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> Vocation: Calling > Consecrated Life
> Secular Institutes
Secular Institutes are perhaps the least known type of consecrated life consecrated life. Formally recognized by the Church in 1947, members of secular institutes live their promises amidst the secular world and, with no formal title or type of dress, they serve as hidden 'leaven in the world', living the Gospel within their professional, social, and cultural milieux. Their mission is to transform the world from within. Membership in secular institutes is open to single persons and diocesan priests. They may live alone or in small groups and are responsible for their own finances. Each member is called to live out the charism of their particular institute, and members share in its mission and spirituality. Members go through a period of formation before dedicating themselves to the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and meet together in geographic groups for retreats and times of reflection. There are currently over 200 secular institutes with over 60,000 members throughout the world. Some institutes have groups of lay associate members as well. 
I am a member of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate(O.M.M.1), an international secular institute with 400 members in 23 countries. This group was founded by Fr. Louis Marie Parent, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, in 1952 and officially named a secular institute in 1962. The O.M.M.I's are all single women, with Fr. Parent starting the Voluntas Dei Institute for priests and single men in 1958. Both groups strive to live out the five attitudes described in Fr. Parent's book, In the Footsteps of Jesus (Editions Paulines, Sherbrooke, QC, 1978). These call us to live each day aware of God's constant presence, without negative criticism and complaint, being of service to others, and being sowers of peace. The five times of daily prayer, which include the Eucharist, morning or evening prayer, the rosary, spiritual reading and meditation, offer strength to the Oblate as she strives to live God's unconditional love at all times. We are also called to offer five acts of charity each day.Although I am the only O.M.M.I. presently living in Saskatchewan, my community is the Western Canadian sector, with two O.M.M.I.'s in Winnipeg, two in British Columbia, and the rest all living in Edmonton. I travel to Edmonton a few times during the year for formation, meetings, and retreats. Each Oblate spends time monthly reflecting on living out our vocation with the guidance of animation papers that include reflections on scripture, church documents, our constitution, and our mission statement, followed by questions for reflection and sharing. The group in Edmonton meets monthly for discussion of these as well as prayer and socializing as a community. We scattered members of the sector put our thoughts into writing and mail our sharing to one another as well as to those in Edmonton. I was officially welcomed by the O.M.M.I's in 2001, although I started associating with them in 1997. I find it an exciting vocation which offers me many challenges to grow in my faith and prayer life and offers a truly loving community not hampered by the miles of road that separate us! If you are interested in hearing more about this form of consecrated life, please contact me, Marian Gardy at 585-2161 or at Holy Child Parish in Regina, 789-8276. | |||||||||||||
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