Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Pakistan
Encyclopedia
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a Roman Catholic religious order for men. The order was founded on January 25, 1816 by Father Eugene de Mazenod to preach missions in Provencal
, France
.
The mission in Pakistan
was started in Karachi
in 1973 by OMI missionaries coming from the Sri Lanka OMI province. The 15 OMI in Pakistan in 2006 included 3 local men, 3 each from Poland, Austria and Canada and 2 from Indonesia. The Oblates also have a community in the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
.
Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam
OMI, was appointed the First Apostolic Prefect Of Quetta in December 2001.
The Religious in Pakistan work to promote peace and harmony, inter-religious dialogue, human development with programmes of assistance and development and education, as well as pastoral and missionary work.
In 2009 the number had grown to 23 Oblates including 5 ordinations.
On 29 April 2010 Pope Benedict XVI
elevated the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta to the rank of Apostolic vicariate
. He appointed Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI as apostolic vicar of the new ecclesiastical circumscription and the titular bishop of Timida.
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The mission in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
was started in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
in 1973 by OMI missionaries coming from the Sri Lanka OMI province. The 15 OMI in Pakistan in 2006 included 3 local men, 3 each from Poland, Austria and Canada and 2 from Indonesia. The Oblates also have a community in the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
The Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta was established on November 9, 2001 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi...
.
Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam
Victor Gnanapragasam
Father Victor Gnanapragasam OMI is the first prefect of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.-Early life and education:He was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan Tamil family...
OMI, was appointed the First Apostolic Prefect Of Quetta in December 2001.
The Religious in Pakistan work to promote peace and harmony, inter-religious dialogue, human development with programmes of assistance and development and education, as well as pastoral and missionary work.
In 2009 the number had grown to 23 Oblates including 5 ordinations.
On 29 April 2010 Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
elevated the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta to the rank of Apostolic vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
. He appointed Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI as apostolic vicar of the new ecclesiastical circumscription and the titular bishop of Timida.