Oblate Profile - Fr. Louie Lougen, O.M.I.

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Fr. Louie Lougen, O.M.I.

In his hometown of Getzville, NY, young Louie Lougen often felt God’s presence as he played in the creeks and forests. He knew God had plans for him but it wasn’t until he attended Bishop Neumann High School in nearby Buffalo, that he began to sense just what God had in mind.

It was at Bishop Neumann High School that Louie first came to know the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Throughout his time at the Oblate-staffed school, Louie was inspired by the missionary charism of the Oblates and he was moved by the deep sense of community that the Oblates shared.

Soon after graduation, Louie entered Our Lady of Hope Seminary in Newburgh, NY. Growing in faith and commitment, he took his first vows at the Novitiate in Godfrey, IL, then set off for Oblate College in Washington, D.C. It was there, that Louie met Fr. Bill Reinhard, O.M.I., and Fr. Peter Curran, O.M.I., who spoke about their Oblate ministries in Brazil. Intrigued by their passion for ministry, Louie set off for the Oblate missions in Brazil where his fate as an Oblate would be sealed.

“In Brazil,” he explains, “I saw the presence of God in people who had nothing but poverty and hardship. Their resilience in the midst of destitution was truly amazing.” A year later, Louie was ordained and soon returned to Brazil as an Oblate missionary priest.

For the next 18 years, Fr. Louie reached out to the poor in Brazil. He ministered in various regions from the city of Sao Paulo, to the coffee fields of Pocos de Caldas, and even in the jungles of the Amazon. “It was in Brazil, that I learned to be a priest,” he explains. “The Oblate coat of arms reads – He sent us to evangelize the poor. The poor are being evangelized. – I was sent to preach the Gospel to the poor and yet I witnessed the Holy Spirit at work in the beautiful people of Brazil. They brought me closer to God. They evangelized me!”

In 1996, Fr. Louie returned to the United States and served as Associate Pastor and Associate Director of the pre-novitiate at Holy Angels parish in Buffalo, NY. Later, he became the Pastor of Holy Angels before being transferred to the novitiate in Godfrey, IL, to serve as the Director of Novices in 2002.

Fr. Louie brought a great deal of passion and knowledge to the novices at Godfrey. He had a wealth of missionary experience as well as a great deal of experience in formation. “It was a true privilege to participate in the journey of formation,” he says. “It is exciting to be with the young men as they discern their calling to religious life and priesthood. It is such a holy time of their lives.”

After just two years in Godfrey, Fr. Louie was called to move again to Washington, D.C. This time, he was called to become the Provincial Superior of the United States Missionary Oblates. He brings a wealth of experience, passion, and fervor to his new position. Fr. Louie hopes that during his time as Provincial he can help the Oblates continue to grow as a faith community. “I hope we will continue to grow as a real communion of brothers and share our mission with others. We must be with the poor and we must have a strong faith community. Of course, most importantly, we must listen to God and hear what God wants us to do.”