WHO ARE OBLATES

OUR CHARISM & SPIRITUALITY

(WHO ARE OBLATES)

A Fire Rekindled: Men of Total Dedication

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a Roman Catholic congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to a single, burning purpose: to evangelize the poor and the most abandoned. Our charism is a living story rooted in our Founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod. In 1816, witnessing the Church in a deplorable state, he felt called to rekindle the dying flame of faith. Today, we carry that same flame, existing to make Christ known to those whose situations cry out for justice before God.

Oblation: A Radical Gift of Self

Our very identity—"Oblate"—is defined by Oblation. It is a radical, unconditional gift of self. We do not belong to ourselves; we belong entirely to God and to the brothers and sisters we are sent to serve. This consecrated life is offered without reservation, mirroring the sacrifice of Christ to fulfill His mission.

Specialists in Difficult Missions

We are first and foremost missionaries. Famously described by Pope Pius XI as "Specialists in the difficult missions of the Church," we are called to go where others may not go. Guided by our motto, "He has sent me to evangelize the poor," we dedicate our lives to those who have forgotten Jesus Christ or have never known Him, finding our own path to holiness in the most challenging peripheries.

United in Community

No Oblate works alone. We live in community, a brotherhood where we strengthen one another in faith and charity. This shared life is the "frame" of our oblation. By enriching each other through our discovery of God, we strive to build up the family of God’s children, actively fulfilling Jesus’ prayer: "That all may be one."

Under the Gaze of Mary Immaculate

We proudly bear the name of Mary Immaculate. She is our Mother, our Patroness, and our Model. In her fiat—her total "yes" to God—she shows us how to cooperate with the Divine Will. We contemplate her as the "Mother of the Mission," living our vocation under her gaze to bring the most abandoned children of God into the warmth of her mercy.

The Oblate Legacy in Sri Lanka

Since arriving on the shores of Ceylon in 1847, the Oblates have been woven into the spiritual and social fabric of Sri Lanka. As the Colombo Province, we continue this unbroken chain of apostolic zeal, stepping into the margins to bring a message of liberating joy and human dignity to our local communities.

ST. EUGENE DE MAZENOD (1782–1861)

Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

From Nobility to Exile

Born in Aix-en-Provence, France, in 1782, Charles Joseph Eugène de Mazenod was the son of wealthy aristocrats. His idyllic childhood, however, was shattered by the French Revolution. In 1790, his family was forced to flee into exile in Italy.

These years were marked by instability, poverty, and danger. Moving between Turin, Venice, Naples, and Palermo, Eugene grew up separated from his mother and deprived of formal schooling. Yet, amidst this uncertainty, he encountered Don Bartolo Zinelli in Venice, a holy priest who taught him prayer and introduced him to the Virgin Mary—planting the first seeds of his vocation.

The Turning Point

Eugene returned to France at age 20, intent on reclaiming his family’s wealth and enjoying the pleasures of high society. But beneath the surface of parties and prestige, he felt a profound emptiness.

His life changed forever on Good Friday, 1807. While adoring the Cross, Eugene experienced a transformative encounter with the love of Christ. He realized that despite his own sins, he was deeply loved and forgiven. He decided to dedicate his life to the Savior, entering the seminary and becoming a priest in 1811 with a resolve to be "the servant and priest of the poor."

A Heart as Big as the World

Confronted by the religious ignorance and devastation of the post-Revolution Church, Eugene rejected a comfortable career. Instead, he ministered to the youth, prisoners, and the destitute. Realizing the task was too great for one man, he gathered a group of zealous priests in 1816 to preach the Gospel to the poor. This group became the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Though he was later appointed Bishop of Marseille (1837)—where he rebuilt the diocese, championed the rights of the papacy, and cared for immigrants—his heart remained with his missionaries. He sent his "sons" across the globe, from the Arctic Circle in Canada to the shores of Sri Lanka and South Africa, earning the praise of a visiting bishop who remarked: "I have met the Apostle Paul."

Legacy and Saintliness

St. Eugene died on May 21, 1861. His final testament to his Oblates remains the core of their identity today: "Practice well among yourselves charity, charity, charity, and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls."

He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995, who called him a "Man of Advent"—a saint who dedicated his life to preparing the world for Christ.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE OMI CONGREGATION

The Foundation and Papal Approval

The story of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate began on January 25, 1816, when Father Eugene de Mazenod and four companions began living a community life in Aix-en-Provence, France. Bound by a desire to preach the Gospel to the poor, they held their first General Chapter shortly after, on October 24, 1818.

A monumental milestone for the congregation occurred on February 17, 1826, when Pope Leo XII officially recognized and approved the Congregation and its Rule. The year 2026 will joyfully mark the 200th anniversary of this official Papal Approbation, celebrating two centuries of formally recognized service to the Catholic Church.

Global Expansion and Arrival in Sri Lanka

Driven by an apostolic zeal to reach the most abandoned, the Oblates quickly expanded beyond France. In 1841, they established their first foreign mission in Canada, followed by arrivals in the United Kingdom (1841), the United States (Texas, 1847), South Africa (1852), and Ireland (1856).

Crucially for our local history, 1847 marked the arrival of the Oblates in Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon). From the moment they stepped onto these shores, the Oblates embedded themselves in the spiritual and social development of the island. Their service in Sri Lanka has been defined by building up local parishes, establishing educational institutions, and tirelessly working for social justice and peace among the marginalized communities of the nation.

By the time St. Eugene de Mazenod passed away in Marseilles on May 21, 1861, his small community had grown into a global missionary force.

A Legacy of Holiness and Martyrdom

Throughout their history, the Oblates have demonstrated a profound willingness to sacrifice everything for their faith and the people they serve. The congregation's legacy is marked by recognized saints, blesseds, and martyrs:

  • St. Eugene de Mazenod: Beatified in 1975 by Pope Paul VI and Canonized on December 3, 1995, by Pope John Paul II.

  • Blessed Joseph Gérard: The "Apostle of the Basotho" who died in 1914, beatified in Lesotho in 1988.

  • Blessed Jósef Cebula: Martyred in 1941 and beatified in Warsaw, Poland, in 1999.

  • The Martyrs of Spain: Who gave their lives in 1936 and were beatified in Madrid in 2011.

  • The Martyrs of Laos: Who suffered martyrdom between 1960 and 1969, and were beatified in Vientiane in 2016.

Looking Forward

In 2016, the congregation celebrated the 200th anniversary of its foundation. As we now look toward the 200th anniversary of our Papal Approbation in 2026, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate remain steadfast in their original call: bringing the light of Christ to the furthest peripheries of the world.