A case for the Oasis of Love

Following the harassment cry of some female students against a priest during an LSS, the Oasis of Love and its workers have been the butt of criticism by some media men and others. What an unfortunate turn of event for this community of dedicated evangelizers! After working hard for years to bring the word of God to people - to young people especially - they are now being lampooned for the indiscretion (assuming it really happened as claimed) of one person. To rub salt to injury, their detractors were even insinuating mismanagement of funds collected during the seminars. The worse reaction, however, was from one who wanted to burn the house for the presence of one small mouse. Let's stop this LSS thing, he said, it's a waste of time!

Hearing about these was painful to me. I am an Oasis alumnus, you see, having taken its LSS sometime in 1998. I was also one of the initiators of the students' LSS together with Bro. Dodong Limchua and Mons. Fred Kreekienvic circa 1996. The idea was actually hatched in a "Core" group meeting held weekly at the Archbishop's palace. (The "Core" was a gathering of Catholic charismatic leaders organized by Cardinal Vidal himself to synchronize the various Charismatic initiatives in the archdiocese). The aim was to bring the word of God to the youth, particularly students, many of whom had been observed to be wanting in religious convictions. Teachers had reported, for instance, that very few of their students (about only one in every five) would hear the Mass on Sundays. Very few too knew how to pray the "Our Father" or the "Hail Mary". And practically none would go to confession even once a year as required of every Catholic.

How serious the situation was came to light when during a gathering of campus religious workers, a public high school principal revealed that in one of her classes not a single student had seen a copy of the Holy Bible, and how happy they were when she showed them one! On this revelation Cardinal Vidal himself, who was present in the meeting, could not help but shed tears. "I never thought the situation is that serious" he confessed.

The Oasis of Love's series of two-day LSS for students was partially an answer to the Cardinal's tears. For almost ten years now Oasis' servant leader Brother Dodong Limchua and his workers have been at it quietly and without fanfare touching the lives of thousands of God's children and making them better individuals. Values, religious values, are the focus of Oasis' formation program. The idea is that with consciousness on the presence of God in one's life awakened, other values which may be secular in nature could be internalized. Love, which the Oasis disciples believe the be-all and end-all of one's engagements in life, is central to the efforts of the group. And how does it tries to do this?

The formation session starts with enthronement of the Holy Eucharist in the LSS site. Then a series of inspirational talks are given most of which are testimonies by lay workers of how God have touched their lives. Many of these have something to do with miraculous healings, some dramatic, others just seemingly ordinary happenings yet indicative nevertheless of God's mercy and goodness. Culled from the experience of ordinary people, the impact of these talks is usually far-reaching. For they drive home the truth that God is alive and cares - and answers prayers.

Talks on the basic doctrines of the Church are of course a part of the session. For doctrinal know-how is necessary to serve as bedrock to one's faith. But LSS proponents believe this part of one's spiritual growth can be attained in the "growth seminars" to which participants are exposed on later occasions.

Confession is a must for one to get full benefits of the LSS experience. Hence, participants are encouraged to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation. With their souls cleansed, the participants are then exposed to the baptism of the Spirit, an experience similar to the appearance of the Holy Ghost among the disciples during the Pentecost. It is here where most of the faithfuls experience being "slain" in the Spirit, a state of holy unconsciousness when they are believed to be basking in the loving care of the Advocate.

This is what students experience during their LSS. What they learned in the classrooms is enriched with spiritual values, thereby making their educational exposure holistic and complete.

Shall this program be now set aside for one single unfortunate incident? Satan must surely have the last laugh if this is done.

* * *

Email: [email protected]