The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) are a religious organization of priests who dedicate their lives to serving the poorest of the poor in the world. St. Eugene De Mazenod founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1826.
Charles Joseph Eugene De Mazenod was born in southern France in 1782. While he was still young, his family was forced into exile during the French Revolution. For the next eleven years, the Mazenod family traveled across Italy, living in cities such as Nice, Turin, and Naples. During his family’s stay in Venice, Eugene gained a formal education from Fr. Don Bartolo Zinelli. Fr. Zinelli also gave the young Eugene a lasting trust in God, a trust which is the foundation of Faith. When the Mazenod family finally settled in Palermo, Italy, Eugene was taken in by the Duke and Duchess of Cannizaro who gave Eugene a taste of noble and wealthy life.
Eugene De Mazenod enjoyed his life of luxury and even thought of himself as “Count De Mazenod.” Upon his return to France, however, all dreams of greatness were lost. During his long stay in Palermo, Eugene’s parents had separated, sending Eugene into a deep depression. This depression, combined with the many cries of the poor in post-revolutionary France, inspired Eugene to answer the call to priesthood. He entered the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris, was ordained in 1811 at the age of 29, and then returned to his hometown in southern France.
Eugene did not take a normal parish appointment. He instead spent his time among prisoners, youth, servants, and poor. Although many members of the local clergy opposed these actions, Eugene was soon followed by other priests who shared his mission to care for those most in need. After gaining a substantial number of followers, Eugene went to Pope Leo XII and asked to be recognized as a new religious order. In 1826, Pope Leo XII approved of the new religious group and the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate” were formed.
Before the end of his life, Eugene De Mazenod would be appointed Bishop of Marseilles. He led the Oblates as Superior General for the rest of his life. Eugene De Mazenod died on May 21, 1861 at the age of 79. He left the Oblates with one final message: “Among yourselves-charity, charity, charity in the world-zeal for souls.” Eugene De Mazenod was canonized by Pope John Paul II on December 3, 1995. He is the patron saint of dysfunctional families, and his feast day is May 21.
Despite the death of their leader, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate continued their work among the poor and also continued to grow in number. Their original mission was to help rebuild post-revolutionary France, but it wasn’t long before the Oblates spread to other European countries, and eventually over seas to the Americas, Africa, and Asia. There are currently 4,500 Oblates operating in 71 different countries around the world. On the map above, colored areas are countries where the Oblates are currently operating.
The Oblates follow a “charism” specific to their order. This charism can be summarized in four major points:
1.Carry the gospel to others, especially the poor and those on the margins of society
2.Recognize the role of the lay people and encourage their involvement in the Church
3. Work for justice and peace, and strive to address the economic, political and social structures which affect the lives of their world-wide community
4.Commit to missionary programs in today’s world forming communities with people around the globe
The mission of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate is best told by the Oblates themselves. This statement came from: http://www.snows.org/AboutUs.aspx?path=root/english/AboutUs/History
“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”
I believe the Oblates to be an organization of faith because of their dedication to those who need help the most. By spending all of their time helping the "poorest of the poor," they show that they believe in those whom most people cast aside from society : the poor, the homeless, the youth, the prisoners. Also, Oblates are sent by their superiors to various countries all over the world; they do not necessarily choose to travel to these countries. This shows faith in their leaders, as well as in God to be with them in their travels. In class, we mentioned that Aristotle said many people are like "rudderless ships out at sea". I believe that, through their missionaries, the Oblates, like all religious orders, help provide a rudder to people across the globe.