552 - February 2015
January 7th, 2015 - February 1st, 2015

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

From 17-21 November 2014, the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome was a hive of activities as it hosted the 7^th World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants. The Congress which is held every five years had as its theme: “Cooperation and Development in the Pastoral Care of Migrants.” The Congress gathered more than 300 participants from around the world and among them was Father Kennedy KATONGO, Director for the OMI JPIC General Service in Rome.

Welcoming the participants was Antonio Maria Cardinal Veglio, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant people. During the five day meeting, there were informative talks, presentations on the migrant situation in various parts of the world, and round-table debates.

The fifth and final day included an audience with the Pope Francis. During the audience Pope Francis expressed gratitude to all people that are dedicated to the work of helping migrants. The Holy Father continued by saying that “The final Document from your last meeting five years ago affirmed that ‘migration is… an invitation to imagine a different future, which seeks the development of the whole human race; this includes then every human being with his or her spiritual and cultural potential and contribution to a more equitable world marked by global solidarity and by full respect for human dignity and life.’” The Holy Father remarked that, “Today, notwithstanding new developments and the emergence of situations which are at times painful and even tragic, migration is still an aspiration of hope.”

He stated that “pastoral workers play an important role through initiating dialogue, welcoming and assisting with legal issues, mediating with the local population. In the countries of origin, on the other hand, the closeness of pastoral workers to the families and children of migrant parents can lessen the negative repercussions of the parents’ absence.”

As Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, we cannot remain indifferent to the events in our world today. We ask ourselves, where do we fit in and what is our prophetic role in safeguarding the rights of migrants? (Kennedy Katongo)

To read the Holy Father’s full address, visithttp://goo.gl/nXOkns

In the above table, each Oblate is counted in the Region to which he belongs. For example, the Oblates in Zambia are counted only in Africa-Madagascar, although they are members of the United States Province. The scholastics in Rome are listed in their home Region. “B1.” indicates perpetually professed Brothers, and “B2” the Brothers who are still in first formation. PD refers to an Oblate Brother who is a permanent deacon.

Summary
(as of January 2015)

* The number of Brothers in temporary vows reported in 2013 was incorrect.

Personnel by Unit
(as of 20 January 2015)

The next table shows the number of Oblates according to the Unit to which they belong. For example, all the Oblates attached to the Zambia Delegation are listed there, even though they are juridically members of the United States Province, or may be temporarily living elsewhere. Some of the Zambian scholastics are in Cedara, others in the U.S. etc.

General Administration

Deaths andDepartures - 2014

Deaths in 2014:107 (92 Priests, 15 Brothers)
2013: 95 2012:103 2011:108 2010: 92 2009: 110 2008: 91

Departures reported in 2014: 131 (19 priests, 105 scholastics, 7 Brothers)
2013: 116 (19 priests, 91 scholastics, 6 Brothers)
2012: 74 (22 priests, 49 scholastics, 3 Brothers)
2011: 47 (16 priests, 31 scholastics)
2010: 51 (12 priests, 39 scholastics)
2009: 49 (11 priests, 35 scholastics, 3 Brothers)
2008: 75 (16priests, 54 scholastics, 5 Brothers)

2014

-99 scholastics did not renew their temporary vows.
-5 scholastics were dispensed from temporary vows.
-6 Brothers did not renew their temporary vows.
-1 Brother was dispensed from perpetual vows
-2 priests were dismissed “ipso jure” from the Congregation.
-5 priests were dismissed from the Congregation.
-8 priests were laicized.
-1 scholastic deacon was laicized
-4 priests were definitively incardinated into a diocese.