Provincial Names New Members to Mazenodian Family Committee

By Fr. David Muñoz, OMI, Director of Mazenodian Family Activities and Planning

U.S. Provincial, Fr. Lou Studer, OMI, has appointed additional members to the Mazenodian Family Committee. The move reflects a richer representation of the various groups in the U.S. that live the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod in partnership with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

The directory for the Mazenodian Family in the U.S. describes the work of the Office for Mazenodian Family Activities and Planning and the Mazenodian Family Committee as follows:

The charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod is a gift of the Spirit to the Church, and it radiates throughout the world. Lay people recognize that they are called to share in the charism according to their state in life… (R. 37 a & b)

Inspired by the charism of the Holy Spirit given to St. Eugene de Mazenod, many have chosen to walk in the footsteps of the Apostles. While the various branches differ in their mission, their belonging to the Mazenodian Family celebrates the unity shared in the common mission to evangelize the poor and most abandoned.

The Mazenodian Family Committee seeks to support this unity by providing  a space for deeper relationship and spiritual growth for mission.

We shall support lay people in the discernment and development of their own talents and charisms, encouraging them to undertake ministries and apostolic commitments and thus to shoulder the responsibilities which are properly  theirs in the Christian community. (R. 7F)

 The new committee members are:

For the Honorary Oblates we welcome back Mary Lou Anderson, from San Antonio, TX.

For the Oblate Associates, Michele Divito from Buffalo, NY.

For the Missionary Oblate Partnership, Bonnie Gittinger from San Antonio, TX.

For Oblate Youth, Joyce Mendez from San Diego, CA.

For Oblate Mission Supporters, Richard Vasquez, from San Antonio, TX.

For Oblate Employees, Lori Kelly from Belleville, IL.

The previous members of the committee that remain are:
Fr. David Muñoz, O.M.I.-Chair/ Oblate Associates
Fr. Frank Santucci, O.M.I.-Advisor
Fr. Lou Studer, O.M.I. (Provincial)-ex oficio
Fr. Art Flores, O.M.I. (Vicar Provincial-ex oficio
Fr. Billy Morell, O.M.I.-Honorary Oblates
Artie Pingolt- Missionary Oblate Partnership
Fr. Jesse Esqueda, O.M.I.- Oblate Youth/ Oblate Afiliados
Fr. David Uribe, O.M.I.- Oblate Mission Supporters