ASIA/INDIA - Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have been working 40 years in India, at the service of the poor and peace

Madras (Agenzia Fides) – Bringing the Gospel to a multi-religious and multi-cultural nation, in a constant service to the poor, in the establishment of dialogue and peace: with this spirit, 40 years ago, the first missionaries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) founded the first mission in India, in the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore, in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. In 1968, the missionaries were asked by the Oblate's Sri Lankan Province to create a Delegation in India. “We gathered strength and courage, praying at the tomb of the apostle Saint Thomas, first evangelizer of India, whose remains are in Chennai (former Madras),” said Fr. Emmanuel Mariampillai and Fr. Stanislaus Philips, the first two Oblates sent to India.
The two missionaries dedicated themselves to becoming familiar with the great Indian nation, its traditions and customs, the language and society. They then began their work in the area of education, seeing the need for it, especially among the youth and children from poor families. After years of work, in 1980, the Oblates founded the association “EMMA” (Education Multi Media Association), which works in favor of education, rehabilitation, and cultural and social progress of the most underdeveloped communities.
In a matter of 40 years of humility and hard work, the OMI community in India has experienced a notable growth: there are now 70 professed brothers, and 30 seminarians, and nearly 70 youth candidates in formation, awaiting entrance in the community.
The religious are working hard in the area of service to the poor and in spreading a culture of dialogue and reconciliation among the various communities of different faiths, ethnic groups, languages, contrasting fundamentalism and discrimination, taking the Gospel values of love, forgiveness, and brotherhood to all men. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/11/2008)