The Catholics in Sri Lanka, during their persecution under the Dutch, lived for 30 years without the presence of Catholic priests, until the arrival of Fr. Joseph Vaz in 1687 from India
It is good to recall and remember some significant events of the Oblates in Sri Lanka. Bishop Christopher Bonjean OMI in 1869 became the founder of the first Seminary in Sri Lanka when he took the initiative to establish St. Martin’s Seminary in Jaffna

On the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the active missionary presence of the Oblates in Sri Lanka, it is good to remember and celebrate with joy the contribution of the Oblates (both foreign and local) have made (a) to keep alive the faith of the Catholics, (b) to the education of children belonging also to the other Religions and (c) also to the felt genuine needs of the poor, the orphans, the elders and the delinquents.  

The Catholics in Sri Lanka, during their persecution under the Dutch, lived for 30 years without the presence of Catholic priests, until the arrival of Fr. Joseph Vaz in 1687 from India. Although after the arrival of the British in Sri Lanka in 1802, the Catholics gained Religious Freedom on May 27, 1806, the Catholics could not readily expect many Catholic priests from India or from Europe. Such a situation compelled Fr. Orazio Bettacchini who had come to Sri Lanka and had become Bishop in Jaffna, to go to Europe in 1845 in search of missionaries to serve the Catholics in Jaffna.  

Arrival of the Oblates

Having failed to obtain help from the Congregation of Propaganda Fide in Rome, Bishop Orazio Bettacchini went to France. During his trip in France, he met Bishop Berteaud of Tulle who told him to approach Bishop Eugene de Mazenod, the Founder of a new Congregation of priests, in Marseille, France, and who has a heart as St. Paul’s and tell him that it is a matter of saving the poor souls. When he hears that word, ‘poor’, he will be unable to resist it. Bishop de Mazenod readily responded to the urgent missionary request of Bishop Bettacchini and sent four Oblates, led by Fr. Stephen Semeria OMI. They arrived in Sri Lanka on November 28, 1847 and began their missionary labours beginning in Jaffna.  

Significant Services of the Oblates
It is good to recall and remember some significant events of the Oblates in Sri Lanka. Bishop Christopher Bonjean OMI in 1869 became the founder of the first Seminary in Sri Lanka when he took the initiative to establish St. Martin’s Seminary in Jaffna. Fr. John Pahamuny OMI, a convert and a brother of Ven. Sri Saranankara Sumangala of Malwatte Chapter in Kandy, became one of the first seminarians of St. Martin’s Seminary. When Bonjean became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo in 1883, he began St. Bernard’s Seminary, which in the course of the next three-quarters of a century, until the amalgamation with the present National Major Seminary, Kandy, in 1955, produced a large number of priests (Diocesan, Oblates and other Religious}.  

Bishop Christopher Bonjean OMI fought for Catholic education in Sri Lanka and in 1865 he proposed a system of State Assisted Schools to be administered by each religious denomination (Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim). So the Government in 1869 decided that any religious denomination could open school for its children which would be given a grant by the Government. Bishop Bonjean became the Father of Denominational School System in Ceylon. He transformed the Catholic School Society of Jaffna initiated by Vicar Apostolic Orazio Bettacchini into St. Patrick’s College and he paved the way for the establishment of St. Joseph’s College in Colombo.

Special mention needs to be made of the Colleges and Schools built and directed by the Oblates. For example, in the Jaffna Diocese: St. Patrick’s College (Jaffna), St. Henry’s College (Illavalai) and St. Anthony’s College (Kayts). In the Colombo Diocese: St. Joseph’s College, St. Peter’s College, Aquinas College of Higher Education, De Mazenod College (Kandana), St. John’s College, Don Bosco College (Hanwella). In the Trincomalee Diocese; St. Joseph’s College (Trincomalee) and in the Anuradhapura Diocese: St. Joseph’s College (Anuradhapura).On January 03, 2019 Oblates began a new College (Mazenod College) at Anuradhapura. Every parish in the dioceses had a school.  

The Oblate Missionaries (Europeans and Sri Lankans), like good humble shepherdic leaders, imitating Jesus, the Good Shepherd (Jn 11:52), have trekked through the forests and jungles, full of elephants, bears and snakes fearlessly, in search of the Catholics, and established Centres of worship and instruction. In the coastal areas and in the hinterlands, they established parishes and spent their lives selflessly caring for the poor and the neglected.  
The Oblates were able to form presbyters for the dioceses and facilitate the establishment of dioceses (Jaffna, Colombo, Chilaw, Anuradhapura). A few Oblates became Bishops of the dioceses (Jaffna, Colombo, Chilaw, Badulla and Anuradhapura). Archbishop Thomas Cooray OMI became the first Sri Lankan Cardinal.  

Properties, such as the one where the Archbishop’s House, Aquinas College, St. Aloysius’ Seminary and the Catholic Press, are situated were bought by Bishop C. Bonjean with money brought from France.  

Oblates were very much innovative in their missionary endeavours. For example, Fr. Peter Pillai, became the Apostle of Social Justice Movement in Sri Lanka, ably supported by Tissa Balasuriya, who took the initiative also to introduce the teachings of the 2nd Vatican Council to the Lay Faithful, the Religious and the clergy.Fr. Andrew Peter OMI helped to translate the Holy Bible into Sinhala language (Catholic Edition).  

Shrines at Madhu. Tewatte and at Indigolla, a Reformatory and an Orphanage at Maggona, a Retreat House at Tewatte, a Catechetical Centre at Tammita and a Holiday House (Underbank) at Nuwara Eliya are also due to the initiative of the Oblates.  

Many convent schools and welfare centres run by the Religious Congregations began at the invitation of the Oblates.  

The Oblates have also animated spiritually the mandated Associations of the Lay Faithful, such as the Legion of Mary, Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), the Sacred Heart Confraternity and empowered Lay Faithful through YCS, YCW and CWM and promoted socio-economic development of the poor by helping to set up the Social and Economic Development Centre (SEDEC).  

Many Sri Lanka Oblates are now ministering in many countries.  
According to Fr. W.L.A. Don Peter (former Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and of Aquinas College of Higher Studies, Colombo, historian and educationist), Bishop de Mazenod’s initial concern for his Oblates and their work had been a factor contributing to the progress of the Oblate activities in Sri Lanka.  

Partnership Needed
Today the Oblates in Sri Lanka, like other Consecrated Religious and the presbyters (clergy), are in a new historic situation, facing many new realities. Holy Spirit of God is One who will help to build a spirit of partnership among the above-mentioned members to bring fuller life which Jesus has promised for our people (Jn 10:10).