A Living Stories Project
The Western Province - a Mosaic of other Provinces
On the trail of the Oblates of the West and seeking to understand the uniqueness
of this Oblate mission, my guide explains to me on the way to the airport how this
province was made up of personnel from several other provinces from the start.
Originally the Oblate presence in the West belonged to the
Eastern Province in the north, Washington State and Oregon, and to the Texas Province in
the south, especially California. When in 1953, the USA was divided territorially into
five provinces, the personnel sent to strengthen and expand the mission came from the
other four provinces. Two of the provincials came from the Northern Province, and
others came from the East and the Central province along with the Texas Oblates who had
expanded their Hispanic work to the west coast, and into Mexico. As far as a province that
looks at the prospect of amalgamation, it was an amalgamated province from the start.
Oblates from Spain and Ireland
In the late 1950's, the Spanish Province sent four of their young ordinands to the
Western Province and two to the Texas province. These men were involved in parish
work among the Mexican-American communities and formed themselves into a mission
band to preach all over the west. One recalled with great joy the work of the missions and
the inspiration it gave him to see people change, and lives turned around.
"I am a Spanish Oblate with an American citizenship now working in Mexico," he
told me," so I know a bit about what it is to be all things to all
people."
The Irish province also sent out some of their men to this part of the Oblate world
adding an international flavor to the ranks.
Returning Missionaries
You have to add to these numbers the men who
were returning missionaries receiving their second obedience to the USA but to this
province, not to their province of origin. A few had come from the
Philippines, and others from Hong Kong or Japan.
The Locals
I asked one of the Oblates born in Washington State how many of the men were from this
part of the world. He could only name half a dozen.
The impact of diversity?
The diversity of the personnel here makes me want to ask how that has affected their
sense of mission and outlook on the world. Does it mean the province is open to a greater
diversity of worldviews,?Does it prize and claim this diversity as a gift? Does it add
something special to their sense of community?
A Province that is open to the outsider
I was told that Oblates here often remark how easily and readily they felt accepted
into the ranks. They felt they weren't stepping into a provincial community that was
tied to any particular group or place or tradition. Nobody here shared a history
that went back very far.
Back to the top.
[ Day One ] [ Day Two ] [ Day Three ] [ Day Four ] [ Day Five ] [ Day Six ] [ Day Seven ] [ Day Eight ] [ Day Nine ] [ Day Ten ] [ Summing Up ]
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