World Listening Day: Hear God’s Call, Serve with Compassion

For the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, listening is more than a skill—it is a sacred calling. Whether serving in remote villages, inner cities, or impoverished missions around the world, the Oblates make it their mission to listen deeply to the needs of the poor, the forgotten, and the abandoned—those whose voices are too often ignored or unheard.

On this World Listening Day, we invite you in honoring the transformative power of listening. In a world filled with noise and distraction, the quiet act of attentive presence becomes a profound expression of God’s love.

Why Listening is Central to the Oblate Mission

For over 200 years, the Missionary Oblates have responded to Christ’s call to “bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18)—a mission that begins not with speaking, but with listening.

By truly hearing the cries of the poor, weary, sick, and brokenhearted, they’re able to serve with compassion and purpose. Whether offering comfort to refugees, tending to the elderly, or standing beside struggling families in the poorest corners of the world, the Missionary Oblates listen first—so they can love well.

God often speaks through the voices of the suffering and the silent whispers of the heart. When we listen, we encounter Christ in the faces and stories of those we serve.

Embrace the Mission of Listening

Take Time for Silent Prayer
Pause today in quiet reflection. Ask God to make your heart more attentive to His voice and to the needs of others.

Listen to Those Around You
Reach out with compassion to someone who needs to be heard—a neighbor, friend, or family member. Offer them the gift of your presence.

Support the Missionary Oblates’ Listening Ministry

Your generosity allows the Oblates to continue their mission among the poor and forgotten, providing not only material aid but the deep comfort of knowing someone cares enough to listen.

With your support, the Missionary Oblates can remain the ears, hands, and heart of Christ in the world.

Be Part of a Ministry That Hears and Responds

The Missionary Oblates serve in more than 70 countries, from the deserts of Africa to the barrios of Latin America, from remote First Nations communities in Canada to the poorest urban neighborhoods in the United States. In every place, they bring hope by first listening with love.

Your gift ensures that no cry for help goes unanswered, no soul is forgotten, and no suffering heart is left unheard.