|
The motto of the Oblates has ever remained: "He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor. "The word "oblate" indicates one who is "dedicated to God".
The following is information pertinent to the Oblate Missions and the work we do. Questions most frequently asked are hopefully answered below. If we can help you with further information not found on About Oblate Missions page click here to email us any questions. Who are the Oblates of Mary Immaculate?
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a congregation of priests and brothers, dedicated to the service of God, under the guidance of our Immaculate Mother.
In 1816, a young French priest, Father Eugene de Mazenod (canonized St. Eugene in 1995) gathered a small group of priests to live and work together for the salvation of the most abandoned.
Saint Eugene de Mazenod, in 1856, approved formation of a lay order, the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate. It was established to support the ministries of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Lay members were urged to join the Oblate apostolate in saving souls in some of the poorest missions of the world. Pontiffs, through the years, have granted spiritual benefits to its members. In the many years that the Missionary Oblates have been working in throughout the world, countless individuals and families have lent their generous and loyal support.
Ten years later, in 1826, Pope Leo XII granted solemn approbation to their rules and constitutions and gave them their cherished title; Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Saint Eugene believed that a new religious society, whose special purpose would be to preach missions to the poor, could do much to bring back to Christ many of the souls lost in the world. The motto of the Oblates has ever remained: "He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor."
In 1841, contrary to all the rules of planning, Eugene de Mazenod, fired by a faith and a zeal which knew no limits, began sending his Missionary Oblates in every direction to five continents. He felt that Christ’s command to his Apostles, "Go forth to the entire World!" was addressed to him personally.
By early 1849…three Oblate priests and a brother had traveled from Canada to the United States. They journeyed down the Mississippi River, pausing in New Orleans, then continuing to Port Isabel, Texas. They finally chose Brownsville, Texas as their headquarters on December 2, 1849. This laid the foundation for what is now known as the United States Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The American apostolate was not limited to Texas, and ultimately reached into the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Priests from the U.S. Province have served all over the world, including Africa, the Arctic, Asia, Australia, Europe, Central America, Mexico, North America and South America.
|
|
