Originally Published on OMIWORLD.ORG

Click here to see the Article en Español

By Luis Ignacio ROIS ALONSO, OMI, Superior General

The Superior General, Fr. Luis Ignacio ROIS ALONSO, OMI, reflects on the season of Advent, drawing inspiration from Mary’s journey of faith and hope as she awaited the birth of Jesus. He also provides an update on the growth of the Oblate missions in Zimbabwe and Botswana, highlighting the challenges and opportunities they face in strengthening their presence in society and within the local Church.

Lately, I find myself reflecting on Mary’s Advent journey as she prepared for the birth of her Son, whom she had carried in her womb for months. She remains the humble daughter of Nazareth who served Elizabeth and then traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem. She deeply feels the profound nature of the One who will be born, Jesus the Savior, experiencing His presence in her daily life as she welcomes the Word and life itself. Hope continues to grow within her.

During my visit to our charismatic family in Zimbabwe and Botswana, I thanked God for the charism made visible in these two missions. At the same time, I was filled with strong hope for their immediate future. These missions must face their growth challenges with determination. They need to build structures that will make them more meaningful to society and to the local Church, always serving the poorest, strengthening community and missionary life, fostering local vocations, and helping our charismatic family grow through organizing, guiding, and journeying with lay groups. All of this unfolds in faithfulness to our Constitutions and Rules, during this Jubilee Year that calls us to live them with greater intensity.

I am grateful to all the Oblates and laypeople in Zimbabwe and Botswana for their hospitality and their “yes” to bringing the charism to life in their land. I also thank all those who have supported this pilgrimage with their prayers. We continue our journey forward together, sustained by prayer and our daily mission. I am thankful for your prayers, which will accompany me as I undertake the pilgrimage of hope in communion in the coming days to the youngest unit of the Congregation, the Mission in Ghana. With the Oblates there, I will celebrate, God willing, the Birth of Jesus, who brings hope and peace to all peoples. With them, I will begin these first steps into the Jubilee Year.

Merry Christmas to all, and may the Lord grant us grace and peace.