Oblate School of Theology Awards David Muñoz López, OMI with Honorary Doctorate

“The Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies, based at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, was inaugurated in Rome on January 25, 2017 to conclude the celebrations of the bicentenary of our foundation. Since then, it has provided academic degrees and certificates in Oblate Studies, as well as being a source of charism education for the large Oblate Charismatic Family.

David Muñoz López, was the first student to graduate in the MA Spirituality degree with a specialization in Oblate Studies. His love for St. Eugene and for the charism of our religious family made him not only a student, but also a co-worker in the development of the contents of the Oblate Studies curriculum.

Once graduated, David and I worked as a team in the presentation of the courses at the academic level. Because the scope of the Chair of Oblate Studies is to be at the service of the ongoing education of the entire world-wide Oblate Charismatic Family, together we conducted many animation sessions for our Oblate missionaries and Oblates in first formation throughout the world. We produced a series of ongoing formation videos and reflection aids (Eugene 101) in English, Spanish and Italian and contributed articles to various publications.

David’s heart, however, is especially focused on the laity and deepening their understanding of our charism. His dissertation for his Master’s degree focused on lay participation in the Oblate charism and became an important instrument for our Associates to deepen their understanding of the nature of their vocation in living the missionary vocation received from St Eugene. During his ministry as an educator and animator of the Oblate charism, David was instrumental in creating the structures of the Mazenodian Family in the USA and was an organizer of the Mazenodian Family Congress in San Antonio and on the team that organized the international OLAC Oblate Laity congress. He continues to be a member of the Congregational international Oblate laity coordination team.

In July of 2023 he was released from parish ministry to work full-time as the Director of the Oblate Charismatic Family for the U. S. Province. In this capacity he was able to bring a clearer focus to the vocation of the Associates with numerous reflections and online publications, and to establish an organizational structure to ensure ongoing education. He has been a much-appreciated presenter of talks and session for the Associates in many countries.

David had begun and successfully completed his course work for the Doctor of Ministry degree. He had concluded the gathering of research material from a selected study group and was in the process of writing his thesis on “Promoting a Charismatic Unity of Life in the Mazenodian Family of the United States.”

Illness struck and he has been unable to complete the project which he hoped would have led to graduation in May 2025. Today, in a small private ceremony, the degree of Honorary Doctorate of Ministry in Oblate Studies was conferred on him “recognizing his unwavering devotion to Oblate School of Theology, the global community of Oblates, and the Oblate charism.”

Fr. Wayne Cavalier OP, director of the Doctor of Ministry program, pointed out that David had fulfilled all the objectives of the program and continued:
“The personal strength and spiritual depth you have demonstrated to all of us since your diagnosis not only witnesses to the self-gift of the Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate vocation, but they have also strengthened each of us in our own vocation. You are a teacher of the first order through your witness, and your witness, by definition, points to something – beyond yourself, beyond each of us, beyond this world. While this is a mission you would not have chosen for yourself, the grace with which you are carrying it out is a powerful witness to all those who know you to the power of faith and the truth of our Christian vision.

This honor is not something you have sought, but it is a necessary act on behalf of those of us who have been blessed by your presence and witness. It is a necessary, though inadequate, acknowledgement of the grace we have experienced because we have known you and we have seen your faith. It is a statement that you will always be a bright light illuminating our path forward on our journey of faith.“

-Frank Santucci OMI
Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies