On the evening of February 17, the parish hall and church at St. Albert were filled with quiet anticipation and grateful joy. About 150 people gathered in person, with another 50 joining by livestream, united in prayer and thanksgiving.
Thirteen Oblate priests and three Oblate Brothers processed into the church, joined by Fr. Philippe Insoni and Fr. Antony Cruz Michael. Nearly 30 Oblate Associates were also present, representing the wider missionary family that has grown around the charism of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The Anniversary Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Stephen Hero, adding to the significance of the occasion.
The celebration marked the 200th anniversary of the Approbation of the Oblates’ Constitutions and Rules—a decisive moment in 1826 when the Church granted papal approval to the missionary congregation founded in 1816 in Aix-en-Provence, France, by St. Eugene de Mazenod.
During the Mass, the heart of the celebration unfolded. One by one, the Oblate priests and Brothers stood and renewed their religious vows, their voices steady and reverent—a powerful witness of lifelong commitment to serving the poor and most abandoned.
The lay associates then came forward. Among them was Frank McMahon, who made his initial Oblate promises. In one moving moment, he stood before the assembly and spoke his commitment, offering his life in prayer and mission alongside the Oblates.
He then received his Oblate cross from Fr. Jack Herklotz, O.M.I., a simple yet profound symbol of belonging and mission. Other associates renewed their promises as well, a visible sign that the Oblate charism continues to take root in the hearts of lay men and women.
At the heart of Oblate life remains Christ’s mission: “He has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor.” The Feb. 17 Anniversary Mass made that mission visible. Through the renewal of vows and promises—and through the prayers of hundreds gathered in person and online—the past and future met in a single act of thanksgiving.
Following Mass, the celebration continued in the parish hall with a wine and cheese reception. Laughter and conversation filled the room as the community rejoiced in 200 years of mission and looked ahead with renewed hope.
For more information on the Oblates, go to to their website.
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