Oblates Lesotho Welcome Councillors from Rome

By Bokang Tsoanamatsie – The Oblates of Mary Immaculate Fathers in the Lesotho province welcomed two councillors from the OMI headquarters in Rome.  The councillors, Fr  Kapena and Fr Eugene, oversee the Africa-Madagascar territory.

Their visit to Lesotho aims to assist the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Fathers in consultations with stakeholders as they prepare for the appointment of the new Provincial of Lesotho.

The current Provincial, Fr Sydney  Boatile OMI, has completed two official terms in this role. The councillors arrived in Lesotho on November 9th, and have been meeting with all Oblate clergy and their associates.  They have also toured historic sites established by the first Oblate Missionaries in Lesotho. These historic sites include the St Augustine Major Seminary in Roma and the gravesite of  Blessed Joseph Gerard at Roma Parish, where they celebrated Mass.

They visited Mazenod, where they met the sons of Eugene de Mazenod and the  Member Associates of Mary Immaculate (MAMI), who are lay associates of the congregation, and experienced the warmth of their interactions with the councillors. They travelled throughout the country to meet each  Oblate Father serving there. Additionally, they visited the grave of His  Excellency Sebastian Cardinal Khoarai OMI at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

The Regina Mundi congregation in Mazenod was fortunate to have the councillors celebrate Holy Mass under the leadership of their Parish  Priest, Fr Patrick Khoaele OMI, on Sunday, November 16th.  On November  29th, the two councillors will depart to conduct consultations with the Missionary arm of the Lesotho province,  the Republic of Botswana, before returning to Rome to report to the  Superior General of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who will appoint the new Provincial of Lesotho and his councillors.

The consultation phase signifies the commencement of a systematic journey leading to the election. It provides a chance for the members of the  Province to articulate, through contemplative reflection and discussion,  their perspectives on the leadership essential for the mission at this pivotal moment in history. Oblates are encouraged to propose candidates whom they consider to have the spiritual maturity, pastoral sensitivity,  missionary zeal, and administrative skills necessary for the role of  Provincial of Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Lesotho.

We join the OMI Lesotho in prayer for the rightful candidate for the growth of the Mother church and evangelisation.