Dear brothers,

Our country has entered a new era with the change of our political leaders.  There is much hope as there are enormous expectations of substantial change as well.  The country has deep-seated problems that can’t be resolved in the next six years of our new leadership.  There is the opportunity, though, to reverse the impunity of the previous administration and to lay the foundation anew for measures to address the nation’s most urgent concerns, particularly that of the rising poverty of our people.

Bearing again a measure of new hope, we face the challenges of our own Oblate ministry in this new pastoral year.

Let us begin by counting our blessings.  Bernard Ondap was ordained deacon in early June; and we look forward to Gaudencio Basada’s diaconate ordination on August 28.  On August 15, six scholastics will profess final vows as Oblates.  Our formation communities are also being enriched this year by the presence of two novices from Thailand, two novices from China, and one scholastic from China.  We thank the Lord for calling these men to his service, and we thank our formators for nurturing in them God’s gift of religious vocation.

Almost all who have been given new assignments have started to buckle down.  I am again grateful to those Oblates, who in their missionary spirit have accepted to be sent where they are needed.  Majority of the men have stayed put in their missions, striving to be faithful in the ministry God has called them to at this time.  I am happy too that our elderly and sick Oblates have settled at the “new” Bolduc Home in Xavierville, where we can attend to their needs more appropriately, and keep them accessible to their friends and brother Oblates, especially the young.  I also thank the Council members and district superiors for their ideas and support that led to the decisions on new assignments and directions.

We consider it a blessing too, that finally, the Adult Spirituality Program (ASP) got off the ground last May 17-21 at the Oblate Missionary Center.  Facilitated by Phil Estrella, twenty-four of our lay partners-in-mission, plus Dick Pommier, went through the experience of talks, sharing, and bonding time, focused on reclaiming a spirituality that is based on a mature image of God.  We received such good response about the program that we are now looking forward to the next batch of the program, to be held possibly at Notre Dame University’s place in Davao City.  Thank you to the following parishes, ministries, and institutions that sent in delegates to the first ASP: Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto; Sto. Nino Parish, Midsayap; St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Broce; the Oblate Provincial Office; Notre Dame of Greater Manila; Notre Dame of Midsayap College; Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation; Pangipasan Community School; Birhen ng Lourdes Parish, Bagong Barrio; Immaculate Conception Parish, Siasi; and the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate (MAMI).  I believe that we should be as committed to our lay partners’ ongoing formation as much as we are concerned about our own as Oblates.

On the first district recollection of this pastoral year, the Cotabato and Kidapawan districts came together for a joint session around the theme of Conversion, which is the motif of the coming 35th General Chapter of the Congregation.  Phil Estrella gave the talk in the morning, laying the ground for the deep sharing among groups in the afternoon.  On the whole, our gathering during recollection time is a moment of grace, such that I encourage everyone to grab that privilege and not to easily let it pass.  I remember a comment from Ron Rolheiser during one of our annual retreats when he said that we should keep coming to meetings, recalling that the Holy Spirit came to the disciples of Jesus while they were gathered at an upper room!

The last week of June and early July was one hectic week.  The Boards of Trustees of our four Oblate schools had their first meeting for the new school year.  The Extraordinary Provincial Council (EPC) also gathered to receive updates on the men and the mission.  For the very first time, the EPC was joined by Claudio Bertuccio, the Superior of the Delegation of Thailand.  He gave a report on the urgent concerns of the mission in Thailand-Laos, and listened as well to the reports from the other districts of the Philippine Province.  There was also a special joint meeting of the Formation Committee and the Ordinary Provincial Council (OPC) to tackle a matter of special concern in formation.  Finally, the OPC had its own meeting, primarily to receive the report of the Treasurer on the budget performance last pastoral year, and to approve this year’s budget.

Let me share a few insights from these meetings.

Our four Oblate schools are constantly looking at further ways to improve the quality of their educational service.  The effort at quality assurance revolves around gaining or sustaining accreditation of as many programs as possible or achieving and sustaining deregulation or autonomous status.  While each of our schools has a unique environment, certainly there are commonalities in their concerns.  High on the list is faculty and staff development, specifically in attaining the required percentage of faculty with graduate and postgraduate degrees.  Improving students’ performance is also a major concern, specially regarding passing professional board examinations.  While all four schools can be said to be stable financially, the challenge remains to ensure sustainability in an increasingly competitive environment.  Our schools are critically aware also of the sensitivity of the cost of our educational service, so as not to burden parents beyond reach.  I must give credit to the heads of our schools, other Oblates in the education ministry, our lay partners, and the respective Boards of Trustees, for their commitment and dedication to their responsibilities despite the many challenges.

At the level of the Extraordinary Provincial Council, the main focus of concern was that of effective animation in our houses and communities.  There is palpable thirst for deeper community life and more authentic religious life.  Sometimes, however, we are sorely lacking either in the skills to facilitate such in our communities, in basic charity towards our brothers, or in perseverance to overcome the challenges of living together.  Animation is only one part of the issue.  The other part is our personal willingness and investment of self as part of a religious community.

At the Ordinary Provincial Council, the main concern of our most recent meeting was the review of our budget performance and approval of this year’s budget.  We will find an opportunity during one of the district meetings this year to present these reports in more detail.  Suffice it to say here that the following are being attained regarding our finances: less reliance on funds from outside the Province; increasing contributions from the ministry of our members; and the increasing ability of the Province to fund programs and even capital expenditures of our ministries and communities.  Thanks are due to our Provincial Treasurer and his staff for their diligence and prudence; to our Oblate houses, schools, media entities, and retreat centers for their increased generosity; to our partners from within and outside the Province for their continued support; and last but not the least, to our deceased members for their patrimony!

What can we look forward to this year?

For one, we must join in the spirit of the 35th General Chapter in its call for “a new heart, a new spirit, a new mission”.  Pray for a fruitful meeting that will address the future of the Congregation at a time of ever-growing challenges.  Pray more so that we all can take on the tasks that the Chapter will call us to.

There remain to be daunting challenges in our mission.  While violent conflicts have somehow abated particularly in Central Mindanao, the repercussions of previous incidents persist.  As Oblates called to “struggle with those most affected by conflicts,” we need to find ways to support those among us in such ministry, and to continue to search for ways, in all the venues and tracks available, to help resolve conflicts.  The poverty of the majority of our people calls us to find even more creative ways to help them out of their rut.  While ministering to them in their spiritual needs, integral development demands that we also make an effort to look after their other basic human needs.  These concerns will be foremost in our minds when we tackle in the next few weeks the strengthening of the Oblate Missionary Foundation, which can become the vehicle for our efforts at integral social transformation.

On a personal note, I must admit that I am already on “transition mode”.  Steadily, I am beginning to tie loose ends of the components of the program or “strategy” that we set out on at the beginning of my term as Provincial, with our Vision as guiding light.  Clearly, some have been unattended to and unfulfilled.  In some areas, I felt we were able to accomplish some good.  In this last year of my term, I hope to make sense of where we’ve been in the last six years, to report it to you and our partners, and to manage the transition to the next leadership team of our Province.

With the mandate from the coming Chapter and a rough “evaluation” of the last six years in our Province, it will perhaps be time to deepen our understanding of the Vision we have set for ourselves, and help the next leadership team chart our next course.

                                                                                          Fraternally yours,

                                                                                          Ramon Ma. Bernabe, O.M.I.