1. Albert Lacombe, OMI
1827 – 1916
Volume 8, Number 19 June 03, 2011
OBLATE ASSOCIATES
MOVING AHEAD
In this issue...
OBLATE ASSOCIATES MOVING
AHEAD……...….………………..….....…..1
PRAYER OF SPRING…………………….2
VISIT THE MAZENOD COMMUNITY.….3
BOB HAGERTY OMI………...……..…..5
ANNOUNCEMENT………………..……...7
NEXT ISSUE OF INFO LACOMBE WILL BE
JUNE 10, 2011.
Eleanor Rabnett appointed Oblate Associate
Saskatoon Office- Communications project director.
TEL: 306 244 1556
FAX: 306 242 8916
CELL: 306 370 7581
By Nestor Gregoire OMI.

2. Volume 8, Number 19
June 03, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
PRAYER OF SPRING from the same place. This was manifested in
the possibility statements that we worked on
Brian Jayawardhana OMI May 6, 1998. Edmonton last August. There is a vibrant desire to
connect with each other. We have a strong
Energize me, Lord, sense that we are working into something
with the energy of Springtime much bigger than just ourselves at the local
level.”
Open my ears and mind
like the tender buds of Spring
to the voices around me She has reviewed the statements that have
evolved from the Oblate General Chapters
Paint my heart with the colors of Spring over the past fifteen years. “The sense of
so that I could reach out associate identity has been building up.”
and enrich those who surround me
The Commission sees that we want to come
to the point where there is a commonly
agreed and shared identity. If an associate
Working quietly in the background the
moves from one part of the country they will
Associates Commission of OMI Lacombe
fit into the associates in the new Oblate
has moved from being the working group to
community.
appointing a project manger who will seek to
bring together the different district associate
groups and explore how we can build a Eleanor hopes that a web page for Oblate
Lacombe Province associate identity. associates can be established with regular
monthly communication. Once again she
reinterates, “How can we share with each
Several times in this conversation Eleanor
other? This is such a huge country.” Email
lamented how difficult it is to develop a
and the telephone are very helpful but are
commonly accepted understanding when our
limited. The distance of this country is part of
people are scattered from coast to coast to
the hard reality.
coast. The distance must be crossed as we
hope to build a shared sense of mission and
identity. She hopes to travel and meet the Oblates and
associates in the districts and find out what
the signs of our common identities actually
The development of the role of associates has
are. “What are our hopes and fears? What
been shaped by each district. Some districts
brings us together?”
have their own prayer and commitment
rituals. Other districts do not have any form
of ritual commitment. At the moment each There is a strong sense of wisdom in this
district is operating on its own. work. “If all we have is our own little districts
we will peter out. It is in the community,
where we need each other, that we will grow
Eleanor took a step back in her description of
this new work. “We all seem to be coming
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3. Volume 8, Number 19
June 03, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
and sustain this gift of being called to be an The interview concluded: “It has not been
Oblate associate.” easy but it was the truth as we live it out and
see it progress along the path.”
The associates need to be connected. She
related how the shared prayer that she has VISIT THE MAZENOD
begun with the Ottawa associates has been COMMUNITY
very helpful and bringing and keeping the
associates together.
When asked to speak about her own
participation as an Oblate associate Eleanor’s
voice moves markedly faster. “God calls me
to life in the community. This gives me life!
God has given me you Oblates and this call is
pure gift!” There was a slight break in the
words. “With you and other lay people we are
on the same path. Being on the same path has
given me life.”
The Missionary Oblates of St. Mary’s
Province planned and then saw to the
Eleanor is very frank in admitting that this construction of Mazenod Residence as a
call was most unexpected. “My call is tied facility with two wings: one for the
into the love of God and me becoming members of the Provincial
faithful to what God created me to be. Administration, the other with twelve
suites for retiring Oblates. The first six
residents moved into the just completed
“The charism of St. Eugene has really played building on January 31, 1983. For the
a part in this call. It was his value of most of these twenty-eight years,
introducing people to a better life and Mazenod has operated at near full
bringing God into that work and then capacity.
teaching them of the love of God. He was
bringing them to God.” In fact, due to the demand for more space
for the retired, the Provincial
Administration moved into other quarters
There is a strong identification with St. in 1999, thereby permitting the entire
Eugene’s conversion experience. “I am drawn facility to become a home of retirement
to that!” and nursing care. In recent years, due to a
diminishing number of Oblate candidates,
we have extended welcome to diocesan
“I am still growing in my sense of being clergy. Presently we have twenty
missionary. It is in this call to be missionary
that I am going live out this call. My whole
being responds!”
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4. Volume 8, Number 19
June 03, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
Oscar Delange OMI joined the Mazenod Joe Zoller OMI , teacher, pastor and librarian has
Community fourteen years ago. Everyone always been a good friend to all. He is always
appreciates the fresh produce from his large remembered for his mischievous smile!
garden.
residents, five of whom are diocesan more walking trails than the sidewalks,
priests. there is the Meewasin Valley trail along
the river for approximately ten
Four of our residents require level four or kilometers. Each resident enjoys a
total nursing care. Another four receive completely furnished suite which includes
level three care. The remainder of the a large living room, a bedroom, a full
eighteen residents are at the first and bath, a kitchenette, a small fridge and an
second level care. air conditioner. In addition, each resident
has the use of the common air-
Mazenod offers its residents around-the- conditioned areas: dining room, chapel,
clock nursing and palliative care. Our recreation room and TV room. A library
employees number sixteen, which include with exercising/fitness equipment is also
nurses, care-aides, cooks, housekeepers, available.
as well as one secretary-receptionist. We
share with Queen’s House Retreat and Our family physician makes a weekly
Renewal Center a picturesque seven acre visit and is also on call when needed. We
plot of land on the banks of the are a faith community, daily celebrating
Saskatchewan River, only fifteen minutes the Eucharist and the liturgy of the hours
from the airport. (morning and evening). The full meal
service of nutritious and tasty food is
All the living space overlooks the done with a focus on the needs of the
Saskatchewan River. For those wanting elderly. Every resident is provided with
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5. Volume 8, Number 19
June 03, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
full maintenance and housekeeping community on the Siska Reserve. This
service. Free cable and internet hook-up Reserve has historical significance because
is offered, as is parking and winter Chief Crowfoot came from there. This was
plugins. also the place where Chief Crowfoot assured
Fr. Lacombe that the Blackfoot would not
We understand our ministry at Mazenod
to be a ministry of presence and join in the 1985 rebellion. There was always a
accompaniment to those who have served good relationship between the two peoples.
the Church a life-time. It is a ministry In impeccable detail Bob remembers his first
that intentionally affirms the dignity of Communion on Christmas Eve with the
the elderly, and attempts to do so in a Blackfoot people in 1945.
comfortable family atmosphere.
He always knew that he wanted to be a priest
BOB HAGERTY OMI but began a military career, obtaining a
chemical engineering degree in the process
By Nestor Gregoire OMI but after eight years and service in Europe he
terminated his military life and went to the
Oblate novitiate in 1964. He remembers
fondly the many friends from his military life
who have become very famous Canadians.
The friendship of early military life is still
very strong.
In 1971 he was ordained in Trochu, Alberta,
where his parents had relocated.
Bob has served thirty nine of his forty years
as a priest in the Diocese of Kamloops. He
began his first five years in the Okanagan
with the Shuswap peoples. In 1976 he was
moved to the Chilcotin people for the next ten
years. These are a different people with their
own language and culture. From 1986-92 he
was moved to the West side of the Diocese to
Mount Currie and the building of a church in
the small town of Whistler. Then over to the
East side to North Thompson until 1996. With
Bob Hagerty OMI sharing his analytic thoughts. a brief one year stint at Annunciation Parish
in Edmonton he returned to Lillooet in 1997.
Our Bob has Oblate connections that go back He has always ministered in the smaller
to his very early years. He was born in communities in conjunction with ministry to
Calgary but his father took a job as grain First Nations peoples. There is a sense of
buyer in Cluny, Alberta, and moved his pride when he admits that wherever he has
family of four children. It was there that he been, he has always felt at home and is
became involved with the Catholic
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6. Volume 8, Number 19
June 03, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
food to eat but who also shares the food he
finds in the dumpsters with other needy
people. He continues: “Some are confirmed
alcoholics who really are diamonds in the
rough. These are people who are not
comfortable with ever going to church and
they do not know anything about the
Eucharist,” but they have their living
relationship with God.
Of these people there are those who have
been abandoned and people who have fallen
prey to drug addictions. “I spend time with
them. I will be with these people even if
nothing will change in their lives. I have the
connected with the peoples with whom he
patience and the will to do so.”
lived.
In his continuous and quiet manner he adds,
There has always been a sensitivity for the
“I make myself available and do what I can.
disabled adult in the Bob’s life. Looking back
There is the occasional homeless person and I
he can see that he received good preparation
try to find them some shelter.” All of this
for pastoral ministry by his involvement
takes time, energy and emotional concerns.
before his ordination in the ministry of
“This is my way of being an Oblate which is
Collins Bay Peniteniary in Ontario. As part
beyond the Sunday.” He continues to frame
of his training he also worked for several
his concern with “the marginalized have been
summers to help pay for his education. His
important to me.”
work in the prisons alerted him to the number
of young men who were incarcerated and the
The Fountain Lake Pilgrimage, held annually
length of time they were to be in jail.
around August 15, the Feast of the
His involvement with the Cursillo movement
Assumption of Mary, has been a significant
within the prison system and later on, taking
part of the Bob’s ministry. This pilgrimage
part in the Return to Spirit healing program,
was begun in Bishop Exner’s time and is very
have shaped his attitude and outlook to the
much a celebration of the faith of the First
people who are having difficulties coping
Nations people along with Caucasian peoples.
with life. “I am comfortable with the healing
There are many native speakers who share
process,” he adds camly.
their faith and life stories. Each has a richness
to share of where they are in the life of the
In his soft spoken way Bob speaks of his
Church. There is adoration throughout the
strong concern for the people who are having
weekend. This small pilgrimage is unique
a very hard time getting through life. There
within Canada, but it is very rustic. Everyone
are thirteen people whose condition he is very
must camp out for the weekend.
concerned about. He speaks of the man who
is does ‘dumpster diving’ to try to find some
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7. Volume 8, Number 19
June 03, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
Looking back over his Oblate life Bob level of assisted care is available as needed but
sincerely concludes: “I have always been residents must meet established physical and
happy and never refused to move when I was mental criteria for independent living.
asked to move to another mission. I always
enjoyed the people and made many life-long For further information, contact Marlene
friends in the places I have lived.” Leonard, Residence Administrator;
Telephone: 613 567 0371 Fax: 613 567 0967
Hospitality has been an integral part of his
Email: springhurstadministrator@oblates.ca
life. When speaking of his involvement in
Oblate community Bob continued, “But I
have always made community with the
people where I lived. So many of these are
life-long friendships.”
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Visit the website of Bountyfull House
(Vancouver). Father Larry Mackey, Sister
Monica Guest and the staff at Bountyfull
House in Vancouver, Canada have been
working for over twenty years with recovery
from all forms of addiction and abuse.
www.bountyfullhouse.org
Qu’Appelle House of Prayer. website:
www.qhpstillness.ca
The Springhurst Residence, an Oblate
community of retired and active residents,
currently has a vacancy. We are open to
applications from Oblates seeking a full
service facility in a welcoming, quiet
environment to enjoy retirement, pursue long
term studies or other employment.
The Residence is centrally located in Ottawa in
a tranquil setting by the Rideau River near St
Paul’s University. Springhurst offers a spacious
private suite with ensuite bathroom. Monthly
rent includes all meals, housekeeping, laundry
facilities, access to chapel, shared reception
rooms and outdoor patio and garden space. A
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