October Formation Days
Ongoing formation is part of our Oblate life. Our Formation Days on October 2-3 focused on Partnership with Laity in Mission. We gathered on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at St. Paul’s Retreat House at 10:30 a.m. and continued until Wednesday, when we commissioned each other in a Mass of Missioning. The days concluded with lunch.
The Superior General in his Missionary Meditation for August asked us to consider the role of lay associates in Oblate mission. He noted that, “Both Oblates of Mary Immaculate and Oblate laity will have to learn how to be good partners in a common vineyard.”
Our time together will be a start in that direction. To assist in this endeavor we will be joined by some remarkable lay people who will share with us a range of experience and perspectives on missionary life. 
Mr. David Maiden
Mr. Brent Johnson joined us to talk to us about “A Catholic Married Couple’s Mission Experience in China: The Vision and the Possibility.” Brent and his wife Serena have been involved in China for over ten years providing medical attention to orphans in Beijing and other locations. They live in Beijing with their five children. They are active Catholics and have considerable insight to contribute.
Mr. David Maiden and his wife Trudy came from Australia. David spoke about “Lay Missionaries: Principles and Practical Implementation. He is currently director of MAMI in Melbourne. He has been intimately involved in developing the Eugene de Mazenod Volunteer program to involve laity in overseas Oblate missions. He and Trudy were in Rome along with Peter Liu for the Oblate meeting on lay associates this past June.
Mr. Peter and Ling Barry came for the gathering as well. They are no strangers to the Oblates. They have felt the call to leave their possessions here in Hong Kong to support Catholic mission in the mainland.