Oblates Celebrate Jubilees in Belleville
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
(L-R) Fr. Robert Morin, Fr. Dale Schlitt, Fr. Thomas Hayes (top) Fr. Elmar Mauer (below) Fr. Roger Bergkamp, Fr. James Allen, (above) Fr. Terence Figel
Jubilees were celebrated for eleven Missionary Oblates on Monday September 9, 2019 at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. The large and diverse crowd included: friends, family, employees, Oblate Associates, HOMIs (Honorary Oblates of Mary Immaculate), all nine Novices from the Oblate Novitiate in Alton along with their formators, brother Oblates from around Belleville and the rest of the country, plus the U.S. Provincial, Fr. Louis Studer, OMI and both Vicars-provincial, Oblate Fathers Art Flores and Jim Brobst. Everyone gathered at the church for a Mass which was celebrated by Jubilarians Fr. Dale Schlitt, OMI, and Fr. Tom Hayes, OMI who delivered the homily.
After Mass all were invited to share a celebratory dinner at the Shrine Restaurant. In addition to the food, the gathering was treated to some reminiscences by a few of the Jubilarians.
Oblates attending the festivities at the Church:
60 Years of Religious Life
Rev. James Allen, OMI
Rev. Roger Bergkamp, OMI
Rev. Terence Figel, OMI
Rev. Thomas Hayes, OMI
Rev. Elmar Mauer, OMI
50 Years of Priesthood
Rev. Robert Morin, OMI
Rev. Dale Schlitt, OMI
Jubilarians unable to attend:
Rev. Aloysius Svobodny, OMI
75 Years Religious Life, 70 Years Priesthood
Rev. Carl Kabat, OMI
65 Years Religious Life, 60 Years priesthood
Rev. William Maher, OMI
60 Years Religious Life
Most Rev. Louis Lougen, OMI
Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
40 Years of priesthood
More Scenes from the Jubilee
Fr. Dale SChlitt opens the Mass flanked by Fr. Thomas Hayes (Left) and Roger Bergkamp (Right) Assisted by Oblate Novice, Mateusz Brzezinski.
One of the the Lectors is Oblate Novice, Chomba Kangwa,
The second reading is by Novice, Christopher Din
Fr. Roger Bergkamp reads the Gospel, Fr. Thomas Hayes is just behind him ready to deliver his homily.
All of the Jubilarians gather to bless the Gifts.