Young Adult Group Follows St. Eugene
This article was written by Oscar Donahue, a leader of the Young Adult group at Holy Cross parish in Buffalo, New York.
When I was 17 years old, I started becoming involved with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Buffalo, New York.
I did not understand what the Missionary Oblates meant at the time, but I remember always feeling welcomed to join. I made friends with the seminarians who would come through, some of whom I still talk to. I have always been surrounded by good, caring, loving and selfless people.
In 2016, with the help of the Missionary Oblates, I had the opportunity to attend World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, which was an incredible experience that was only possible through God and the wonderful Missionary Oblates.
Thanks to the Missionary Oblates and our community, last year our Young Adult group had the opportunity to attend World Youth Day in Portugal, which helped us understand what it is like to be a young person in the Church. We felt a sense of family and unity.
Starting Oblate Young Adults
At the beginning of 2022, I was inspired by Fr. Felix Nyambe, OMI, and Michele Divito to become more involved with the Oblates. Father Felix is Pastor of Holy Cross, Our Lady of Hope and Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Michele Divito, a Consecrated Virgin, is Coordinator of the Oblate Associates in Buffalo, reporting to Fr. Muñoz.
I was asked by Ms. Divito to help start a Young Adult group in our community. Through that, I started to realize that young people are so crucial in the Church, and we needed to have something that helped us get closer to God besides our own personal practices.
I grew closer to many members of the Young Adults group, whom I consider some of my best friends. What drives us is the dedication and faith that we have, and the perseverance to know more about the Missionary Oblates and being true disciples of God.
The St. Eugene de Mazenod Charism
Learning about St. Eugene has been incredible. He said, “We must lead people to act like human beings first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.”
That phrase truly touches the soul because we often become judgmental of others even when we think we are doing things for God. We forget there are people who are marginalized and don’t have a voice. Saint Eugene teaches us we must be loving and never treat anyone as less, because we have all been made in the image of God and we are all precious in His eyes.
I have learned the charism of the Missionary Oblates is to take God’s Word to the poor and abandoned. Oblate Associates have a special bond with the Oblate Congregation, sharing in that mission and spreading the charism of St. Eugene. I am currently in formation to become an Oblate Associate.
Carrying Out That Charism
On Sundays you can find two or more members of our Young Adult Group participating in Mass and trying to invite others to join us.
The Young Adult group carries out several events. On the first Friday of every month, we set up and organize Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This has been opened to our community and receives a great turnout.
Our Bible Study group meets on the third Saturday of every month. Afterward we have our monthly meeting where we discuss the activities we plan on doing.
On the fourth Saturday of every month our group goes to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and helps serve a meal to those who are in need. We help prepare meals, pass the meals out and talk to those in the community, which is what St. Eugene instructs.
Helping others brings joy. Being able to help others and being present for them makes one appreciate the life we have been given. We receive blessings because of the goodness that God wants us to show others.
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