APOSTOLIC OBLATES

Sowers of Hope

Women of God, Leaven in the world, Spiritual in the secular

The Institute of the Apostolic Oblates (1950) and the Pro Sanctity Movement (1947) were founded in Rome by Guglielmo Giaquinta, late Bishop of Tivoli (Italy). Fr. Giaquinta was a young priest when he began to work with young people, bringing them back or closer to the Church especially through his retreats. It was during this ministry that Fr. Giaquinta felt inspired to lead young women to “secular consecration.” He founded the Secular Institute of the Apostolic Oblates and made them Volunteers of the Pro Sanctity Movement.

An Apostolic Oblate is a vowed woman for the purpose of a total dedication and availability to the apostolate of the Universal Call to Holiness and goals of the Institute. Through her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and the promise of apostolate, the Oblate is totally free for service to people and to the Institute. She has an intense prayer life of adoration, daily Mass, Rosary, meditation and study. She is a contemplative in the world, giving to others the fruit of her contemplation. She is a woman of the Church, loves it and follows it faithfully and with love.

The vocation of the Apostolic Oblate is one and the same vocation, but with different expressions. The call can take one of the three following forms:

Internal Apostolic Oblate: while sharing in the same charism and vowed life is called to be available to the needs of the Institute and lives in small community.

External Apostolic Oblate: lives on her own and carries on a career, working in and through social structures, especially with her social profession and family. She is totally committed through her permanent vows and promise of apostolate.

Cooperative Apostolic Oblate: is married or open to marriage. It is the primary call of a Cooperative to promote family spirituality. She, too, spreads the message of the universal call to holiness in every environment. She takes promises of apostolate and availability..

The period of formation for the Internal, External, and Cooperatives is three years. Vows or promises are renewed every year and become final after ten years. The age limit is 18-35 (Internals), 18-45 (Externals), 18-45 (Cooperatives).

For further information, contact: Agnes Rus, Local Moderator, 205 S. Pine Drive, Fullerton, CA 92833 (714) 956-020 or National Moderator, Teresa Monaghen, 11002 N 204th Street , Elkhorn, NE 68022, (402)  289-2670.  Giovanna Piccoli is the Local Moderator in Brooklyn, NY  730 East 87^th St. Brooklyn, NY 11236 718-649-0324