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SPECIALISTS IN DIFFICULT MISSIONS When he founded the Missionary Oblates in 1816, Eugene de Mazenod saw the Oblates' main purpose to be the preaching of the Gospel to the poor working people in southern France. When news of the success of his Oblates' church missions spread, requests for their services began pouring in. Although the Oblates worked mostly in France, they began traveling to nearby Switzerland in 1831 to hold similar missions. The focus of the Oblates' work changed in 1841 when Bishop Bourget of Montreal invited the Oblates to serve the spiritual needs of those living in eastern Canada. The Canadian missions proved to be very successful, and soon Oblates were also serving in small Canadian villages in the central and western areas of the country. A year after their arrival in Canada, the Oblates were already preaching missions to Canadian immigrants in Northern New York State and Vermont. As early as the spring of 1843, they had begun to preach missions in English as well as French. Such was their success that at least 20 U.S. establishments were offered to them prior to the Founders' death in 1861. The requests came from as far afield as Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa. For various reasons Bishop de Mazenod declined all but five of them: The demand for foreign missionaries continued to grow, and by 1847, Oblates were working in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) preaching, working with the youth, and encouraging native vocations. At the same time, they also began working as missionaries in several parts of the U.S. |
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Prayer for
Mission God our Father, we thank you for having called St. Eugene de Mazenod to follow Christ the Savior and Evangelizer. Passionately in love with your Son Jesus and sharing his compassion for humanity Eugene put himself at the service of your church for the evangelization of those most in need. Through his intercession help us to reach out with the healing touch of Christ who calls us to holiness and to Mission. May we build communities which are signs of your presence, and share the Good News of salvation with all. For this we dedicate ourselves, through Christ our Lord. Amen. St. Eugene, Share with us your love for Christ. St. Eugene, Help us to stand firm in goodness. St. Eugene, Be with us in all our efforts. |
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While many of their brother Oblates in France devoted themselves to preaching, ministering to Marian shrines and seminaries, and working with youth, the foreign missionaries took on another form of evangelization. Often, these men performed pioneer work necessary for the establishment of the Church. But all Oblates throughout the world were recognized as the religious congregation that would accept much-needed work that other religious or laypersons could not or would not take on. By 1861, the year of de Mazenods' death, Oblates were also working in Algeria, South Africa, Ireland, England, Corsica, Mexico, and Scotland. During the next 60 years, their ministry continued to spread in Europe and Africa. In 1929, the Missionary Oblates began their ministry in South America in Uruguay. They opened missions in Zaire, Laos, and Argentina. In 1939, the Oblates began to work in the Philippines, where they opened the Notre Dame schools and helped build community churches. Over the next 30 years, the Oblates opened missions in more than a dozen additional countries, including Haiti, Brazil, Cameroon, Japan, Chad, and Peru. In the 1960s, the Missionary Oblates were asked to send priests to serve the needs of the Catholic minority in Denmark and Greenland. Soon, Oblates could also be found working in parishes in Sweden and Norway. The Oblate ministry has continued to grow, especially in the Far East. Currently, Oblates are serving in Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Senegal. More recently, with the fall of communism, former Soviet countries, such as Byelorussia and Ukraine, have attracted new Oblate missions. In 1998, by invitation of the Vatican, the Oblates of the United States and Poland have taken on the task of re-building the Church in Turkmenistan, we have established the first permanent Catholic presence there since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Throughout their history, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate followed Eugene de Mazenods' vision, taking on many varied and challenging ministries. Called the "Specialists in difficult missions" by Pope Pius XI in 1938, the Oblates continue to dedicate their lives to serving the poor in many countries of the world. |