Rooted in their deep spiritual charism, the Oblates of St. Joseph are called to live a common vision of communion and service. Their mission and identity, drawn from the example of St. Joseph, their patron, and St. Joseph Marello, their founder, find expression in their commitment to the interior life, community, and apostolic service. The general goals of the Congregation are guided by these fundamental principles:

Charism

The Oblates of St. Joseph are to dedicate themselves to imitating as closely as they can the hidden life of St. Joseph with his most beloved Jesus (OSJ General Directory, art. 2).

With openness to the Divine Providence, the Oblates are called to preserve its charism of availability (OSJ Constitutions, art. 63). Also among the primary concern of every Oblate is the fostering of community life. He considers himself responsible for all his confreres and for all that pertains to the well‑being of the community in which he lives and of the Congregation in which he belongs (Cons., art. 40).

Apostolate

The Oblate spirit is visible in how the Oblates of St. Joseph carry out their ministry (Cfr. OSJ Constitutions, art. 60). Among them, the Christian education of youth and a concern for young people holds a position of privilege (ibid., art. 63; Rules of 1892). Every Oblate is a catechist by vocation and is called by his very mission to communicate the teachings of Christ through catechesis (ibid., art. 71).

The Oblates are also called to be at the service of the needs of the local Church, seeking to attend to areas of greatest need (ibid., art. 64, 74). Open to the indications of Divine Providence, the Oblates are called to availability and readiness to proclaim the Word of God wherever it might call them, while seeking to spread the spirituality of and devotion to St. Joseph, their patron, and St. Joseph Marello, their founder (ibid., art. 77, 81).

“The silence of St. Joseph is not emptiness; it is a silence filled with attentive listening, ready obedience, and a love that needed few words.”