Founder
Fr. Louis-Marie Parent was born in 1910 in the province of Quebec (Canada).
He joined the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1931 and was ordained priest in 1937.
In 1938, he became a missionary in Northern Alberta.
In 1943, with the help of two women from Montreal, he participated in the foundation of a contemplative religious community called the Missionary Recluses.
In 1944, he was appointed parish priest in Falher, Alberta. In 1945, he was appointed colonizer missionary in Peace River (Alberta).
In 1952, he founded the Secular Institute The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate and in 1958, he founded the Voluntas Dei Institute.
He became a preacher from the very beginning of his priesthood; he remained in close contact with many laypeople, religious men and women and priests.
He also became well known by thousands of readers through the monthly booklets he wrote under the title “Volunteers of God Collection” during the course of 20 years.
He also wrote many other books on spirituality and human relationships.
He died at the age of 98 and 10 months; he entered into the House of the Father on May 17, 2009.
Historical account
The Secular Institute The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate was founded by Father Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I., in July 1952, in Grand-Sault, New Brunswick, Canada.
In 1962, the Institute was recognized as a Secular Institute by the Church.
On March 24, 1984, it was recognized as being of Pontifical Right by Pope John Paul II. |
