Certificate in Oblate Studies

Those who complete the certificate will be able to:

• Acquire in-depth knowledge of the constitutive elements of the Founder, history, Constitutions and Rules, spirituality and mission of the Missionary Oblates and the various lay components of the Mazenodian Family
• Understand the historical foundation and comprehend the theological development of the Mazenodian charism, spirituality and mission, so as to deepen their sense of participation.
• Critically reflect upon their contemporary mission in the Church.

Students who successfully complete the program requirements of 12-credit hours will be awarded a certificate.

Those who take the program at the graduate level, fulfilling the appropriate additional requirements, earn credits applicable toward the M.A. Spirituality or Theology or M. Div. program, with the appropriate differences and requirements.

The courses are also open to any persons who wish to register for enrichment non-academic purposes. They will be expected to do the reading required to participate in the classes.

OBLATE AND MAZENODIAN FAMILY TRACK

1/ Saint Eugene de Mazenod. Historical Background, Life, and Key Aspects of His Spirituality, Charism and Mission

• Eugene de Mazenod, Founder of the OMI, 1782 – 1837
• Eugene de Mazenod, Superior General of an expanding missionary congregation, and Bishop of Marseilles (1837 – 1861)

2/ Historical Expansion and Development of the Mission of the Oblate Congregation from 1816 to Present

A study of the missionary expansion of the Congregation into five continents from 1816 until the present: the events, the reasons for the choices made, and the underlying spirit that motivated the missionary thrust.

3/ Founders, Charisms and their Expression in Constitutions and Rules

• The charism of a founder and the charism of a Congregation
• The role of a Rule as the expression of charism in a religious congregation.
• The contents and the spirit of the founding Rule.
• How General Chapters have shaped the Constitutions and Rules in response to the changing needs of the world.
• A detailed study of the present Constitutions and Rules.
• Lay participation.

4/ Mazenodian Spirituality

Identifying and defining Mazenodian values and spirituality in the history of the Congregation and its Associates. Its expressions today in apostolic religious community, in the people served by the Oblates, and our lay associates.

5/ Oblation expressed in Missionary Discipleship
The response to Jesus Christ’s invitation to missionary discipleship has taken many forms over the centuries. “Oblation” is its expression for St Eugene de Mazenod, which he entrusted to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and those associated with his charism, known as the Mazenodian Family.

This course is a theological and missionary study of the concept of “oblation” and how it has been expressed and lived by of Saint Eugene de Mazenod and in the lives and achievements of some of those associated with his charism from 1816 until the present.

6/ Research Project(2 Credit Hours)

• A final research paper that makes a contribution to Oblate Studies, and which will be published in an OMI periodical or in the Oblate Historical Dictionary.

INSTITUTES OF CONSECRATED LIFE TRACK

1/ The Founding Figure. Historical Background, Life, and Key Aspects of His Spirituality, Charism and Mission

2/ Historical Expansion and Development of the Mission of the institute of Consecrated Life from its foundation to Present

3/ Founders, Charisms and their Expression in Constitutions and Rules

• The charism of a founder and the charism of a Congregation
• The role of a Rule as the expression of charism in a religious congregation.
• The contents and the spirit of the founding Rule.
• How General Chapters have shaped the Constitutions and Rules in response to the changing needs of the world.
• A detailed study of the present Constitutions and Rules.
• Lay participation.

4/ The Spirituality of an Institute of Consecrated Life: Living a Charism

An introduction to the terminology, issues, and challenges pertinent to the practice of and the theological reflection on the spirituality of an Institute of Consecrated life, using the model of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and its associates, known as the Mazenodian Family.

A guided and interactive study of the main elements of the spirituality of the founding figure of the Institute and of those associated with her/his charism from the foundation until the present.

5/ Oblation expressed in Missionary Discipleship 

The response to Jesus Christ’s invitation to missionary discipleship has taken many forms over the centuries. “Oblation” is its expression for St Eugene de Mazenod, which he entrusted to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and those associated with his charism, known as the Mazenodian Family.

This course is a theological and missionary study of the concept of “oblation” and how it has been expressed and lived by of Saint Eugene de Mazenod and in the lives and achievements of some of those associated with his charism from 1816 until the present.

Students from other Institutes of Consecrated Life can be accompanied in its application to their respective charism expressions.

6/ Research Project (2 Credit Hours)

• A final research paper that makes a contribution to the Institute of Consecrated Life

The courses are offered asynchronously, and will consist of lectures, reading, assignments and the opportunity for group interaction.

The entire certificate may be completed in four semesters, or it may be taken over a longer period.

The Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies (based at Oblate School of Theology) was established in January 2017 to conclude the celebration of the 200 years of existence of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The Chair is the only one of its kind in the Oblate world and is dedicated to the study and dissemination of the history, charism, spirituality and mission of Eugene de Mazenod and his missionary family of Oblates and Lay Associates, through teaching and research, academic and enrichment programs.

The Kusenberger Chair has an outreach to students from other Institutes of Consecrated Life not connected to the Oblates. Using the methodology of the Mazenodian-focused courses, the students are accompanied to apply these to their respective founding figures, spirituality and mission.