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IN THIS ISSUE
From the Desk of
Fr. John Madigan, O.M.I.
Oblates Begin Mission with Secularity
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Who are “the poor?”
Most people would answer this question by referring to people who have limited finances. But “the poor” can also refer to people who are “poor in spirit.” And a group of Oblates has undertaken a new ministry to reach out to these impoverished people.
“As missionaries we seek to be available for God to send us to the poorest of the poor, the most abandoned and marginal,” explains Fr. John Ettensohn, O.M.I. “Sometimes that may mean not only those who are economically disadvantaged but also, and especially in this well-to-do country, those who are mired in a spiritual poverty that can breed despair, depression and chaos in their lives.”
Last summer Fr. John, along with Oblate Brothers Pat McGee and Paul Daly, began a Mission with Secularity initiative that reaches out to people who are poor in spirit in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. This team of Oblates is working to bring hope to people who are caught up in the secular world, people who see no need for God in their lives.
The three Oblates are concerned with the ever-increasing number of people in this country who don’t believe in God, who haven’t heard much about God or who don’t see the need for God in their lives. Father John explains that the people they are trying to reach are simply unaware of the dignity that is theirs as people made in God’s image and likeness.
“For now it is important for us to go out and meet people, trusting that God will lead us to make connections, network and forge partnerships with others who live in this city and seek to make the world a better place,” adds Bro. Pat.
With the blessing of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the team has rented a small house near Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI). The university has 30,000 students and no Catholic chaplaincy. In addition to reaching out to students and faculty at IUPUI, the team is also working with a variety of neighborhood associations and businesses in downtown Indianapolis to get the word out about the new program.
Brother Paul noted that he has been in contact with members of the Center for Inquiry in Indianapolis. The center is for people who openly proclaim their atheist or agnostic position.
“I have made it a point to drop in occasionally and have conversation,” says Bro. Paul. “So far I have not met with any open hostility or rejection.”
Finding people who are “poor in spirit” has been the first task of the team. Since these people are not at church, retreat houses or other spiritual environments, the Oblates are hitting the pavement to visit local clubs and get involved in community activities. In the future they may be involved in more overt activities such as giving brief presentations at local coffee shops as a way of getting to know and engage people in conversation.
“This ministry has rekindled anew the missionary fire in me,” says
Fr. John. “I’m looking
forward to addressing what
I have no doubt will be
some very real challenges
in this work. I ask for
your prayers as we take on
this new ministry that we
can be open in mind and
heart to God’s Spirit, who
I believe will go before us
leading the way.”
To learn more about the Oblate Mission with Secularity program, visit www.missionwithsecularity.org