Page 204 - Reflections on St. Joseph

The grace of the beatification has already produced in various nations a reawakening of
vocations to the Congregation and to other forms of expansion of the Oblate spirit, like the
opening of our spirituality to women as well, with the institution, willed by the General Chapter
in 1994, of the Oblate Sisters of St. Joseph, who today are present in Brazil, the Philippines, Peru,
Nigeria and Rome.

In the same light it is nice to see also a re-flowering of lay associations around the Congregation,
above all those who work alongside the Oblates in parishes and other works, so as to unite our
forces in an attitude of collaboration and exchange of gifts, in order to participate more
effectively in the mission of the Church (VC 54), proper to the Congregation.

In fact, our Congregation is ever more aware that the charism which St. Joseph Marello has
passed on to her can be shared with so many people who are close by and who desire to
collaborate with us in building the Kingdom of God on earth.

We have before us a very vast field, in which our energies come together and produce new
dynamisms: laity are introduced to the Marellian spirituality and the life of the Congregation,
while we Oblates are encouraged by this new ecclesial and Oblate breath so as to continue
together the work which Providence points out to us from day to day.

In this way, we come to form almost one family, the family of the Oblates of St. Joseph,
composed of religious and laity, each one in his proper role, all dedicated to living together the
Josephite-Marellian spirit and of working for our sanctification and for the coming of the
Kingdom of God.

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Reflections on st. joseph