Missionary Oblates

In 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.