Friday, October 15, 2010

NEW SUPERIOR GENERAL


Missionary Oblates Elect New Superior General
Very Reverend Louis Lougen, O.M.I. has been elected the 12th Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate during the Oblates’ 35th General Chapter in Rome.  He will lead more than 4,100 Missionary Oblate priests and brothers who serve in almost 70 countries worldwide.

Coincidentally elected on his 58th birthday, Fr. Lougen was born in Buffalo, New York in 1952.  He made his first profession of vows at the novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois in 1973 and continued his first formation at Oblate College in Washington, D.C. where he earned a Baccalaureate in Philosophy and a Master’s in Theology.  Father Lougen professed his perpetual vows in Newburgh, New York in 1976, was ordained to the diaconate in 1978 and ordained to the priesthood in 1979.

Father Lougen’s first assignment was in Brazil where, in the former São Paulo Province, he worked in parish and formation ministry.  He was elected to the Provincial Council of the São Paulo Province for three terms from 1985-1994.

Upon his return to the United States, Fr. Lougen served as Assistant Director of the pre-novitiate and pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Buffalo.  He later served as Novice Master in Godfrey, Illinois.

Father Lougen has served as Provincial of the United States Province of the Missionary Oblates since 2002.  He succeeds Very Rev. Wilhelm Steckling, O.M.I. who has served as Superior General for the past 12 years.

Father Lougen, along with the current Superior General and Council, will decide the appropriate date for his installation, which will take place no later than three months after the conclusion of the General Chapter on October 8.

We, the Oblates of the Jaffna Province wish and congratulate our New Superior general Very Rev. Fr. Louis Lougen OMI and extend our fullest support and cooperation to him.