Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - The mission of fifteen Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate in Pakistan OMI Pakistan proceeds with joy and enthusiasm according to the Congregation’s bulletin OMIworld. The mission in Pakistan was started in 1973 by OMI missionaries coming from the Sri Lanka OMI province. The 15 OMI in Pakistan today include, 3 local men, 3 each from Poland, Austria and Canada and 2 from Indonesia. The Oblates have a community in Karachi (south Pakistan) and in the apostolic prefecture of Quetta, a remote area on the border with Afghanistan, among very poor subsistence farmers and herdsmen.
Although Christians are a small majority in Pakistan their faith is strong, the Oblates report. The missionaries have good relations with the local Muslim majority although difficulties do exist. “Karachi has become our home”, the missionaries write . “We are careful and prudent as we go about our daily life in a city of 15 million people. But we see that our presence and pastoral work is important. Our life is one of prayer, study and service of others. We see the call to this mission as a blessing”.
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. (Agenzia Fides 3/6/2006 righe 24 parole 245)
