A Sacred Pause: Welcoming the New 2025-26 Novitiate Class of the Missionary Oblates

Left to right: Luis Enrique Gonzalez, Carlos Martinez, Jose Minz, Thomas Marchetti, Fr Ray Cook OMI, Comfort Mwanza,  Fr Salvador (Chava) Gonzales OMI, Alfred Mutale Maango, Minh Lam

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Godfrey, IL, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate celebrated the Rite of Reception of New Novices for the 2025-2026 year. Led by Provincial Fr. Ray Cook, OMI and Novice Master, Fr. Salvador “Chava” Gonzalez, OMI, the rite formally marks the beginning of another class of novices while welcoming them into this canonical formation program spanning one year. Friends, Oblate employees, Oblate Associates, supporters and other religious joined the Oblates in the Novitiate chapel for prayer, reflection and the ritual welcome. With joy and gratitude, we welcomed these new novices:

• Luis Enrique Gonzalez – U.S. Province (Baja Mission)
• Minh Lam – U.S. Province
• Alfred Mutale Maango – Zambian Delegation
• Thomas Marchetti – U.S. Province
• Carlos Martinez – U.S. Province (Baja Mission)
• Jose Minz – Indian Province
• Comfort Mwanza – Zambian Delegation

After years of participating in a pre-novitiate program across the globe, these young men were invited to enter the novitiate life — to step away from the noise and busyness of daily life and live a sacred time of deep discernment with reflection, prayer, ministry and community over the next year. Their days will not be rushed or filled with endless tasks. Instead, they will embrace stillness—making space for silence, for the Word of God, and asking for the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit to shape their hearts for the Oblate way of life as future missionaries.

In his reflection, Fr. Ray made a gentle but profound reminder to the novices: the call to serve God does not begin in noise or hurry. It begins in stillness…in trust…in the brave decision to slow down and listen deeply to the One who calls. There will be days of distractions and challenges where things will not go as planned. But their individual responses to these moments is what shapes the heart for religious and missionary life. Patience and perseverance are key during these difficult moments. God calls each of us to work diligently and patiently, pausing when it is time to pause and being dependent on his strength and accompaniment on the journey. God’s quiet work in the soul is worth pausing for, worth honoring, and worth celebrating.

Novice Master Fr. Chava reminded those present this is a special year of overlapping novitiate classes. The previous novice class of four are in their final weeks of their novitiate in Tewksbury, MA. They join the new novices with their prayers, love and support and ask for mutual prayers as they come to August 1st, the day of their profession of first vows as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. This day is the birthday of St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Missionary Oblates.

As the class of four novices finishing their novitiate and these seven men begin their year of formation with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, may they all be filled with courage, patience, and grace. And may all who support and pray for them also discover their own quiet moments to hear the loving voice of God—who forever invites us to follow Him who gives us life.

Originally published on OblatesUSA.org on Friday, June 13th 2025

Photos by Scott Pfau