The promotion of the Founder Ven. Fr. Pius Bruno Lanteri
and the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Nigeria
“They will never cease to love more their own Congregation, as a child is wont to
love his mother more than the Queen” (Ven. Lanteri)
«When, speaking of Lanteri, the Pope (Pius XI) asked: ‘and what do you do to
make your great founder known?’ – Fr. Pechenino promptly replied: ‘Among the
various initiatives, here, Your Holiness, is also this dissemination work.’ » (Quoted
by P. Ayme, OMV, in a personal notebook of «News of the Congregation «)
INTRODUCTION
The promotion of the Founder, Ven. Pius Bruno Lanteri, has always been done and continues to be done throughout the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV). The preparations in Rome for the video presentation on the history of this promotion is unique and historic. It led, indirectly, to the writing of this article. I had not planned to write it. The Director of Communications, Fr. John Wykes, OMV had contacted some Oblate confreres in different regions of the Congregation, asking for information. This article is an offshoot, ultimately, of my initial response to his request.
In this article, a list of initiatives and activities of Oblates in Nigeria to promote our Founder is reported. The items are listed in no particular order and can be updated in the future when necessary. This depends, of course, on the availability and reliability about new initiatives that are pertinent to the subject under consideration.
After the presentation of a basic conviction, shared by many, the article discusses the request for (and gathering) of information as a phase of the project. Seen as a matter that should concern everyone, the reflection presents the inquiry made. Then, it reports, in a collage as it were, responses received on promotion of Ven. Lanteri and the Congregation in Nigeria, including proposals of some ways of furthering it in the future. Some final remarks will follow.