The Lanterian Encounter is a forum where we, the members of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and the laity, come together to deepen our knowledge about some current   and/or important  themes relating to  our  Founder, Ven. Fr. Pius Bruno Lanteri,  and Congregation, the Catholic Church and/or  to the contemporary society especially in the Nigerian context. Lanterian Encounter serves  also as a means to update  and refresh our understanding concerning the current teachings of the church as it relates to a particular  theme chosen, and how we  - the Oblates  and the faithful ought to manage ourselves in the face of such issue, which could either be worth giving appreciation or  demand combating it when and insofar it poses a threat to the Church and  her teachings on faith and moral matters.  We have had several editions of  the Lanterian Encounter; as usual, some of the Lanterian Encounters took place in our House of Formation, while  others are  held in other venues  – that is, in  environment  and venue like the parishes, schools, etc..

The most recent of the Lanterian Encounter, which was held in our Seminary community on the 26^th day of January 2016, was very insightful and enriching. It started at about 4:00pm with an opening prayer led by one of the Seminary Formators, Rev. Fr. Oseni Jude Ogunu, OMV. The Master of Ceremony of the day, Bro. Daniel Damisah, OMV, quickly introduced the topic of discussion, which focused on this theme: The Oblate call to witness to Christ and defend the church in the face of individualism. This topic was eloquently handled, in form of a paper presentation, by our two confreres,  Bro. Jeremiah Irabor, OMV and Bro. Emmanuel Emalume, OMV.

The major highlights of the discussion include: an attempt to define individualism which was presented from the viewpoint of a thought within oneself as a completely self-sufficient unit without an external relationship, factors and effects of individualism which could be seen as loss of the sense of God and its own self- inflicted wound of skepticism which, according to pope emeritus Benedict XVI, is a cause of the economic crisis that has swept various parts of the globe.

 The Oblates response to the error of individualism, according to the presenters, is to be traced back to that idea of love which inspired the founder of the Congregation to take that first initiative of gathering young men together who out of the love they have for God and the church develop the zeal to follow Christ more closely in the religious life. That in any Oblate community, be it parish, house of formation or retreat house, the oblates owe the world, themselves and God to live out the beauty of fraternity and community; for this is itself an effective sign. In collaboration with the entire church, they can also combat this error through the exercise of their apostolate; writing and distributing of good books, formation of human persons both at the family level and the church at large and tendering of special care to the flock of God.

At the end of the discussion, there was light refreshment before the last part of the symposium which, as an interactive section, gave the participants the room for questions, contributions, clarifications and overview explication on the need of getting ourselves informed with the chosen topic. This point was reiterated  by the Rector of the Community, Rev.Fr. Victor Chuks Nwabueze, OMV. The vote of thanks followed immediately by Bro. George Erumetse, OMV and, then, the closing prayer by the Rector at about 6.00pm.

Emmanuel Nwobi