BELLEVILLE - Seven novices of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate made their first profession of religious vows during a ceremony Aug. 1 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. The provincial of the United States Province, Father Louis Lougen, OMI, received their vows in the name of the superior general.

The first profession of the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and perseverance is the culminating event of the novitiate year shared by the newly-professed Oblates at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate, Godfrey.

Pronouncing their first vows were Americans, Juan Manuel Gaspar and Gabriel Alvarado Sobrevilla, who have been guided during their novitiate year by novice director, Father Tom Horan, OMI.

Along with these were three members of the United States Province from the Zambian delegation - Paul Chinyemba, Wilfred Mvula, Tony Nkhoma - and two from Canada, Daniel Janulewicz and David MacPhee.

"These are ... young Catholic men who seek to follow Jesus Christ by following the charism of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate," said Father Horan. "We feel that we are called to live in community as priests and brothers, inspired by the charism of the Oblates and St. Eugene de Mazenod, our founder. They come from all over the United States, Canada and Zambia, and these men represent the boldest and the brightest to be drawn to the Oblate charism."

For the seven men, the novitiate lasted for one year, beginning on Aug. 17, 2007 and concluding on Aug. 1, the birthday of the founder, with first profession of vows.

First vows are taken for a year and renewed annually for three to six years, by which time the call to perpetual (final) vows is discerned.

The next step in the Oblate formation process will take place in the Oblate scholasticate in San Antonio, Texas, where the newly professed will study theology in preparation for future ministry.

On Aug. 17, a new class of novices will begin their novitiate in Godfrey.

"The community-building is such an important part of the Oblate charism," said Father Lougen, "perhaps most importantly of all, in the sharing of a common liturgical prayer life (Eucharist, morning and evening prayer). All of these and more help us to discern our call as religious and then to go on and preach the Good News to the poor and the most abandoned."