Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
U.S. Province of the O.M.I.
The mission of the United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is to enable and live a vital missionary presence, one that embodies the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod. As such, this missionary presence is at the service of the Church in the United States in its mission to the poor and most abandoned, as well as at the service of the Congregation in its global missionary outreach.
The United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate participates in various ways in the missionary outreach of the Congregation. It does so by providing personnel and financial support and by welcoming visiting and returning missionaries. It assumes responsibility for the Mission of Baja California, as well as for the Delegation of Zambia. In collaboration with local and Oblate leadership, the province will oversee the vital development of these Units.
In discerning our missionary endeavors as a province, we are attentive to three areas of community and ministry. First, we wish to assure that we are faithful to our Charism. We used the 36th Chapter Document for values for this process, involving both Council and several of our larger communities. Secondly, we seek to recognize the abilities of our existing personnel, with reasonable projections for the future. In a third value, we seek to recognize the importance of community be emphasizing those ministry sites where at least three Obltes can live, as well as geographical distance between one community and another. In addition to this is a need to be sustainable with regards to finances and personnel.
We strive to ensure a lifegiving missionary future within the U.S. Province and the missions for which we are responsible through:
· Growing in fidelity to our Charism, evaluating ministries with Criteria of 36th General Chapter;
· Recognizing the abilities of the members of our province, and arranging ministry commitments and opportunities accordingly;
· Ensuring that opportunities for healthy Oblate Community are available to all Oblates;
· Strengthening our ties to the greater “Mazenodian Family” of HOMI’s Lay Associates, Missionary Partners, Young Oblate Affiliates, Oblate Youth, Mission Supporters, and Oblate Employees;
· Ensuring appropriate support for our considerable number of elder missionaries, current and future;
“Right-Sizing” our province commitments and administrative structures as we decrease in vowed membership.
In addition to ministries within the United States, we participate actively in three International Missions in the Congregation:
The Zambian Delegation was founded and formed by the Southern province, and for the past 20 years, by the U.S. Province. It is an very active, dynamic and burgeoning delegation, well on its way to becoming an independent province.
The Baja Mission began in the Western Province, crossing the border into Mexicali, Mexico. It is a small but very zealous mission with highly effective lay development and Youth Ministry, currently based in Tijuana Mexico.
The Turkmenistan Mission is staffed and run by the Polish Province, with additional financial support form the U.S. Province.
Historically, we have helped to found and continue other new missions in many countries as well. The include: Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, Guatemala, Haiti, Japan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Scandinavia, Tahiti. Many of these have grown to become delegations or provinces.