A Living Stories Project
Washington, DC - From the Archives
"The Provincial desired that a direction of the Most Rev. Superior
General should be recorded in these Minutes as a matter of record and for future guidance.
Our Superior General expressed the desire that at the earliest practical moment a house
should be opened in Washington DC which should be not only a Scholasticate but, and he
emphasized this particular point-the official residence of the Provincial and of a band of
Missionaries."
Fr. F. Fallon omi Provincial January 14, 1910.
(p.178-9 of "Deliberations of the Provincial Council 1883-1915" extant DC
Archives)
Words of Wisdom
When we set out for Tewksbury to begin to gather stories for The Living
Stories Project, we didn't really know what to expect. We had already heard some of
the legendary tales, and Hank Lemoncelli had told us to prepare to meet some unforgettable
characters. But we were a bit anxious, wondering if perhaps we might feel awkward and the
men might be hesitant to share their stories with us.
We felt quite welcome, however, and we were amazed at the extraordinary range of
experience and emotion that swept over us in three short days. Those who had died came
alive again, and those who are still with us somehow became more human. It seemed quite
possible to imagine a future based on such a rich heritage of wisdom, determination,
pride, creativity, humor and faith.
As more stories unfolded in Washington, and in Lantana, Florida, we began to realize
that we had received a most precious gift from the Oblates of the Eastern Province. We had
been invited to experience a bit of the past, join in the present, and catch a glimpse of
the future with a group of men who affirm life and love God.
We were introduced to extraordinary people like Miguel Convit, Joe Supple, Frank Crump,
Charlie Costello, Dick Murphy, Leo Gabriel Burke, Jack King, George White, and Walter
Mack.
We visited places like the Lakeland Mission, Padre Island, Puerto Rico and Brazil. We
learned words of wisdom:
"Get out of the way. This is God's work."
"Don't let the Church get in the way of your faith."
"The Oblates -- they love people and people love
them."
We heard ghost stories and hero stories, stories of ingenuity, stories of
loss, pain and reconciliation. We had been entrusted with the sacred stories, stories to
live by.
As we begin to read through the transcripts and prepare the text, we hope
to do justice to the collective wisdom of all those who shared their stories. We also hope
that we have unleashed a flood of stories that will continue to be shared, honored, and
preserved.
We have sent follow-up letters to all the participants, and we welcome
editorial comments, corrections and any other thoughts that will make this project more
meaningful to the communities we visited; and to the new Oblate Province that is on the
horizon. The following story installments are now on this community web:
Back to the top.
After you read the stories, become a witness
by participating in the Oblates Living
Stories Project Discussion under Oblates of the East.
Read Letters from the Founder, the
stories of Saint Charles Eugene de Mazenod OMI.
