OMIWORLD Newsletter, 9-15 March 2026 (Week 11)

OMIWORLD NEWS
9-15 March 2026 (Week 11) | 26th day of Lent

CIAL Formation Congress: Young Oblates Online for Bicentennial

Published on Sunday 15 March 2026

Young Oblates in formation from across Latin America and the Caribbean come together online to celebrate the bicentennial of our Constitutions and Rules.

CIAL Formation Congress

On Saturday, 7 February 2026, Oblates from every stage of initial formation across Latin America and the Caribbean met online in a real spirit of fraternity. With the bicentennial of our Constitutions and Rules in view, the CIAL (Interprovincial Conference of Latin America) Executive Formation Commission, working with the major superiors of each unit and the formation teams, convened a congress for those in formation. The Interprovincial Novitiate House in Guatemala welcomed the group and guided the sessions from start to finish.

Constitutions and Rules as a Road to Holiness

Young men from every stage of initial formation took part, listening attentively and openly. Formators joined them, along with the Councillor for Latin America, the Assistant General for Formation, and the President of CIAL, a presence that helped these young men in formation feel accompanied. Fr. Cléber LOPES, Procurator for the Causes of Saints, led the main reflection and reminded everyone that the Constitutions and Rules are a road to holiness. In small groups, participants shared how each one, in his own formation journey, tries to take on the vision of the apostolic man in daily life.

A Message from the Superior General

“Do this, and you will live.” The Superior General addressed the young men in formation through a video message and encouraged them to persevere. We thank the formation houses of the Latin America and Caribbean region and the formandis and formators from the International Scholasticate in Rome, Italy, and the Post-Novitiate in San Antonio for joining with such generosity.

May this bicentennial celebration of our Constitutions and Rules renew in each of us the desire to serve with availability, obedience, and joy.

Gabriel NIROU, OMI