About the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Vision:

Profoundly respecting the dignity and sacredness of each person, we seek to grow close to Christ and make him known through our way of life and ministry. We commit ourselves principally to those on the margins of church and society.

In 1816, the Church in France, suffering the effects of the French Revolution was in need of revival. Responding to this need, Fr. Eugene de Mazenod called together a group of priests whose main purpose would be to preach the Gospel to the poor working people of southern France. Other priests, drawn by the work of these men, soon joined the group and in 1826 they received papal approval as a Religious Congregation under the patronage of Mary Immaculate.

Fr. de Mazenod eventually became the Bishop of Marseilles. At his death in 1861, 400 Oblates were working in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Today, over 4,000 Oblate priests and brothers work in 68 countries, on every continent.