Let’s Go With Fr. Chicho

“In some places we preach using words. But in all places, we preach through our work.”

Father Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI, Superior General of the Missionary Oblates, summarizes the purpose of his congregation with this simple message. The soft-spoken leader of the Oblates, who prefers to use his nickname Fr. Chicho, shared this philosophy with Oblates and lay collaborators during a two-week visit to the United States last summer.

“Everyone that Jesus loved we also must love,” said Fr. Chicho. “And that includes the poor people, the elderly, the homeless, the sick. This is the heart of our ministry as Missionary Oblates.”

Father Chicho has been loving like Jesus ever since his ordination in 1988. His early ministries focused on vocations in Spain, first as a Vocation Director and later as the Superior of the Scholasticate. In 2000 he became Provincial of the Oblates in Spain and then for 12 years as the General Councilor for Europe, representing all European Oblates at the headquarters in Rome.

After 16 years of leadership roles, Fr. Chicho made a radical decision. He became a missionary in Western Sahara, one of the smallest, poorest and most isolated Oblate missions in the world.

“Most people would think it would be a difficult mission, but it is actually a beautiful mission,” said Fr. Chicho. “We have two small churches, and the Christian community is mainly migrants traveling from Africa to Europe.”

Except for the passing through Christians, the area is 100% Muslim. Father Chicho views that fact not as a challenge but as an opportunity.

“We are there for the small Christian community but also for our Muslim neighbors,” said Fr. Chicho. “I have learned so many things about my Christian faith from my Muslim friends, such as how to pray from the heart.”

Now as Superior General, Fr. Chicho spends most of his time traveling to meet with Oblates around the world. He plans on visiting all of the nearly 70 countries where the Oblates have missions. His first visit was to the Oblates in Ukraine who have remained in the country to care for victims of the war with Russia.

During his visit to the United States, Fr. Chicho noted several times the importance of lay collaborators with the Oblates. He said lay Oblate partners in the United States have so much energy, and he wants to tap into that energy to strengthen current ministries and create new opportunities to serve our needy brothers and sisters.

“Do you dare walk with us?” asked Fr. Chicho to a group of lay collaborators. “May Mary Immaculate and our founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod, give us this grace. LET’S GO!”

“With a little money, we can do many things.” Fr. Chicho

When talking about the Missionary Oblates’ work in Turkmenistan, Fr. (Chicho) Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI, Superior General of the Oblates, said he is amazed how a small investment in an isolated mission can produce extraordinary results.

The Turkmenistan mission is the smallest Oblate mission in the world, usually just two or three priests. They are the only Catholic clergy in the entire country. When they preside at Mass, there is no other Catholic liturgy for more than 1,000 miles in all directions. The entire annual expense for the missions is just $80,000. The budget is paid for by donations from Oblate benefactors in the United States.

When Fr. Chicho had to decide where to attend his first Christmas Mass as Superior General, he could have chosen to celebrate at the Vatican with the Holy Father. Instead, he spent Christmas with his brother Oblates in Turkmenistan and came away inspired by their faith and hope.

“Just as Jesus did, and in His spirit, the Oblates in Turkmenistan ignite hearts with the radiance of the Gospel, selflessly serving the most destitute,” said Fr. Chicho. “This is a magnificent mission, one for which we express our gratitude to God as pilgrims of hope in communion.”

The Oblates arrived in Turkmenistan nearly 30 years ago in a country slowly emerging from Communism. Turkmenistan is almost entirely Muslim. The Oblates minister to a handful of Catholics while also taking part in humanitarian work.

Because of government restrictions, the Oblates cannot proclaim the Gospel loudly… so they whisper. The Oblates engage in dialogue with other religions and community groups, and in doing so they emerge as architects of peace, exploring ecumenical avenues to proclaim Jesus.

“It is a small Church, a beautiful mission that serves as a poignant reminder that Jesus chose to be born in fragility, poverty and under the care of the least among us,” said Fr. Chicho. “I journeyed to the Bethlehem of Turkmenistan, and it left an indelible mark on my heart.”

To learn how you can support the work of the Oblates in Turkmenistan, reach out to your Gift Advisor or contact the Office of Charitable and Planned Giving at 1-800-233-6264.

From the desk of Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI
Superior General

Dear Friend,

As Superior General, I am blessed to visit Missionary Oblates all over the world. And when I visit the Oblates who work with the poor, I see the results of the generosity of friends like you. As a lay collaborator, you are truly a gift to us from the Holy Spirit.

The entire Oblate community, both clergy and laity, is responsible for protecting and spreading the charism of the Missionary Oblates, which is to take God’s Word to the poor and abandoned around the globe. It is my mission to keep alive this charism. I am not able to do this alone from Rome. I need you. Can you do this for me?

The Oblates have so much to learn from you. We are a congregation that is always looking forward, and without our lay collaborators we simply cannot move forward. Together, we must think creatively and act with courage as we offer our lives in oblation for Christ and for the poor.

With Mary, let us walk the paths of service to the most abandoned, being sowers of hope and communion. Please know that you are truly a pilgrim of hope in communion with the Missionary Oblates.

Your pilgrim brother, in Christ and Mary Immaculate,

Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI,

Superior General

Donor-Advised Funds – An Easy Way To Give

What is the best way to support the work of the Missionary Oblates in places like Turkmenistan? A
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) might work best for you.

A DAF is a simple, flexible tax-advantaged way you can make charitable donations, so you make the biggest impact. You can quickly and easily designate a grant from your DAF to the Oblate Missionary Society, Inc. through your financial institution such as Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable. You can locate our organization by using our Tax ID 26-0634043.

A DAF is like a charitable investment account, for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations in need. DAFs are the fastest growing charitable giving vehicle in the United States because they are one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to give to charity.

If you have any questions about how to give from your DAF, please contact the Office of Charitable and Planned Giving at 800-233-6264. You can also email charitablegifts@oblatesusa.org.

Legal Title: Oblate Missionary Society, Inc.
Tax ID: 26-0634043

Father Chicho was just 17 years old when he left home to attend the Missionary Oblate novitiate in Spain. He thought he would “give it a try.” But for Fr. (Chicho) Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI, Superior General of the Oblates, that novitiate year was the most important time of his life.

“I discovered at the novitiate that this calling to be a Missionary Oblate was for me,” said Fr. Chicho. “It was a calling first and foremost to be a missionary, then to be a priest.”

During a visit to the United States last summer, Fr. Chicho spent time with the current Oblate novices at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois. Seven young men had just entered the novitiate a few days earlier, and Fr. Chicho shared his vocation story with them.

As a young teen, Fr. Chicho was part of an Oblate youth group at his parish. The teens read the Bible and then tried to live out the Gospel the following week among the poor and needy in the community.

That early missionary work led the young man to consider life as a missionary priest. He was pretty certain he wanted to be a missionary, not so certain about the priest part. But his time at the novitiate, a chance to get away for a year and discern one’s calling through prayer and reflection, convinced him that the priesthood was how he could best serve others.

After ordination, Fr. Chicho asked to be sent to China. Instead, he was assigned to his old parish in Spain. “What a missionary,” joked Fr. Chicho.

After some time in parish ministry, Fr. Chicho was assigned to vocation ministries. Today the men he fostered along their religious journey are Oblate missionaries around the world.

At the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate, Fr. Chicho was delighted to see an international community of novices. The seven novices come from four countries: United States, Mexico, Zambia and India. They include:

  • 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

While visiting with the novices, Fr. Chicho noted that the laity is also very important in helping these young men on their journey to become Oblate missionaries. Through their example of missionary work in their family, Church and community, lay people teach young Oblates how to become better servants to people in need.

“I ask the laity to do me a favor,” said Fr. Chicho. “When you pray, take a moment to pray for vocations. It is so very important to us.”

Rest In Eternal Peace

The Missionary Oblates are grateful to our friends who have remembered us through a bequest or charitable gift annuity. Please join us in prayer for these benefactors who have been called to their eternal rest with the Lord.

Mary Barnes
Susan Beiting
Thomas Conway
Casimer Deranek
Lois Fales
La Verne Flonteny
Debra Flynn
Gertrude Hutter
Richard Foley
Joan Hofer
Sharon Homer
John Hondulas
Elaine Huggins
James Kanis
John Kowalczyk
Joan Manns
Sandra McGuinness
Rhejeanne Neeley
Peter Oertel
Mary Lou Schutz
Karen Smeltzer
Patrick Stehly
Kathleen Stemig
Arlene Wiegard
Marie Wilson
Lucille Wolf