Our Impact
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate were founded in southern France in 1816 and have a presence in 60 countries around the world today. The Missionary Oblate Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) office coordinates the formation, advocacy and animation efforts of the Oblates in the United States.
Based in Washington, DC, we serve as a resource for members of the Oblate congregation, our partners and collaborators. We do this through our faith consistent investing program; networking and collaborating with both faith-based and secular groups; policy advocacy with governments and international organizations. We also work closely with the Oblate Ecological Initiative in Godfrey, IL and with Three Part Harmony Farm (3PHF) Washington, DC.
Integrity of Creation
In 2001 the Oblate Ecological Initiative was established on the grounds of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois. It included two projects, La Vista Ecological Learning Center and the Community Supported Garden at La Vista (CSA). The Ecological Learning Center continues offering programs and publications for Oblates and others on ecological topics and ecological spirituality. The Community Supported Garden provided sustainably grown vegetables for shareholders and a local food pantry for many years. It closed in 2019. A small Learning Garden is being created in areas formerly occupied by the CSA.
With the support of the Oblate community, a 2-acre portion of land at its Washington, DC residence has been shared with an ecological partner, Three Part Harmony Farm since 2012.
Animation
Through our website, social media and occasional publications the JPIC team reaches out to a world-wide audience. The resources and tools presented in this outreach is supported by the availability of our talented staff and partners to answer questions and to track down other resources and references. Most of all our community of collaborators is able to benefit from the international network that we have been able to establish through the Oblate congregation.
Faith Consistent Investing / Corporate Engagement
Our OIP Investment Trust was established in 1992 to manage for mission the assets of the Oblate Congregation including its constituent provinces and delegations, Roman Catholic related organizations, ministries, religious orders and dioceses. It currently serves over 200 Roman Catholic related organizations, institutions, and ministries providing professional faith consistent investment management of their financial resources.
At the onset, the fund invested primarily in fixed income securities domiciled in Canada and Germany, but has evolved. Today the OIP Investment Trust offers a globally diversified fund investing in over 80 countries across multiple asset classes including both liquid and illiquid assets and through positive social and environmental impact investment that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Through shareholder resolutions, dialogues and proxy voting, we hold companies accountable on their social and environmental impacts. Proxy voting is one way the OIP Investment trust encourages ethical behaviors of corporation and the OIP Investment Trust votes over 500 proxies each year, consistent with the faith consistent investment mandate of the organization.
Global Advocacy
We regularly collaborate with partner organizations on campaigns, research and advocacy, allowing us to do far more than we could alone. Our networks have actively taken action on such issues as: Human Trafficking; Debt Cancellation; Climate Change; Responsible and Sustainable Mining; Respect for and the protection of Indigenous Rights and responsible access to medicines and vaccines for pandemics and neglected diseases.
More examples of our partnership and global advocacy work are:
- Sustained advocacy with corporate members of the Bangladesh Accord for Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety after the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh
- Days of Courageous Conversation & Reflection on mining organized by the Vatican
- Ongoing collaboration with the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Development.
- Regional meetings with companies and faith communities
- Mine Site Visits at the invitation of the Mining Companies in Colombia, Peru, Zambia, Nunavik region and South Africa.
- Interfaith Meetings on Impact Investing and Faith Consistent Investing
