how can we remain indifferent to the prospect of an ecological crisis which is making vast
areas of our planet uninhabitable and hostile to humanity? Or by the problems of peace, so often
threatened by the spectre of catastrophic wars? Or by contempt for the fundamental human rights of
so many people, especially children? Countless are the emergencies to which every Christian heart
must be sensitive. (Pope John Paul II,Novo Millennio Ineunte, nº 50, 51)
MOMENT OF SILENCE
SHARING OUR FAITH:
The animator invites each Oblate present to share what has inspired him in the reflection and around
the questions:
How has Oblate formation helped you to live your Oblate life and mission close to the poor?
Remember an experience in a local community that was filled with life in proximity to the
poor. What made it that way?
- Do you remember a major change in your way of thinking and of being an Oblate missionary?
- What can I do to make our community a place where the poor feel at home?
- What can we do to empower ourselves in serving the poor?
A TIME FOR PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING:
-
The Animator invites the group to thank God for being called to serve the poor and to ask for
whatever might be needed.
COMMITMENT:
The animator reminds everyone that we are in a community process preparing for the 200
anniversary of our foundation by seeing how we can grow, change and be transformed in order to be
at the service of the poor. We are asked to consider a concrete gesture in the life of our community
as a sign of conversion. Let us ask God to inspire us, help us be bold and courageous so that during
these weeks and months of preparation we will commit ourselves to some real sign of new life among
us.
FINAL PRAYER:
Lord God, help us to put your Son Jesus Christ as the centre of our life and mission to bring the Good
News to the poor. May we dare to discern your will and not be content to just do by inertia what we
have been doing! May our personal and communitarian conversion benefit our ministry to the poor!
May our Saints show us the right way! May we imitate them in their love for the poor! Through Christ
our Lord. Amen
BLESSING AND SONG:
The animator asks an Oblate present to pray a blessing over the group and then all sing the final song.