Community Profile

Oblates of the Virgin Mary Rev. David Nicgorski, O.M.V. Provincial 1105 Boylston St Boston, MA 02215-3604 617-266-5999 ext. 203 vocation@oblatesofthevirginmary.org www.oblatesofthevirginmary.org

Community Information

International? Philippines No. in community (professed members) 49 Year founded 1817 Generalate/ motherhouse Rome, Italy Province/federation St. Ignatius Represented in US (Arch)dioceses Boston, MA; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Springfield, IL

About Us

Mission statement/description Founded by Ven. Pio Bruno Lanteri, the Oblates are involved in retreat and parish mission work, and follow the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. They are involved in formation of the clergy, defense of the truth, formation of the laity, foreign missions, social communications and the promotion of good books. Qualifications for entry 1) A serious desire to become a saint. 2) The desire to enter the religious and/or priestly life in order to love and glorify God, to work for one's own sanctification, and to zealously labor for the salvation of others. 3) An esteem and inclination for both liturgical and personal prayer and a willingness to strive for that union with Christ without whom we can do nothing. 4) A special love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. 5) Docility to the teachings of the Magisterium and unswerving dedication to the successor of Peter, the rock upon whom the Church is founded. 6) Sufficient intelligence to understand the religious vows and to complete the studies required for the priesthood. 7) Sufficient physical and emotional health for a life of community, study, and apostolic work. Formation program Postulancy: Our Lady of Grace Seminary in Boston provides the preparation in philosophy, the humanities and liberal arts that serves as a foundation for theological studies. A life of prayer, especially daily adoration of the Eucharist, personal spiritual direction, monthly days of recollection, bi-annual retreats, and supervised apostolic experience, all contribute to the men's formation. North American Novitiate: One year of intense spiritual formation and discernment is given in preparation for the novice's total consecration of himself to God and the Church by means of vows. Academic studies are suspended during the novitiate. The novice is instructed in the rule, spirit and way of life of the Oblates, and is taught the fundamentals of the spiritual life, prayer, the spirituality of the Gospels and the theology of the religious life and vocation. The novitiate year ends with the taking of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and reception of the religious habit of the institute. Theologate: The newly-professed then studies theology according to the Second Vatican Council's Decree on Priestly Training. The students are guided in their attempts to put their theological studies into practice by participating in various apostolates. Age range/limit up to 40 Consider belated vocations? No Belated/late vocations explanation