TheCongregation of the Oblate Sisters of the Virgin Mary of Fatima (O.M.V.F.) is aCatholicreligious institute of women ofpontifical right founded in northernItaly on 13 May 1978. It gained pontifical status on 31 May 2001.[1]
The congregation was founded in 1978 in theShrine of Our Lady of Fatima in San Vittorino (a peripheral zone ofRome, Italy, in theDiocese of Tivoli).[2]
The name of the institute is derived from that of theOblates of the Virgin Mary. The institute also inherits the devotion toMary especially under the title ofOur Lady of Fátima.
The institute, erected by the bishop of Tivoli, Guglielmo Giaquinta, on 13 May 1978, obtained pontifical recognition on 31 May 2001.[3]
The sisters dedicate themselves to the organization of retreats and courses of theSpiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, to the promotion of Catholic books, to catechesis, to the promotion of vocations, to domestic service, and to the assistance of priests.[2]
Beyond Italy, they are present inPortugal, thePrincipality of Monaco,Sri Lanka, andBrazil. The seat of general government remains in San Vittorino. As of 2008[update] the sisters number 92 in 17 houses.[1]
