It’s the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the feast of Christ the King. Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the USA and next Sunday we begin Advent. I can hardly believe it. Pretty soon I’ll be headed to the States for some r and r. I’m looking forward to it. The only glitch is that the seven men headed for Brazil still have no visas from the Brazilian embassy. The end result may be that they’ll be refused and then what? I hope they can begin the process again but this time apply as “students” and not as “religious”. But they’ve gotten hints that they may not be able to do that. And to think that if they had applied as "students" they would have left in early October. What a mess. I thinking of asking for permission to have their novitiate here (my original request which was refused)so we’ll see. Dealing with the administration of the South American/Caribbean Province is very frustrating. More on that later.
This week I got one of the thousands of “group e-mails” that get sent by friends and others thinking that “This is cute” or “You’ll like this” etc. Well this one I did like. It is a quote from Steven Colbert. I’ve heard he is a comedian who assumes a very conservative stance as part of his act, but in reality he mocks many ideas of the right. Anyway, here’s an example:
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we’ve got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition — and then admit that we just don’t want to do it. — Steven Colbert
I thought it was funny.
Well I’ve been wasting time trying to think of something to write, things like what happened this week or my observations on one thing or another but nothing is coming. I wrote above that dealing with the Administration of the SA/C Province is frustrating, well it got more than “frustrating” this week. Thursday at the end of an e-mail from one of the Haitian scholastics who is Brazil continuing his studies – one of the seven who chose to leave the country after the earthquake – he let me know that the first Haitian Oblate is to be ordained a priest on February 12 in BRAZIL! My heart was broken. I have tried to convince the Provincial and his Assistant when they were here in August that this ordination must take place in Haiti. It is so very symbolic. It says the Oblates of St Francis de Sales are here in Haiti and intend to stay. Buying property is one thing. Even building a house of formation is another, but we need more. We need real, living Haitians to make there their vows here and to be ordained here.
On top of all this I have heard not one word from the Provincial or his council about this decision. It was only indirectly that I learned this information. In spite of all my pleading and Tom Hagan’s as well, they are just going ahead and doing what they want. So, long story short, you friend Tom is not a happy camper these days. What is ironic is that I just finished Ravier’s life of St. Francis de Sales our patron and model. He was so given to do the will of God. I’m fond of saying, “What is, is” and it’s up to me, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discern just what God is saying in the events of everyday. Well, what about this situation? It seems to me that the Haitian point of view is being completely overlooked. As for me, I feel God sent me here. I did not know why but since the earthquake especially, I seem to be the one appointed to hold the Oblate foundation together since all the professed Oblates and the Brazilian Oblate superior all left the country. So I feel I have a role to play and that role is to speak up for Haiti and the Haitian foundation. I’m not to sit back and simply go along with any decision that comes out of Brazil. The Postulants can’t speak up for themselves. Like the postulants of any religious congregation they are at the bottom of the ladder and have no voice. So I’m their voice and with Tom Hagan I’m aware of the situation here in Haiti. We know what’s going on. The Brazilians simply do not. It’s as simple as that. I had to swallow hard last August when the Provincial and his Assistant, over our pleas, said that the seven postulants had to go to Brazil for their novitiate and not make it here in Haiti. (Isn’t it ironic that the Brazilian government seems to be at odds with the Brazilian Oblates’ plan?) Anyway, enough! I’m in the process of contacting the “powers that be” to get this decision turned around. Wish me luck.
I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Keep me in your prayers. You are in mine. Tom
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1 comments:
Padre!!! I am so glad to have found this blog again. I do think of you and your works often and send prayers your way. It sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you. I wish you tons of luck.
Family note: everyone is growing fast. Our beautiful Karli is in her 3rd year at Michigan - Go Blue! She is in the Engineering School concentrating in the mechanical field. So proud of her. Karin is a Chemical Engineer (graduated from Michigan as well) and lives in Chicago. She has two beautiful children and an awesome husband. Keith graduated from Grand Valley State with a Bachelors of Science Degree. He lives in Dundee, MI with his lovely wife and daughter and son. Kyle is still playing his music but has a significant other with an 8year old and a son due in January. So as you can see my family is growing. My mom has lived with us for the past 4 years. She is still very independent but the house was just to much for her alone. Besides there is more action at my house. She will turn 90 on Dec 30th. I'm really honored to have her stay with us.
So once again, super excited to have found you again. I pray for your continued good works in Haiti and your safety. Happy Thanksgiving Padre, until we meet again. Love Camilla
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