n 1816, a young Frenchman, St. Eugene De Mazenod, O.M.I., founded the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, an order of priests and brothers dedicated to serving the poor and sharing the message of God’s love with rural populations.
After 25 years of intense work in France, St. Eugene sent his first missionaries to Canada, shortly afterwards to the Asian country of Sri Lanka and to South Africa. This was the beginning of the Oblate epic that was to continue amid the ice of the North Pole and in the heat of the tropics, in countries that were Christian, Moslem, Buddhist, or Hindu.
In 1938, Pope Pius XI recognized us as “Specialists in Difficult Missions.” Today, we are more than 4,500 members strong, serving in 71 countries. We serve in areas where people’s needs are greatest and where services of other religious communities may not be available.
As one of the largest congregations of religious men, we choose to live among the poor throughout the world, including the countries of Zambia, the Philippines, Haiti, India, and Brazil. In the United States, we work in the inner cities, at retreat centers, rural parishes, and Native American reservations.
We go where our work is most needed and where God calls us to preach the message of His love.