“I was in shock and couldn’t believe it; I didn’t feel I deserved it" - Aleksandra said when she heard from Father Adam about her nomination and being accepted to the community of Honorary Oblates (HOMI).

Aleksandra Kaszkur, HOMI, comes from a small town in the Lubusz region, Gralewo near Gorzów Wielkopolski. In 1992, she came to visit her cousin in Windsor, Ontario, and decided to stay in Canada permanently. It was there that she met her future husband, John. Regarding the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, she first met them at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga. As she said, at first she didn’t pay attention to who the priests were, she simply “went to church with husband and took children there. At that time, we focused more on our family, but it was important to go to church.”

What was the beginning of her journey to becoming an Honorary Oblate? “We became involved in parish life when Fr. Adam Filas OMI became the pastor. He also began construction of the new church in Brampton. That’s when my husband and I decided to move there and joined the Mission Group, which Fr. Adam had also founded. At that time, our involvement consisted of helping to organize parish picnics and raising funds for the church construction. When the children were a bit older, I decided to get more involved in the Mission Group at the request of Mrs. Bożena. Around that time, an missionary from Madagascar—Father Marek Ochlak OMI—contacted Father Adam, asking for help with the Adoption of Heart. The goal was to find sponsors for ten children who would provide them with the supplies needed for school and food. We managed to find these sponsors, and soon more children and sponsors joined the program. Today, we support approximately 200 children in Madagascar and 30 in Haiti. A few years ago, at the request of the late Fr. Ludwik Stryczek OMI from Cameroon, we launched a new initiative, this time the Adoption of Heart of Seminarians, to financially support their studies.”

Since the Missionary Group was founded, Aleksandra has been responsible for these sponsorships, which today include children and students not only in Madagascar but also in Cameroon and Haiti. Together with other members of the Friends of the Oblate Missions, she also promotes and raises funds for other projects run by the Missionary Oblates, such as “Give a Malagasy a Rod instead of a Fish,” or a Christmas Gift.

Why does she do this, and what does she get out of it? “At first, I thought that all these children would finish school, become doctors, and have successful careers. Time has proven otherwise, and I’ve started to see it a bit differently. The point is for these children to have a normal childhood as well. Thanks to the fact that they can go to school, where they also receive regular meals, they have a relatively normal childhood. Through this involvement, I’m getting to know the Oblate Fathers and their ministry better, and as a result, my faith is growing and strengthening. I began to deepen my faith myself by getting to know the life and charism of St. Eugene better; I even took a theology course at the Oblate Institute Mazenodianum. All of this, even though it’s sometimes hard because there’s so much to do, ultimately brings a lot of satisfaction. Especially when you see the fruits of it, like, for example, last year when ten children in Madagascar passed their high school graduation exam. Some of them are now teachers. That brought us a lot of joy and gives us a lot of motivation.”

As a parishioner in the Oblate parish and a Friend of the Oblate Missions, Aleksandra has met many Oblate Missionaries, whether local priests or missionaries from other continents. Here is what she thinks of us Oblates and how she sees us: “What I value most in the Oblates is their dedication to the mission and to the parish work. Wherever they are, you can see their dedication and commitment, even at the cost of their own health. They always go where they are needed.”

And there are still many needs. Missionaries cannot meet them all on their own. That is why everyone can—and indeed should—get involved. “There is a time for everything in life; we must devote ourselves to our families and children because they are young—that is our duty. But we must also remember others, that there are people in need. We also need to take an interest in others—what can I do for them? If not regularly, on a daily basis, then at least once a year. Help with Adoption of Heart or the education of seminarians who may one day be our priests. It’s important to feel responsible, at least for what’s close to home—for my parish—even in something ordinary like cleaning the church. I do it for myself, but above all, for God. There is always something good you can do. And the reward is great—above all, the satisfaction of the good you have done, but also, looking to the future, we are saving up in this way for our ticket to Heaven.”

For her dedication to the Oblate missions, Ms. Aleksandra was nominated and, with the approval of the Superior General, Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso OMI, was admitted to the community of Honorary Oblates, which she forms in the Assumption Province together with Mr. Marek Garczyński, Ms. Bożena Adamiec, Ms. Mary Budz, Sr. Bernadette Feist OSU, Ms. Sidonie Nirlungayuk and Ms. Lilian Smith. What was her reaction to this nomination? “I was in shock and couldn’t believe it; I didn’t feel I deserved it. When the parish priest announced it in church, after Mass many people congratulated me; it was a beautiful and pleasant feeling, but I’m a little worried that it might go to my head. I was told that as an Honorary Oblate I would receive an Oblate cross, which could be one that belonged to a deceased Oblate or a brand-new one. I decided on a new one because I hope that when it remains in my family, my children will one-day benefit from this example, that it will also inspire them to become more involved in the life of the Church. Although they already help me a lot with this Adoption. So this is also recognition for my entire family for their contribution to supporting the Oblate missions.”

We congratulate Ms. Aleksandra and wish her much strength so that these Oblate missionary works may continue to grow and bear beautiful fruit for her personally and for those it serve. You can read about the involvement of the Friends of the Oblate Missions here: https://oblateworldmissions.org/

(TJ/Fr Piotr Nowak OMI/ photos - private collection of Aleksandra and TJ)

More about HOMI: https://www.omiworld.org/our-family/oblate-lay-associations/

More about Oblates studies: https://mazenodianum.pl/