Oblate Spirituality
A way of life centered on St. Eugene de Mazenod's charism.
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"He has sent me to bring good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18) is the heart of our spirituality and mission.
For the Oblate, the poor are not simply people who lack material resources. Poverty can also appear through abandonment, exclusion, displacement, addiction, disability, loneliness, injustice, conflict and loss of hope. Evangelizing the poor therefore means going towards people, listening to them, walking with them and proclaiming the Good News through word and life.
We are united as communities in prayer and mission.
Our life is rooted in faith, humanity, and justice, guided by the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod.
In Sri Lanka, we serve through proclaiming the Good News, parish work, pastoral care, education and social service.
We strive to be close to the people, rooted in prayer, and faithful in service.
What we live
Our life: faith, humanity, and justice.
A way of life centered on St. Eugene de Mazenod's charism.
Compassionate proclamation of the Good News aimed at the most abandoned.
Evangelization through preaching, pastoral care, and social service.
Our identity
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate was founded in 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod in France. From the beginning, the congregation was dedicated to those most abandoned in society.
Among yourselves practice charity, charity, charity and outside zeal for salvation of souls.
The Oblate charism calls us to missionary availability: we go where needs are greatest, especially to communities that are hard to reach.
In current context, the Oblate Charism is lived through preaching ministry, pastoral care, education and social service.
Leave nothing undared.
How we live it
Our daily life and ministry are guided by prayer, fraternity, and missionary courage.
A passion to evangelize where faith, hope, and dignity are most needed.
An apostolic missionary community aiming at the sanctification of members through fraternity, resulting in a collaborated mission for the effective Oblate mission.
Leave nothing undared; readiness to serve wherever the need is greatest.
Our way of life
Eight commitments that shape how Oblates walk with the people of God.
Go where people need the Gospel.
Listen before speaking and accompany before judging.
Serve people whose dignity is threatened.
Build communities of faith and hope.
Promote justice, peace and reconciliation.
Care for creation and future generations.
Form young people and future missionaries.
Treat digital platforms as new missionary spaces.
Mission
Empowered by the Good News, we work for a healing society in and through the light of the Good News.
Vision
A life towards a renewed, just and free society.
Motto
Evangelizing the poor. Presence, accompaniment, education, compassion, justice, reconciliation and service.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate were founded by St Eugene de Mazenod. The Province of Jaffna belongs to that worldwide family, with a particular presence among Tamil-speaking people and communities, serving the people of God island-wide and abroad.
Arrival
The first Oblates landed at Galle on 28 November 1847. On 10 March 1848 they reached Jaffna.
The mission
They began by learning Tamil, entering the culture of the people, and walking into villages, coastal communities and islands. Education, pastoral care and accompaniment through peace, suffering and social change became the shape of the mission.