P. Oseni J. O. Ogunu omv

“Carignano, Cradle of the Congregation: From the apostolic zeal of Fr. John Baptist Reynaudi, Fr. Anthony Biancotti, Fr. Agostino Golzio and the support of Fr Bruno Lanteri the idea of the Congregation of the Oblates of Virgin Mary takes shape.” These words are boldly written on a vast, beautiful poster displayed in a corridor near the chapel of the General House of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Rome. The Oblates of the Virgin Mary was founded in Carignano, Italy, in 1816 as a response to the challenges of the French Revolution. Subsequently, after a five-year hiatus, it received papal approval from Pope Leo XII on 1 September 1826. They established groups and fraternities to promote a profound spiritual life and impact society positively. The Congregation celebrates the silver jubilee anniversary of its presence in Nigeria (1998-2023). This article intends to briefly recall the Congregation’s foundation and growth in Nigeria. Following the above topic assigned to me, the article presents three main periods of Oblate presence in Nigeria: the origins, the stabilisation and consolidation, and the growth and expansion, and then highlights some of the achievements, challenges, and prospects.

ENGLISH

[1] This revised article was originally published in the magazine, The Nigerian Catholic Encounter, 2024, pp.30ff

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a religious institute of Pontifical right consisting of clerics and coadjutor brothers. They dedicate themselves to God and follow Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Oblates work on various ecclesial missions, including attending to the ministry of the Word, promoting the ministries of reconciliation and mercy, contributing to the formation and fraternal assistance of the clergy, and evangelising culture. They prioritise pastoral care for people experiencing poverty, young people, and families, as well as the promotion of peace. Their presence on four continents and in ten countries is a testament to their global reach, unity of mission, and commitment to serving the Church.