About Us

Fathers Vito Accettura OSJ, the then Vicar General, and Alberto Manunza OSJ, from May 21 to June 7th 1989, visited Nigeria and Ivory Coast to make contact with the local Catholic hierarchy and see the possibility of opening a house in either nation. The prospects for vocation recruitment seemed to be good and the needs of the local hierarchy truly great. A second trip by Fr. Manunza from January 1 to February 5, 1990 to (Lagos and Onitsha Archdioceses) Nigeria and the Ivory Coast narrowed down the choices that were offered to them. Upon his return to Rome, the General Council decided to accept the invitation of the then Archbishop Anthony Okogie of Lagos, Nigeria, and they were given the parish of St. Michael, Lafiaji.

A Charism is an extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit given to a Christian for the good of the Church. This, the Charism of the Oblates of St. Joseph is that gift of the Holy Spirit which St. Joseph Marello, founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph did receive. St. Joseph Marello received this gift to live the Christian mystery as lived by St. Joseph the Guardian of Jesus and Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary! That is to serve God in imitation of St. Joseph. There is another level of speaking about the Charism of a Congregation, which has to do with foundational Charism in our case. The foundational Charism could refer to the first generation of Oblates, from 1878 – 1921, how they integrated and live out the Charism of the Congregation.

Related to the concept of Charism is what we call the patrimony of the congregation: the patrimony of the congregation refers to the Charism of the founder, the foundational Charism and the Charism of the first generation of Oblates of St. Joseph Fathers and Brothers. In the historical trajectory of religious life, Charisms are expressed in four basic aspects;
1. Spirituality
2. Apostolate:
thus the Charism of the Oblates of St. Joseph also finds expression in it. Spirituality and Apostolate: The Holy founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph; St. Joseph Marello himself exhorts the Oblates to “be Carthusians indoor and Apostles outdoor”. Hence by spirituality ii is intended to mean the personal interior disposition of every Oblate in deepening the Spiritual life in imitation of St. Joseph! That is; union with God, humility, hidden life, hardwork, silence and total dedication to the interest of Jesus. The Apostolate dimension to the Charism of the Oblates of St. Joseph gives primacy to the religious and moral education of the Youth. Since St. Joseph whom every oblate is called to take inspiration from was a man opened to Divine Providence. Therefore, they also serve in youth ministry, ministry in missions and in parishes, and in promoting devotions to St. Joseph (Marello’s predilection for youth and his interest in their problems, the Christian education of youth must simultaneously involve both mind and heart).

The Biblical foundation of the Charism of the Oblates of St. Joseph
Spirituality (Colossians 3:1-3): “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Just as there are religious Congregations in the Church which have as a particular goal to meditate on the suffering of the most Holy Virgin, like the Servants of Mary and others who meditate on the passion of Christ, like the Passionists, so the Oblates of St. Joseph should try to meditate more closely on the Hidden life of St. Joseph. Blessed are those who understand the value of the hidden life! They will surely give glory to God, because a soul which desires the hidden life, which is neglected by the world, intent only on serving God and searching for God, will give Him the greatest glory. Infact Jesus Christ, the eternal wisdom came on this earth in other to glorify his eternal divine Father, spent almost all of his life in a hidden way, giving to the public life only what was sufficient for his public ministry. Secondly, considering our weakness and that in-born desire that we have of being noticed by people, the hidden life is the surest means, for reaching a perfect upright intention, an indispensable condition for working with merit. In fact, humility attracts the blessing of God for us and our work and it edifies our neighbor.

Apostolate (Philippians 2:20-21): the biblical foundation for the Apostolate dimension of the Charism of the Oblates of St. Joseph is taken from Philippians 2:20-21; here Paul admonishes the Philippians to seek for the interest of Jesus. The expression “the interest of Jesus” was well cited by the founder; in reference to St. Joseph, he said “the Oblates are to take their inspirations who was the first on Earth to care for the interest of Jesus!” for the oblates therefore, service in the apostolate has to be realized in the imitation of St. Joseph. The ministry of the Oblates is like that of St. Joseph, a ministry that has to do with intimate union with the divine word. It is therefore, only our lives are hidden in Christ (charismatic spirituality) that it become possible to care for the interest of Christ (Charismatic apostolate). We ask ourselves what the Charism proper of our congregation is. And we find the answer in the writings of our Holy founder, in the traditions of the congregation and in the constitutions, which have been approved alongside the general directory by the authorities of the Church. St. Joseph Marello (1844 - 1895) founder of the Oblate of St. Joseph (1878)


Josephite Spirituality          Apostolic Charism

N.B: The Charism of the Oblates of St. Joseph is both contemplative and active. As contemplatives, our founders exhort us to be “Carthusians inside the house”. Whereas the active dimension finds expression in the maxim “Be Apostles outside the house” Be Extra-Ordinary in ordinary Things - St. Joseph Marello. Founder of the Oblates of st. Joseph.

The new mission was blessed with men who were clothed in zeal; assigned were Fr. Mario Cueto and Bro. Augustine Caram from the Philippines and Fr. Joy Mathew from India. On October 20, 1990, Cardinal Ugo Poletti, Vicar of Rome, commissioned the new missionaries, along with others who were leaving for the foreign missions. Fr. Cueto and Bro. Caram (still in temporary vows) left for Lagos on November 9, 1990, accompanied by Fr. Manunza, who returned to Rome on December 7, and on November 11 took over the administration of St. Michael's Parish at Lafiaji. Later on, Fr. Matthew joined the mission but sooner was replaced by Fr. Francis Siguan. Within one year, in November 1991, Archbishop transferred the Oblates from St. Michael’s Lafiaji to Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos upon seeing their great pastoral zeal and service among the people. In 1992, Fr. Manunza visited Nigeria with the plan for the recruitment program. There were already some good prospects, but a place to house the candidates had to be found near a seminary so that they could begin their academic training and formation, thus, a formation house in Ibadan was erected. The first group of six young and vibrant men was admitted to begin their formation, to which as Divine Providence will have one of them persevered to the end, with the Ordination of Very Rev. Fr. Peter Anumba OSJ on the 31st August 2002 as the first Oblate priest in Nigeria.

The mission in Nigeria has recorded a huge growth with the help of the early missionaries to Nigeria. We fondly remember the contributions of our dear Superior General, Padre Jan Pelczarski OSJ, who did not shy away from the mission; with a deep sense of appreciation of the contributions of Rev. Frs. Sunil Kallarakal OSJ, Dory Tubesa OSJ, Jun Sares OSJ among others. The mission in Nigeria enjoyed an enormous growth, within the space of 8 years the status of Mission was upgraded to a Delegation, with Rev Fr. Sunil, OSJ, as the first Delegate Superior, who served for six years. Then, Rev. Fr. Dory Tubesa OSJ was elected, who served for another period of 6 years. The growth of the mission was obvious with the appointment of Rev. Fr. Michael Odubela OSJ as the first Nigerian Delegate Superior, who served a double term. The blessing continued with the appointment of Rev. Fr. Ethelbert Arua OSJ, who providentially will be the last Delegate. The General Chapter of 2018 approved the transition of becoming a Province with Rev. Fr. Ethelbert Arua OSJ appointed as the first Provincial Superior of Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Province. The numerical growth of the Oblates of St. Joseph in Nigeria is priceless, with abundance of God’s love and grace. The tents of good news have also been widening with the presence of the Oblates in various archdioceses and dioceses in Nigeria and also where our priests and brothers serve outside the country. Today we are present in the Archdioceses of Abuja, Ibadan, and Lagos; dioceses of Abeokuta, Gboko, Oyo, Uromi, and Warri; our priests (missionaries) also working in Brazil, Italy, Mozambique, and UK. Likewise, our priests working in the various social apostolates including schools, hospitals, and water factory of the province.

Long live the Oblates of St. Joseph
Long live Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Province
Long live the Josephite Marellian Family.

In mid 1980's, Bishop Antonio Mattiazzo, the then Apostolic Nuncio to Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Niger extended his hand of welcome to the Oblates of St. Joseph to open their first Mission in Africa, precisely in Cote d'Ivoire. No sooner had the Congregation prepared to honour this invitation than Bishop Mattiazzo was appointed Archbishop of Padua, Italy. Hence, he has to leave Africa for Italy. But as God would have it, in the year 1989, the dream to extend the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph to Africa was re-awakened at the invitation of the then Most Rev. A. O. Okogie, (then Archbishop Bishop of Lagos) and late Most Rev. A. K. Obiefuna (then of Awka Diocese). They sought assistance for the work of evangelization in their local Churches, in fulfillment of the command by Jesus Christ “Go into the whole world, proclaim the Good News”.

In the same year 1989, the then Vicar-General of the Congregation, Very Rev. Fr. Vito Accetura OSJ, and Rev. Fr. Alberto Manunza OSJ, then in charge of the missions of the Congregation, visited Nigeria from Rome. After that visit, the Congregation accepted the invitation of the Archbishop of Lagos to commence her mission on the soil of Africa and from the city of Lagos. The 9th of Nov, 1990 welcomed the first batch of the Oblate missionaries who arrived in Lagos and were warmly received by the then Archbishop, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie. They were immediately saddled with the responsibility of service to the people of God by being assigned to take charge of St. Michael's Parish, Lafiaji Lagos. The first two missionaries then were Fr. Mario Cueto, OSJ and Bro. Augustine Nonoy Carum OSJ, both from the Philippines.

As a result of their hard work and commitment to their Pastoral ministry and a display of zeal for God's work, the Archbishop on the 2nd of February, 1992 moved them to the Holy Cross Cathdral, Lagos, with Fr. Mario Cueto as the Cathedral Administrator. The world force at the Cathedral welcomed Fr. Jan Pelczarski, OSJ from Poland and in 1993 Late fr. John Machiaro, OSJ joined the team of the early pioneers.

Having settled in Nigeria, the plan to train young men who will help evangelize the people became pertinent. With this obvious reason, a discernment house was opened at Bodija, Ibadan, just opposite the Church of Ascension. With the admission of indigenous seminarians on the 28th of September 1992, with Fr. Siguan, OSJ as the Vocations director, the formation life of candidates to the religious life and priesthood in the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph began. On the 27th of April, 1994, the formation house was transferred to No. 5 Canon Odusanwo close, Old Bodija Estate with Frs. Siguan and John Michiaro as formators.

The Congregation later acquired some acres of land at Opere Village, Podo, along Old Lagos road, Ibadan, which has become the permanent site and Mother House of the Congregation in Nigeria, housing the Formation house of students, a Nursery and Primary School and secondary school, and a Hospital. To facilitate effectiveness, more priests were sent to Nigeria. In 1995, Rev. Fr. George OSJ, arrived from India and in 1996 Rev. Fr. Dory Tubesa OSJ, arrived Nigeria, to be followed by Fr. Sunil Kallarakal in 1997. On the 18th of May 2000, the juridical status of the Oblates in Nigeria was raised from the level of mission to the height of a Delegation. With this, Fr. Sunil Kallarakal, OSJ, emerged the first superior Delegate of the Nigerian Delegation. He was later successed by Fr. Dory Tubesa, OSJ, in 2006 and then Fr. Michael Odubela, OSJ, the first Nigerian to assume this responsibility, in 2010, then followed by Fr. Ethelbeth Arua OSJ in 2016. The First Religious profession of vows in the Delegation took place in the year 1997 and the year 2002 witnessed the ordination of the first Nigerian Oblates priest, Fr. Peter Anumba OSJ. In the year 2004, the Oblates were welcomed to the Diocese of Abeokuta by the then Bishop, Alfred Adewale Martins, to establish a Novitiate formation House.

In the last six years, the Oblates of St. Joseph have spread their works of pastoral evangelism to the following Dioceses and Archdioceses respectively: Abeokuta , Gboko, Uromi, Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja; and we are currently working in the following parishes within these Dioceses/Archdioceses – St Mary's, Isolo, Sts Peter and Paul, Okeafa, Sts Cosmas and Damian Ilogbo Elegba, CKC, Sabo Alaba(Lagos); Holy Trinity Papalanto, St. Christopher, Adeleye(Abeokuta); St. Cecilia, Aiyegbusi (Ibadan), St Monica Tomatar (Gboko); St. Augustine, Sun-city Estate (Abuja); while assisting at SS Joachim and Anne, Ijegun, St. Charles Olodi Apapa (Lagos); St. Joseph Retreat center, Uromi (Uromi Diocese); St. Mark, (Badagry); also we have the OSJ presence outside the shores of Nigeria and indeed Africa, with our presence in the United Kingdom. In 2018, to the glory of God and a testament to the awesome patronage of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Marello, during the 17th General Chapter of the Congregation held in Rome, precisely on the 20th of August, the status of our delegation here in Nigeria was raised to that of a Province of which we have come today to formally inaugurate as Our Lady of Nigeria Province; Today, the OSJ in Nigeria now has a numerical strength of more than 60 priests, with many brothers and seminarian in various stages of formation. To God be the glory

The congregation of the Oblates St. Joseph was founded by St. Joseph Marello on March 14, 1878, in Asti, Italy. United in a common spirit and common purpose, priests and brothers gradually fulfill their founder's dream of a community dedicated to the service of the Church. Availability is one of the outstanding traits of the Oblates of St. Joseph, the quality of readiness to help the diocesan clergy in undermanned parishes and in other areas of critical need. Encouraged and guided by the zealous founder, the Oblates of St. Joseph extended their ministry from the diocese of Asti to other dioceses in Italy and other countries.

In 1915, the Oblates of St. Joseph was requested to start their apostolic service abroad. The Oblates of St. Joseph suffered much in their more than a century existence: persecutions and assassinations during the World War II in Italy and the Philippines, expulsions from Mexico, earthquakes in Peru, poverty in Bolivia... But they also had their share of joys: flourishing vocations in almost all the sectors of the Congregation the increase in the devotion to St. Joseph and to St. Joseph Marello, the opening of mission especially of Nigeria, the beatification and consequently, the canonization of their founder.

The Oblates, wherever they may be, are at the service of all social classes and their main concern is to see the option of Christ, His person, His message, prevail there, where the interests of Jesus are concerned. Wherever they are, they are committed to prayer, penance, meditation "Carthusians indoors and to pastoral work: teaching, evangelization "apostles outdoors".