Thank you for giving us the chance to help with the Apostolic Work of the Oblates ….this gives us the motivation to continue on doing what the Lord has assigned us to do from the start of our life…
In order to better serve their communities, certain OMV apostolates require special attention and resources. The growing demand for lay faith formation, spiritual direction, retreats and pastoral ministry has increased the need for renovations, additional staff, and operational funds.
Restore St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine
St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine serves as the heart and soul of the Oblate mission in the United States and is also the home of Our Lady of Grace Seminary in downtown Boston. Both St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine and Our Lady of Grace Seminary are in need of significant restoration and renovation. The gathering and meeting space was designed decades ago and requires a complete renovation to address safety, security and accessibility concerns.
These improvements include:
- Complete restoration of the sandstone façade
- Improved space for young adult and spiritual direction ministry
- Handicap access for those with mobility challenges
- Restoration of the historic stained glass windows
The restoration is projected to cost $1 million. We are especially grateful for the matching gift challenge of $75,000 to help us see our dreams for the Shrine become a reality.
Restoration Progress
The facade restoration (Phase I) was completed this past winter and the landscaping was repaired this spring. In addition, the window restoration is now complete.
Keep St. Joseph’s Retreat House Affordable
Since its beginning in 2009, St. Joseph Retreat House has gained a national reputation, serving more than four thousand people from thirty-five states. Each has come to St. Joseph to make a directed retreat, receive spiritual direction, and find solace in the midst of a noisy world. St. Joseph Retreat House also coordinates many retreats and parish missions given by Oblates throughout the United States.
To keep up with the growing need and ensure affordability, the retreat house needs additional support in the following areas:
- Developing a program for training spiritual directors
- Developing materials and resources for a spiritual formation program
- Managing grounds and facilities
- Covering the operational costs of the retreat house
These costs will add up to $100,000 annually.
Progress Toward Ensuring Affordability
We’re proud to say that retreats have been offered with no price increase in over 3 years. In 2018, the Oblates graduated its first class of new spiritual directors in the Boston area, and the program is currently at capacity with 18 trainees working toward graduation in 2020. The grounds and facilities of St. Joseph’s Retreat House are well-maintained, providing a peaceful space for prayer and reflection.
Enhance Program Development at the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality
The Lanteri Center exists to make spiritual direction more available to all who want to grow in their relationship with the Lord. The Center is renowned internationally for its training programs in the art and ministry of spiritual direction. Since its inception, hundreds have participated in the formation programs and dozens have been certified to be spiritual directors.
The Lanteri Center is now ready to enhance and expand the satellite spiritual direction program, the summer residential program for forming spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition, and the Ignatian spirituality program for parishes.
Developing a program with qualified teachers and materials requires a significant investment of time and resources. Over the next five years, the Center will require an additional $50,000 annually to launch these initiatives. In response to the recent growth, the Lanteri Center is envisioning adding a Program Director position.
Progress Toward Program Development
In 2017, seven new spiritual directors from graduated from the spiritual director program. We’re anticipating graduating 14 new spiritual directors from two programs in 2018. As for 2019, we anticipate:
- 21 spiritual directors from OMV’s new satellite program in Los Angeles, California
- 22 spiritual directors from the Lanteri Center in Denver, Colorado
Establish an Oblate Center for Spiritual Formation
Four Oblates collaborate in the important work of forming men to be priests and deacons at St. John Vianney Theological Archdiocesan Seminary in Denver. We have acquired a permanent residence for the Oblate priests. We plan to optimize the use of this property by expanding and transforming it into a true center for spiritual formation.
Transforming the property will add:
- Chapel: Sacred space for worship and prayer
- House of Formation: Accommodations for seminarians and novices during novitiate year
- Additional rooms for spiritual direction, retreats and study
The transformation of this property is underway, and the projected total cost for the Oblate Center for Spiritual Formation is $1 million.
Launch Nunc Coepi Ministries
As the demand for the gifts and expertise of the Oblates continues to grow, we have the opportunity to guide and support these works more strategically under one philosophy aligned with the charism of the Founder, to be known as Nunc Coepi Ministries.
These ministries include:
- Oblates work in the New Evangelization using all forms of media, including live streaming the daily Mass, webinars, podcasts, blogs, social media, short and long form video production, and various forms of digital publishing.
- Seminars and workshops in Discernment and Spiritual Formation in the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
- Seminars and workshops in Serving Leadership, which trains parish and business leaders to lead and serve like Christ
Nunc Coepi Ministries is projected to cost $250,000.
Progress Toward Launching Nunc Coepi Ministries
The Oblates have steadily improved our online presence, streaming Mass live on Facebook, developing video blogs and making appearances on EWTN and Catholic TV, while continuing to publish new books. The seminars and workshops remain a popular offering at Universities and parishes throughout the United States. The development of Serving Leadership seminars is underway and segments have been presented to test groups as part of the development process.