The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate serve poor and abandoned people in the United States and 70 countries around the world.

Oblates Gather for Retreat at King’s House – Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

King's House Retreat Ctr. at the Shrine

By Fr. Sal Gonzalez, OMI, Director, Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows and King’s House Retreat Center at the Shrine

Oblates attending retreat: (L-R) Fr. Mark Dean, Fr. David Kalert, Fr. Dale Schlitt, Fr. Paul Wightman, Fr. Joseph Hitpas, Fr. Allen Maes, Fr. Sal Gonzalez, Bro. George Litiya, Fr. Tony Rigoli, Fr. Clyde Rausch, (Kneeling) Fr. Arun Rosario.

From September 4-8, 2023, the Oblates gathered for their annual retreat at the new King’s House at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL.

Fr. Sal Gonzalez presenting at the retreat

The presenter for the retreat was Fr. Salvador Gonzalez, OMI, director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
The theme for the retreat was taken from the acts of the 37th General Chapter, Pilgrims Of Hope In Communion. Participants dived deeper into the themes of Pilgrimage, The Theology of Pilgrimage, The Spirituality of the Pilgrim, Eugene de Mazenod as Pilgrim, Oblate Ministry Sites as Places of Pilgrimage, and our Pilgrimage companions.

Visiting Oblate, Fr. Arun Rosario, (L) with Fr. Sal

The retreat gave Oblates the opportunity to see firsthand the new Kings House Retreat Center at the Shrine while also taking time to rest, pray, and socialize. Besides the Oblates from the Belleville area, Oblates Frs. Tony Rigoli, OMI came from New Orleans and Fr. Arun Rosario, OMI came from San Antonio.

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