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An “oblate” is a person whose life, by special dedication, is offered in service to the Lord. The Anglo-Irish province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) is part of a global community of men of mission, prayer and community, seeking to get close to people, to experience their hurts and dreams, their fears and joys.
Founded by Eugene De Mazenod in Southern France in 1816, there are around 4,500 OMI continuing his mission in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and North America; including recently established missions in Senegal, Cuba, Turmenistan, Byelorussia and Ukraine.
The establishment of the Anglo-Irish Province can be traced to 1841. Eugene sent Father William Daly to England, where he formed the first mission in the Province in Penzance amongst Cornish tin miners.
It was in 1856 that an Irish Oblate foundation came into exist, with Fr Robert Cooke taking possession of a 25-acre farm with a house and outhouses in Inchicore, Dublin. Through the remarkable efforts of 700 volunteers from the nearby Railway Works it was converted ineight days into “a neat little chapel, complete with sacristy and bell-tower and fully furnished ready for the large congregation that turned up for the Mass…on Sunday”.
The OMI Anglo-Irish Province continues the mission of Eugene through the following mission:
- We aspire to embody and communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ in an increasingly diverse and secular world.
- We choose to live in community sharing life, faith and prayer
- We seek to live in solidarity with those who are poor and excluded.
- We rejoice in the dignity of all and in the integrity of creation.
We are evangelised and evangelise - always attentive to the prompting of the Spirit expressed in the needs and concerns of people and the Oblate charism.
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