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Cotabato celebrates 75 years of Oblate presence by 'Remembering, Reliving, Hoping'

Three days of celebrations will be held to give thanks to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. In addition to Masses, there will be exhibits and a parade in honour the missionary institute.

Manila (AsiaNews/CBCI) - The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) chose 'Remembering, Reliving, Hoping' as the theme of the 75^th anniversary of their presence in the Philippines.

For three days starting today, Oblate parishes, schools, missions and media ministries from around the country will celebrate this special anniversary.

OMI Philippines Province Superior, Fr Lauro de Guia, OMI, started the celebration celebrating the first Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Midsayap, the first Oblate parish in the Philippines.

Tomorrow Mgr Angelito Lampon, bishop of Jolo, will celebrate Mass at Notre Dame of Midsayap College, the first Notre Dame school founded by the Oblates in the country. Photo and memorabilia exhibits about the Oblates' missionary work will follow.

On Thursday, a parade will held downtown Midsayap, immediately followed by a final Thanksgiving Mass at the archdiocesan shrine, led by Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo (pictured).

The congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) was founded on 25 January 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French bishop, born to an aristocratic family in Aix-en-Provence. Pope Leo XII approved its Constitution and Rules on 17 February 1826.

Currently, about 4,000 Oblates serve in different missions and ministries around the world.