Hearts on Fire: Finding Life for our Spirit with Saint Eugene:
A Retreat for Oblates and Associates
with Sandy Prather, HOMI
The Saskatchewan District Council of OMI Lacombe Canada invites you to a retreat facilitated by Sandy Prather, HOMI. This retreat will be held at Queen’s House of Retreat in Saskatoon for those able to attend and will be available virtually via Zoom to all Oblates and Associates across Canada.
Thursday, October 22 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Friday, October 23 from 9:30 am until 4:00 pm
Friday, October 23 from 7:00-9:00 pm – Join the Oblates for the Amazon Synod
Saturday, October 24 from 9:30 am until 4:00 pm.
Fr. Mike and Fr. Ken will celebrate mass at St. Philip at 5:00 pm.
“I live only by the heart,” Saint Eugene once wrote and, looking at his life, we can see that it is true. Passionate and fiery in personality and spirit, he easily calls to mind the mighty prophet Jeremiah: “Within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot (20:9). Looming large in the Church of post-Revolutionary France as the Bishop of Marseilles, Eugene’s greatest and most long-lasting gift to the Church was the founding of the religious congregation, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Calling his sons to the same passion for Christ he knew, Eugene demanded of them, “I don’t want smoldering wicks, I want you to burn, give heat, give light or get out!”
Today, Oblates and Associates are hearing that same demand. Inspired by Eugene’s spirit, they are urged to let their hearts be on fire: for Christ and the cross, for community and for the Church, to name a few. Together, on this retreat, we will explore how Saint Eugene’s spirituality informs, shapes and inspires us as we seek to set our own hearts aflame.
Our Presenter: Sandra Prather, HOMI
Sandra Prather, Oblate Associate and Honorary Oblate, has been associated with the Oblates since the mid-1980’s. As Executive Director of an Oblate retreat centre, Star of the North, for over 20 years, she became well-acquainted with the Oblates and their charism. Sandra’s life-long work has led her into an on-going relationship with St. Eugene, his charism, and the Oblates.
Sandra’s first introduction to Oblate Association came when she attended the 1996 Aix Congress as a Canadian delegate. She subsequently accepted to be one of the lay presenters at the 1998 Oblate Chapter and has been instrumental in developing Association nationally and internationally for many years. She currently serves as the OMI Lacombe Provincial Animator for Associates.
Inspired and encouraged by the many Oblates who live Eugene’s charism in graced ways, Sandy continues to delve deeply into Eugene de Mazenod and his spirit. She has led retreats and workshops on the Oblate charism across Canada and abroad, including the United States, Japan, Britain and Ireland.
Sandra holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta and a Master of Theology degree from Newman Theological College. She and her husband Bob reside in Sherwood Park, Alberta and are blessed with four adult children and ten grandchildren.