Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Oblates of Mary Immaculate

"Practice Charity towards One Another and Zeal for souls".....Bishop Eugene De Mazenod

Evangelization work in the Philippines, of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate started in 1939, when the first Seven Oblates arrived in the Philippines in September 25 of that year. The Magnificent Seven, armed only with the zeal and vision of their founder have helped in educating and building and evangelizing Mindanao Community.

1. Bishop Gerard G. Mongeau - "The Little Man with Vision"

Came from Quebec Canada. He was the first Superior of the Philippine Mission and later became the First Bishop of Cotabato. His first assignment as a priest was in a Mexican Country in Austin Texas. He retired as bishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato, and died at the age of ninety four (94) at the Notre Dame hospital.

2. Bishop Francis J. McSorley - known as the "Founder and Builder"

Born from a well-known Catholic families from Philadelphia U.S.A., having two (2) Jesuits priest, two (2) Oblates and four (4) nuns. He was with the 2nd group of three (3) oblates, who arrived in Manila on Oct. 26, 1939. He was a founder of many Notre Dame Schools in Cotabato and Sulu. To name a few, Notre Dame of Lagao, Notre Dame of Mlang and many more. He was the builder of Sulu missions, initiated the biggest housing project of the church in the Philippines, a friend of the Muslims and a chief engineer of the "Bridge of Peace".

3. Rev. Fr. Cuthbert B. Billman - known as "The Mediaman"

He took charge of Bangsa Moro Island, became the Vicar Delegate of Jolo and chose to spread the Gospel more effectively by becoming the editor of "Sulu Star", "Mindanao Cross", including "Sentinel" in the 50's. The papers he published and edited bear the motto "A little paper with a Big Heart". He was the tallest among the seven (7) to come in the Philippines. He served as the Assistant Parish Priest of Grace Park, Caloocan in 1953.

4. Rev. Fr. Emile Bolduc - known as "A simple man with a Big Heart"

He came from a very Catholic, Oblate town and Oblate Parish of Lowell Massachusetts. He was the first Oblate Parish Priest of Jolo. He spent thirteen (13) years in Jolo, three (3) years in Grace Park and twenty (20) years in Tamontaka, Cotabato.

5. Rev. Fr. Joseph F. Boyd - known as "A generous man with Great Humor"

He was one of the original four (4) Oblates who worked in Cotabato in 1939, responsible for the construction of the First Oblate Church in the Philippines (in Dadiangas), before he became the Secretary to Bishop Michael O' Doherty, he was the one who suggested to Archbishop Doherty to allow the Oblates to open a new parish at Grace Park. It was in 1946 when he established the Our Lady of Grace Parish in Caloocan City. He was then named Parish Priest of OLGP.

6. Rev. Fr. George Dion - known as the "Architect, Broadcaster and Founder"

He comes from a wealthy family of Rhode Island, the youngest of three (3) children who all entered the religious life. His only sister became a nun, his brother a priest. He came to Mindanao as an architect, builder of schools in Jolo, Siasi, Bongao, and Ungus Matata. He founded two (2) radio stations in Cotabato and two (2) more in Jolo and Tawi-Tawi. He worked and served as director of radio stations, DXMS and DXND and with Radio Veritas too. He was a man of communication, that abled him to write a dictionary of Tausog-English because he learned to speak Tausog like a native. His motto "That which pleases Him, I strive to do always".

7. Rev. Fr. Egide Beaudoin - known for his "Enigmatic Monaliza Smile"

He took charge of Midsayap. His first assignment was the central mission of Cotabato. He established the first church and first convento in Midsayap, Cotabato. He became the finance officer of the finance manager of the pioneering group.

Visit the OMI Philippines website at www.omiphil.org