The motto of the Oblates has ever remained: "He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor." The word "oblate" indicates one who is "dedicated to God".
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) is a Catholic religious order founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest from Marseilles. It was first recognized by Pope Leo XII on February 17, 1826. Originally established to revive the Church after the French Revolution, the religious order now serves in various countries around the world. Though they originally focused on working with the poor, they became known as a missionary and teaching order as well. In 1938, Pope Pius XI called them "specialists in difficult missions". One of the more famous members of the OMI is Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, who in terms of seniority in the church's hierarchy (not in the administration of the order) is its highest-ranking member.
Saint Eugene believed that a new religious society, whose special purpose would be to preach missions to the poor, could do much to bring back to Christ many of the souls lost in the world. The motto of the Oblates has ever remained: "He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor." In 1841, contrary to all the rules of planning, Eugene de Mazenod, fired by a faith and a zeal which knew no limits, began sending his Missionary Oblates in every direction to five continents. He felt that Christ's command to his Apostles, "Go forth to the entire World!" was addressed to him personally.
By early 1849, three Oblate priests and a brother had traveled from Canada to the United States. They journeyed down the Mississippi River, pausing in New Orleans, then continuing to Port Isabel, Texas. They finally chose Brownsville, Texas as their headquarters on December 2, 1849. This laid the foundation for what is now known as the United States Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The American apostolate was not limited to Texas, and ultimately reached into the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Priests from the U.S. Province have served all over the world, including Africa, the Arctic, Asia, Australia, Europe, Central America, Mexico, North America and South America.
The Oblate Missions can be found online at: oblatemissions.org.