Who are the Oblates

France was a shattered society when Eugene de Mazenod gathered around him a group of like-minded Presiders. They would go to the poorest people in the land to remind them of their human dignity, announce again the message of Jesus Christ and help them to a new way of life. This enthusiastic group became the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1826.



Despite being a small number, Eugene sent his missionaries to the furthest reaches of the world: to the poor in Canada and on the Texas/Mexican border; to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and South Africa. Oblates came to Britain in 1841 and to Ireland in 1856. At Eugene de Mazenod’s canonisation in December 1995, St. John Paul II said of him “he had a heart as big as the world”.


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  • Where are the Oblates today, and what do they do?

    This is what Yahweh asks of you, only this:

    That you act justly, love tenderly

    And walk humbly with your God.

    (Micah 6:8)


    So, the Oblates strive to seek out, befriend and respect as sisters and brothers, the abandoned poor with their many faces: the weak, unemployed, illiterate, victims of addictions, sick, marginalised, immigrants, minorities – not only the materially poor, but also those who are poor in spirit, those who do not know the name of Jesus Christ.


    Our mission invites us to a team approach, to collaboration with laity and other religious communities, to formation of lay leaders who will serve the needs of others, to become a part of the lives of those of others.


    


    We invite you to collaborate with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in fulfilling the Church’s mission. Most of all, your prayers for the missions and for missionary vocations will be an immense support and encouragement.

    About Saint Eugene


    St. Eugene de Mazenod, the 19th century founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was added to the church’s long list of holy men and women on December 3rd, 1995, by St John Paul II. Among the countless stories of the lives of saints, St. Eugene is unique in that his parents were divorced during a time in history when divorce was rare. Eugene de Mazenod had far from an ideal family life.


    Born on 1st August 1782 in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, Eugene de Mazenod was a member of the French nobility. During the French Revolution, the de Mazenod family was forced into exile to avoid the guillotine.  In 1795, leaving her husband and son behind in Venice, Marie-Rose returned to France with Eugene’s sister. Once back home, she divorced Eugene’s father.

    After eleven years in exile, Eugene returned to Aix at his mother’s request, where he struggled to reunite his family. However, he once again felt the call to priesthood. On 12th October 1808 he entered the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris. After his ordination on 21st December 1811, Fr. de Mazenod began working with the poor and disenfranchised people of Aix.


    In 1815 he felt the need to have companions who would live in community with him and share his apostolate. He purchased a disused Carmelite convent with its adjoining church, and his small band of priests began preaching missions throughout the French countryside. 

    Pope Leo XII gave Fr. de Mazenod full approval for his new congregation on 17th February 1826 and gave them the name “Oblates of Mary Immaculate”. Before his death, his congregation of over 400 men had spread to ten countries throughout the world.


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    A PATRON SAINT FOR WOUNDED FAMILIES

    Born during a time when divorce was rare, Eugene de Mazenod had far from an ideal family life. During the French Revolution his family became political refugees. They had to leave their home in France and journeyed through a number of cities in Italy, finishing up at Palermo. During this Italian exile the family became impoverished and came very close to destitution. His mother abandoned the family and returned to France, and later divorced her husband. 


    The break up of a marriage or struggles within family life can destroy all sense of security and open the way to a world of uncertainty. Adults often feel humiliation and a sense of failure, while children may feel inappropriate guilt and a deep fear of parental abandonment. St. Eugene can provide hope and encouragement for those trying to recover from the myriad disappointments of a separation or divorce, as he himself was the son of parents whose marriage ended acrimoniously. 

    PRAYER FOR WOUNDED FAMILIES

    Prayers to St. Eugene can help those who feel overwhelmed, by interceding for them as they endure the pains of divorce and troubled family life.


    Almighty and loving God, you led St. Eugene de Mazenod through the sufferings and challenges of a broken family to a life of holiness.


    Through his constant intercession bless those whose relationships are damaged and broken.  Grant them the gifts of understanding, patience, love and courage to overcome the problems of life. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. Amen'


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