The word Oblate is a term that many find difficult to understand when they first meet the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Missionaries? Of course, we know what that means... to work in the foreign missions. And this missionary identity of the oblates accompanies them wherever they serve. See for yourself who we are and what we do in the Assumption Province of Missionary Oblates in Canada.

“Through the eyes of our crucified Saviour we see the world which he redeemed with his blood, desiring that those in whom he continues to suffer will know also the power of his resurrection (cf. Phil 3:10)” – Constitutions and Rules, 4.

Another Oblate serving in our province is Fr. John Bosco Gali OMI. When asked how he met the Oblates and why he became one, he replied:

“When I was in my 10th grade, in Don Bosco School, my neighbouring parish to my home parish in India, was managed by Oblates from Sri Lanka. At that time, the Oblates were new to India. My late mom, having known about them, felt attracted to the name of Oblates of Mary Immaculate and encouraged me to join the Oblates. What attracted me to the Oblates was the style or the manner with which, the Oblates from my neighbouring parish related to the people. They were close to people in their daily lives. I had seen them visiting my parishioners in our homes and also organizing spiritual gatherings”. 

Fr. John has been in Canada for 11 years and has served in various pastoral ministries. He is currently serving as a hospital chaplain, and he explains how that came to be:

“In 2017, Archdiocese of Toronto offered one full time Hospital Chaplaincy in Mississauga to the Oblates of Assumption Province. Fr. Alfred, the Provincial at that time assigned me to this ministry and I accepted it happily.

Hospital ministry is a special apostolate because as a priest you come in touch with the realities of life in a personal and a practical way. This is not theoretical knowledge but something you personally witness yourself. As a priest, you come to appreciate life and many blessings that come along. According to me, it is good for every priest to go through this ministry minimum one full year. It is a challenging apostolate and at the same time a very fulfilling one”.

Asked about the lights and shadows of ministry as a hospital chaplain, he replied:

“This ministry brings lots of joy and fulfilment as a priest and as an Oblate. People also appreciate the visit of the priest in hospitals.  The patients you come across as a priest, their families and nurses and hospital volunteers in your visits bring new experiences everyday. There are many challenges you will come across as a priest. It is not easy sometimes. Hospital ministry is fortunately well-organized in Mississauga for Catholics. There are many lay Catholics also from neighbouring parishes that assist us in the hospitals. 

During Covid 19, however, they were not allowed due to restrictions and only we two priests were allowed to serve. At the moment, two lay volunteers have received permission from the hospitals to help us. Before Covid19, we had 3 priests serving in hospitals. Now with only two priests, each of us, have hospital duty 24 hours, maximum 4 days continuously, with only urgent calls in the night between 7 p.m to 7 a.m and during the day, each priest also visits with patient list, with phone calls taking priority. So, ones sleeping pattern may be affected depending on seasons of weather and time of the calls. Driving up and down many times, and parking spaces can also test your patience. What I find challenging is mental health in hospitals, visits to the paediatric wards and palliative care. Sometimes, you will also face challenges contrary to Catholic teaching and values such like MAID/Euthanasia/mercy killing. There are many experiences hard to put in writing and therefore I remain now with gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve the sick in hospitals. “Then the king will say to those at his right hand: ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was sick and you took care of me (…) Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ ” (Matthew 25:31-46)”

We wish Father John God’s blessings in his challenging ministry.

(TJ/DJ)