The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a Catholic missionary congregation founded in France on January 25, 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod. De Mazenod started the congregation, then called the Missionaries of Provence, to assist the poor and disenfranchised. In 1826, this group was formally recognized by Pope Leo XII as the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The Oblates’ first mission arrived in Canada on December 2, 1841 and quickly established several missions in the area. In 1845, the Oblates sent some of their members west to the Red River Settlement to establish missions and schools at the request of Bishop Norbert Provencher of Saint Boniface. In 1850, Oblate Alexandre Antonin Taché succeeded Provencher as Bishop of Saint Boniface, granting additional aid to Oblate missionaries in western Canada. This allowed the Oblates to continue their missionary work in Western Canada which until that point was at the risk of being discontinued due to the harsh conditions and large distances.
The Oblates believed that children, when removed from their traditional cultural surroundings, were more susceptible to Catholic teachings. As a result, they were staunch advocates of the Residential School System, in which they often served as principals and administrators. In most Catholic schools, the Oblates would often supervise the work of religious sisters such as the Grey Nuns or the Missionary Oblate Sisters. In 1969, the Government of Canada took complete control of the Residential School System. Some of the Oblates continued their work as Government employees. The last residential school closed in 1996.
During the 1990s, the public became more aware of the impacts of residential schools. This led to an increase in litigation against the Government of Canada, which culminated in the creation of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) in 2006. IRSSA outlined the process by which residential school litigation was carried out in addition to creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). As of 2019, the Oblates still send missions across the globe.
Immaculate Conception Residential School was administered and managed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Coudert Hall was administered and managed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
St. Joseph's Residential School (Fort Resolution) was managed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
St. Joseph's Residential School (Fort Resolution) was managed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate administered Fort Alexander Residential School.
1875-2015
[1800-01-01 - 2015-12-31]
1911-1976
[1800-01-01 - 2015-12-31]
1918-1972
[1800-01-01 - 2015-12-31]
[1800-01-01 - 2015-12-31]
[1800-01-01 - 2015-12-31]
2013-04-24 - 2013-04-27
2013-04-24 - 2013-04-27
2013-04-24 - 2013-04-27
2013-04-24 - 2013-04-27
2014-03-29
1888 - 1972