Originally published on OMI World.

 

The year 2014 will mark the 75^th anniversary of Oblate missionaries in the Philippines. The first pioneer missionaries came from United States provinces: Frs. Gerard MONGEAU (Texas Province), Emile BOLDUC, Egide BEAUDOIN and George DION (Franco-American Province). They landed in Manila on 25 September, 1939. Fr. Mongeau was appointed as the Superior of the Philippine Mission directly under the General Administration and supported by the 4 American Provinces.

In January 2014, a preparatory committee for the jubilee laid out plans that will culminate in a three-day celebration in September 2014: the Festival of Remembering on 23 September; the Festival of Reliving on 24 September; and the Festival of Hoping on 25 September.

On the whole, the jubilee will be a celebration of thanksgiving for the Divine Creator’s loving grace and guidance. It will commemorate the legacy of the early Oblates, vigorously renew the spirit of evangelization among present co-workers and missionaries, and face the challenges of the future of new evangelization with zeal, especially among the poor and the abandoned, with concrete actions as articulated in the province’s 2013 Congress.

Among the many activities, there will be:

A comprehensive video production depicting the life of the Pioneers, pioneering ministries, present ministries and life of the martyrs of the Philippine Province;

Videos about Oblate missions on social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter;

Thematic monthly District days of recollection for Oblates, based on the Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelii gaudium” and talks by former provincials.