United States
The first Oblates establishment dates from September 5, 1847, with the arrival of four Oblates in Oregon. Other establishments quickly followed: Brownsville, Texas; Buffalo, New York; Plattsburgh, New York, and Lowell, Massachusetts. By 1904, two American provinces had been estabished, with 88 Oblates engaged in various ministries. By 1960, 1087 Oblates were active in the United States within five provinces comprising 215 foundations. Missionaries have been sent to Mexico, Haiti, South Africa, Lesotho, Japan, the Philippines, Laos, Chile, Bolivia, Northern Canada, Scandanavia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Tahiti, and Zambia.
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The wealthy image projected by the United States stands in contrast to stark realities: 37 million live in poverty, some 5 million are homeless. Over six hundred Oblates are currently engaged in a variety of ministries, with a major thrust toward Hispanic ministry. They also serve African Americans, Amerindians and various immigrant groups such as Filipinos, Haitians, Koreans, and Laotians. Oblates work in over 150 parishes and 15 retreat centers. Other ministries include prison, hospital, and college chaplains, health care and rehabilitatiion facilities, justice and peace ministry, counseling services, university and seminary teaching, as well as seven foreign missions. Oblates run many shrines, devotion centers, the largest being the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois.
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