Grant Wohl and Joe Kochendoerfer
This past Saturday, July 3, I had the privilege of receiving two young men into the Oblate Novitiate. The novitiate is a canonical year of training and preparation that the novice undergoes before taking vows to discern their call to vowed religious life. This includes times of intense study of the vowed life, prayer, living in community, studying the Oblate Charism, and the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, deepening one's relationship with God and deepening one's self-awareness. It is a pretty tall order to complete in a single year.
Of course, the basic formation of an Oblate continues for several years. It includes theological study, supervised pastoral experiences, and continued reflection and discernment by the one in formation and the guidance and evaluations of those responsible for formation. The hoped result is a young man ready to take final vows and serve as an Oblate priest or brother for the rest of their lives.
The two young men received into the novitiate are Grant Wohl, Toledo, OH, and Joe Kochendoerfer, Bedford, MI. Both of these men have spent at least a year as postulants, living with other Oblates in community and working a conventional job. Grant continued working in Toledo as a computer programmer, and Joe taught math at St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo.
With the scarcity of vocations throughout the American church, we Oblates are thrilled they have chosen to join us and pray they find our way of life something they seek.
I found myself reflecting on memories of my novitiate, which began July 1, 1969. I was 17 years old, just a few weeks out of high school. Thinking about joining the Oblates as a senior in high school, I confessed to the Oblate vocation director that I had mixed feelings about it. His advice to me at that time was to "Give God the first chance." Well, in my naïveté, I thought, "Why the heck not!" I fully expected to leave after a month or so, with the added perk of doing something different for the summer someplace other than home.
I had no idea what I was doing and no good reason to do it but I quickly found myself at home with the Oblates. My life as an Oblate has been challenging. Ministry is hard work but has offered exciting opportunities beyond my expectations, and most of my days bring rich and unique experiences of Christ. After 51 years as an Oblate, I realize that I didn't so much choose this life as it chose me. St. Francis de Sales would say, "It is God's will." My prayer for Joe and Grant is they find the same.
Fr. Jack Loughran, OSFS
Provincial
Toledo-Detroit Province
