The Superior General Visits Sri Lanka
General Administration
Originally Published on OMIWORLD.ORG
Click here to see the Article en Español
By Assisi FERNANDO, OMI
Fr. Luis Ignacio ROIS ALONSO, O.M.I., the Superior General of our Congregation will pay an official visit to Sri Lanka from October 14 to November 2, 2024.
He is expected to travel around the beautiful island nation, visiting Oblate Districts and communities of both the Provinces, Colombo and Jaffna. We are looking forward to having him with us and sharing the joys and challenges of our mission to the poor and the most abandoned. The first phase of his visit will be focused on the Province of Colombo, from the 14th to 24th of October. Then from the 15th of October to the 2nd of November, he is expected to go around the Province of Jaffna.
A Joint Council Meeting
The 15th of October, the day after the arrival of Fr. General, holds a unique significance as the Colombo Province celebrates the Jubilees of Priesthood and Religious Life of several Oblates. This presents a unique chance for him to speak to all the province’s members in a single gathering. One significant feature of this visit will be his participation at the Joint Council Session – where the Provincial Councils of both Provinces will meet together, on the 24th of October. This meeting will provide an opportunity for discussions on various matters relating to the Oblate mission in Sri Lanka, as well as future planning and collaboration among the council members.
Oblates in Sri Lanka – 177 Years since 1847
In response to heartfelt appeal of Bishop Orazio Bettachini, the then Vicar Apostolic of Colombo, Bishop Eugene de Mazenod was inspired to aid the mission in Sri Lanka (Ceylon, as it was known at the time). In October1847, four Oblate missionaries, led by Fr. Stephen Semeria, O.M.I., arrived in Ceylon, drawn to the island’s charm and dedicated to evangelization. Under Fr. Semeria’s leadership, the Oblates significantly addressed the 19th-century missionary shortage, and by the founder’s passing, 34 European missionaries had joined the effort.
The Ceylon Oblate mission
The Ceylon Oblate mission was officially recognized as a province in 1967, and in 1999, Jaffna became a separate entity. The Oblates emphasized education, establishing institutions like St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo along with orphanages and teacher training programs, thereby playing a critical role in the development of the Sri Lankan Church. Today, the Oblates in the country continue this legacy, expanding their mission across various sectors including Ministry of Word, Education, and youth programs, as well as initiatives in Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), and Caring and Healing.