The 36th General Chapter challenged all the Oblates to renew their lives for the sake of an even more effective evangelization of the world. In response to this challenge, and as the fruit of the Oblate Triennium, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Province of Indonesia have taken much times to reflect and discern about their personnel and their mission. They concluded by starting a new mission for the Province; they call it “Oblate Vocation and Formation.” This new mission was born of the main concern that “the harvest is rich but the laborers are few.” (Matt 9:37) Every Oblate in the Province realizes that the number of laborers is not equal to the harvest in the mission fields (based on the slow increase of the number of the personnel each year).

The new mission of the Province is also a response to the cry of the Church. The Church needs laborers. The Church needs priests for sacramental services. The Church needs people who consecrate their lives for the service of their brothers and sisters. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to collaborate with everybody, especially with Catholic families, to promote vocations and to take part in the formation process in various ways. It is felt that it is necessary to work hand in hand with the laity to prepare the laborers for the harvest.

The Vision Statement of the Province:

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Province of Indonesia is a religious missionary society which faithfully follows Jesus Christ to proclaim the message of salvation to the poor with their many faces by renewing themselves constantly according to the Charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod, under the patronage Mary Immaculate, living the values of Pancasila*, together with all people of goodwill.

(* Pancasila is the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state.)

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Province of Indonesia commit to:

1.Improving oneself for the sake of the mission.

2. Making every Oblate community a means of self-renewal.

3. Increasing vocations and maintaining the call.

4. Increasing the involvement of laity in spirituality and mission.

5. Strengthening the role and service to youth.

6. Building an awareness of diversity and unity as one nation, Indonesia.

(Written by Caraka Team)