We are a missionary Congregation (Constitution 5)
“We were born for the mission and we exist for the mission. The Founder was impelled to begin the community of Aix in order to evangelize the inhabitants of his area, especially the ordinary people. He requested Rome’s approval in order to assure the Congregation’s existence and its missionary activity.
Our growth, too, is due to the mission. With our going to Canada in 1841 and especially with our missionary commitments among the Indians, there quickly followed an explosion of vocations and enthusiasm, accompanied by a meaningful image that adhered to the Oblate work. Thus began a missionary epic in different parts of the world: from Sri Lanka to South Africa, from Oregon to Texas.
The Founder’s vision took on new depth: evangelization was conceived not only as proclaiming Jesus Christ in order to reawaken the faith, correct behaviour and renew religious practice, but also as introducing people to Christ and to the Church in the way the Apostles did at the beginning of the Christian era. Oblates are “apostolic men” not only because they follow Christ and generously give themselves, but also because they are doing the same things that the Apostles did, namely, going out into the whole world in order to evangelize people. The desire for universality that the Founder had nourished as a young man and had expressed in the first Rules was now being realized.
The Oblate is the missionary of the poor, missionary to people. He is open to every human person in need, welcomes the latter’s aspirations, accompanies him on his journey, reveals to him who Christ is. He is open to the whole world, listening to its appeals and anxieties, sustaining the Congregation’s commitments, making himself everywhere available. The Congregation’s future will depend on the quality of our life, on our courage and our availability to respond to the challenges and needs of the Church wherever the Spirit will invite us to witness to the Gospel.”
Fr. Marcello Zago, Superior General, 1988