Who are the Oblates of St. Joseph?

The Oblates of St. Joseph are a religious order of priests and brothers founded by St. Joseph Marello in 1878. It was his inspiration to gather together a group of young men who desired to consecrate themselves to the love and service of Jesus in imitation of St. Joseph. He saw a family of priests and brothers all taking vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, living according to the prayerful, humble and dedicated example of St. Joseph. St. Joseph Marello proposed to them a high ideal of uniting an intense spiritual life with a tremendous spirit of service:

"Be as Carthusians indoors and Apostles outdoors."

Marello was moved to see and serve Jesus through the eyes of St. Joseph. It was a pathway to holiness in which we were to be "extraordinary in ordinary things," keeping before us the image of the young Jesus, simple, poor and hidden away, working for our salvation through the toil of everyday life.

What Do the Oblates of St. Joseph Do?

St. Joseph Marello, following his inspiration, desired us to be ready to serve Jesus in whatever work and wherever it was most necessary, without seeking to draw attention to ourselves, but working solely out of our love for Christ.
Therefore he desired us to be open to whatever missions Divine Providence sent our way, particularly if it involved assisting the local churches who were short of help or the christian education of young people or it was an opportunity to lead people to Christ through the example of St. Joseph. The Oblates began as a small family, but hae gradually grown and spread.

Both priests and brothers, while living in a fraternal community, today seek to serve Christ through:

• Loyalty to the Holy Father and the teachings of the Church
• Spreading devotion to St. Joseph
• Pastoral Work in areas suffering a lack of clergy
• Christian Formation and guidance of young people
• Religious Education
• Caring for the Elderly, Immigrants and the Poor
• Spiritual Direction and Retreats
• Foreign Missions

In the United States, the Oblates of St. Joseph work on the east and west coasts where they dedicate themselves primarily to pastoral work and the formation and religious education of young people.

In 1915 the Oblates of St. Joseph were requested by the Holy Father to start their apostolic service abroad, carrying their spirit of St. Joseph to the far corners of the globe. At present, the Oblates of St. Joseph are working in the following countries:

• Italy
• Brazil
• Peru
• Poland
• United States
• Philippines
• Mexico
• Bolivia
• India
• Nigeria