IN THIS ISSUE

Poem

From the desk of
Fr. Louis Studer, O.M.I.

Fr. Lou's Mailbag

Oblates Welcome Pope John Paul II to Lourdes

Oblate Crossings

Tota Pulchra

Oblate Profile

Oblates Celebrate 40 Years in Brazil

Finding God in
Ordinary Things

The Year of the Eucharist

Why Do We...

Donor Profile


Fr. Paul Byrne, O.M.I., in Maynooth, Ireland, received the James Larkin Justice Award.  Every year, the Irish Labour Party gives this award to someone who has made an outstanding contribution in the area of justice or human rights.  Fr. Byrne, known as a champion of workers’ rights, was the former Director of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants.  As Director, Fr. Byrne focused on the plight of elderly Irish in Britain, often poor and homeless, and on the needs of Irish prisoners in foreign jails.  After his acceptance speech for the Justice Award, Fr. Byrne received a standing ovation.

Fr. Ted Pfeifer, O.M.I., who ministered in Oaxaca, Mexico, has become the subject of a recent independent film.  The film, titled The Oath, depicts the valiant efforts of Fr. Pfeifer who opposed drug traffickers that terrorized the Oaxaca farmers.  Speaking out against these traffickers, Fr. Pfeifer received many death threats.  Eventually, he was assassinated in the Sierra Madre Mountains, and his killers have not yet been brought to justice.  The film, written and directed by Luisa Zapata, was produced to honor the courage and bravery of this one man.  Plans for release of this movie are in progress.

Watch a Special Oblate Film on the Hallmark Channel!

An exciting new video produced by the award-winning Oblate Media and Communication Corporation will soon be broadcast on the Hallmark Channel. The film, Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith, presents a fascinating look at the growing Asian and Pacific Islander population in the U.S. Lea Salonga, Tony Award-winning actress hosts. This unique documentary explores many cultural groups including Filipinos, Vietnamese, Chinese, Samoan, and Indian. Also, the film hears from the first three Asian American Roman Catholic bishops. Please, support Oblate Media and tune in to witness this wonderful event.

Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith hosted by Lea Salonga will be presented by The World of Faith and Values on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, February 13, 2005, at Noon Eastern and Pacific Time, 11:00 a.m. Central, and 10:00 a.m. Mountain.