Oblates of the North

A Living Stories Project

In 1883, all the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate ministering in the United States became one province, separate from Canada. The provincial house was in Lowell, MA. The first superior was Father Andre Garin and the first provincial was Father James McGrath. From the time of their arrival in this city, in 1868, the fathers and brothers responded simultaneously to the needs of the two largest Catholic groups in the area, the migrants from Canada who came in large numbers to work in the textile mills, and those who had come earlier from Ireland and were hired mostly for labor in heavy construction.

At the General Chapter of 1920, Father Leon Lamothe, who was one of the delegates, requested that a separate province be instituted, with the same territory as the present province, for those who ministered in the French language. His request was accompanied by a petition signed by all the French-speaking brothers and fathers. They reasoned that this would enable them to better serve the needs of the two million Franco-Americans who were now living in the northeastern United States.

The Superior General of the Oblates, Bishop Augustin Dontenwill, granted this petition on March 21, 1921. The vice-province of "St. Jean-Baptiste" was established for a trial period of three years. It was to consist of a provincial house in Lowell and residences in Plattsbugh NY, St. Joseph's and Notre Dame de Lourdes in Lowell, along with parishes in Aurora, KS, Egg Harbor, and Fond-du-Lac, WI. Father Eugene Turcotte was appointed Vice-Provincial. Within three years, on May 1, 1924, the group showed enough progress to become a Province.

Before long, a highly successful preaching team was in demand throughout French-speaking New England and beyond. This ministry gave birth to retreat houses in four states. The number of Oblate parishes increased. The houses of formation developed bi-lingual priests who left their mark at every level within the Oblate Congregation.

Their history is a proud one. Past challenges were faced bravely. Today, the challenge is different: the Oblates have have changed, and the world has changed. It is time to broaden the sights and consider what the recently adopted name of "Northern Province" can contribute to our nation, as all the Oblates now return to the original status of one province for the United States.

Lucien A. Sawyer OMI
Living Stories Project Coordinator
Oblates of the North

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