10th May

Fr. Semeria lays before Mgr. Bettachini a project of the establishment of a Seminary for the formation of a Ceylonese Clergy.

8th September

Fr. Semeria formally appointed Secretary of Mgr. Bettachini (the post was equivalent to that of vicar General) and parish priest of Jaffna, with Fr. Keating as assistant.

August

Arrival of Frs. Vivier and Mauroit.

23rd August

Arrival of Frs. Chounavel and Pelissier.

December

Outbreak of cholera at Point Pedro.

April

Introduction of the Catholic Faith at Wewala. A buddhist village near Moratuwa.

6th July

Arrival of Frs. Geneys and Flurin.

September

Fr. Perrard sent to Kurunegala.

10th May

Nomination of Fr. Semeria as titular Bishop of Olympus and co-adjutor to the Vicar Apostolic of Jaffna, with right of succession.

15th June

Fr. Semeria Left to France to attend the General Chapter of his Congregation.

17th June

Rev Fr. Semeria consecrated Bishop by Mgr. De Mazenod in France.

27th November

Fr. Christopher Bonjean, a missionary of the Foreign Missions at Coimbatore, having obtained from Bishop Bonnand leave to join the Oblates, and having been accepted by Fr. Semeria lands at Kayts.

17th May

Opening of the Grand Mission at Trincomalee

20th May

Religious Profession of Fr. Bonjean.

June

Mission at Batticaloa.

11th November

Bro. Paul Stephen Poorey begins his novitiate. (First Ceylonese to join the Oblates)

15th December

Arrival of Fr. Lelons at Jaffna.

26th December

Opening of the Grand Mission at Jaffna.

11th January

Arrival of Frs. Le Can and Bros. Brown and Byrne at Jaffna.

21st May

Bro. Byrne dies of pleurisy at Jaffna.

5th August

Mgr. Semeria’s Pastoral Letter on “Catholic Education”. Church of St Alphonsus Ligouri established at Chavakachchery.

8th September

Fr. Semeria formally appointed Secretary of Mgr. Bettachini (the post was equivalent to that of vicar General) and parish priest of Jaffna, with Fr. Keating as assistant.

13th September

Opening of the Grand Mission at Chilaw.

10th November

Consecration of the Chilaw Church. (Built by Fr. Oruna, according to the designs of Fr. Puccinelli). Arrival of Frs. Crousel, Salaun, Gourdon, and Bro. Bennett.

21st November

Subscription open for the Jaffna Catholic Schools and Orphanages.

21st December

St. Thomas’ Church, Point Pedro, commenced by Pelissier.

9th March

Sacrilegious theft in the Jaffna Cathedral, triduum of expiation; first reappearance of Cholera since 1855.

24th May

Mgr. Semeria is created roman Count and Assistant to the Pontifical Throne.

15th August

St. Thomas’ Church, Point Pedro, opened.

1st October

First Report of Jaffna Catholic Schools published.

17th April

Mission preached at Katuneriya by Mgr. Semeria. The Society of the Brothers of St. Joseph established at Colombogam in order to have trained teachers for the Vernacular Schools and catechists to assist the missionaries of Jaffna.

May

Sardiel, the Robin Hood of Ceylon, converted and assisted on the gallows by Frs. Duffo and Perrard.

15th April

Mgr. Semeria starts for Europe accompanied by Fr. Bonjean. Fr. Boisseau takes charge of St. Joseph’s orphanage. Fr. Moukel appointed Pro-Vicar.

July

An Association founded at Marseilles by Mgr. Semeria or providing dowries for the Jaffna orphan girls.

Foundation of the St Martin’s Seminary, Jaffna, by Bishop Bonjean.

Foundation of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Press in Jaffna.

September

Establishment of a Catechumenate. Establishment of St. Vincent de Paul’s Founding Orphanage in Jaffna.

June

Gampola and the surrounding territory (Udapalata Pattuwa) placed under the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of Jaffna.

6th January

Establishment of the Hierarchy in Ceylon. Colombo Vicariate became the archdiocese of Ceylon and Mgr. Bonjean was the First Archbishop of Ceylon.

13th of December

Inauguration of St. Lucia’s Cathedral.

3rd August

Death of Archbishop Bonjean.

2nd March

Opening of St Joseph College.

9th October

Inauguration of the Catholic Union of Ceylon.

Jaffna and Colombo welded into a single Oblate Vicariate- Fr. Jules Collin, First vicar of Missions.

1st November

Arrival of Mgr. Augustin Dontenwill, Superior General.

15th February

Consecration of Mgr. Andrew Brault.

20th January

Death of Bishop Andrew Brault.

2nd February

Fr. Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas founded the first indigenous contemplative order of Rosarians with six postulants at Tholagatty in Jaffna.

11th February

Consecration of Mgr. Peter Marque.

4th June

Death of Archbishop Peter Marque.

5th January

Erection of Diocese of Chilaw – Nomination of Fr. J. Aloysius Perera as Bishop of Chilaw.

8th April

Death of Mgr. Aloysius Perera.

25th January

Consecration of the Church of Our Lady of Madu.

7th March

Consecration of Mgr. Thomas Cooray.

8th July

Hundred years of Oblate presence in Sri Lanka- Celebrations at St. Joseph’s College. Marian Congress. Vocation Exhibition etc.

14th October

Establishment of the House of Preachers “Nazareth”, Wennappuwa, with Fr. Lopupillai Augustine as Superior.

25th April

St. Vincent’s Home, Maggona handed over to the Oblate Administration.

1st May

Oblate Scholasticate shifted to Kohuwela from Bambalapitiya. Visit of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, from Portugal – brought by two Oblates. It toured the country.

18th July

Mgr. Emilianus Pillai succeeds to the See of Jaffna.

21st July

Oblate Juniorate opened at Kohuwela.

14th December

Ragama Parish handed over to the Oblates. Contract signed on 25.03.1955.

Lakrivi Movement started in Sri Lanka by Fr. Felix Mavel.

22nd June

Fr. Marceline Jayakody wins the award for leading personality in the film World for his magnificent lyrics for songs in “Rekhawa”

“Amala Utpavam” house of Oblate Preachers established at Colombagam.

9th October

First Ceylonese Archbishop of Colombo Thomas Cooray created a Cardinal by Pope Paul VI.

13th February

Sri Lanka raised to the status of a Province.

3rd July

Sri Lankan Province start missionary work at Kanchipuram-India.

30th December

“Amala Utpavam” Home for the retired Fathers was opened in Jaffna.

01st February

Juniorate established in India.

May

Fr. Dalston Forbes elected General Councilor for Asia.

26th December

Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka at Tewatte is consecrated and dedicated by his Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray (Frs. G. Marthourey, Lebreton and Joseph Fernando were entrusted with the buildings of the National Shrine).

02-08th January

Oblate Congress at Kandy.

22nd May

Postage stamp issued in honour of late Fr. S. Gnanaprakasar First Oblates to be honoured.

8th December

“Marian Grove” House for elderly oblates opened at Green path, Kohuwela.

Fr. Marcelline Jayakody wins the famous International Magsaysay Award.

Fr. Fernand Jette Superior General visits Sri Lanka.

22nd May

Commemorative stamp in honour of Fr. Peter Pillai was issued.

27th October

Rajabima Oblate Centre opened in Anuradhapura.

10th November

Assassination of Fr. Michael Rodrigo at Buttala.

22nd May

The Philatelic Bureau, issued a stamp in honour of Fr. M. J. Legoc.

05th August

Visit of Fr. Marcello Zago Superior General. Erection of the Vice Province of Jaffna.

04th September

Mgr. Edmund Peiris passes away.

10th September

Oblate Congress.

28th December

The Philatelic Bureau, issued a stamp in honour of Thomas Cardinal Cooray.

Mr. Roche Tewerapperuma, made an honorary Oblate.

27th May

Fr. Marcello Zago-Superior General arrived to visit the Province.

03rd December

Blessed Eugene De Mazenod – Founder of the Oblates declared a saint.

09th December

Oblate Founded approval School (Susithodaya) celebrated 100th anniversary.

12th December

St. Eugene De Mazenod Canonization celebrations at St. Lucia’s cathedral organized by the Sri Lanka Province.

14th June

Mgr. Edmund Fernando, resign from the see of Badulla.

Pre-Novitiate was shifted to Mannar from Maggona and Named as Gnanodhayam.

10th January

Mgr. Norbert Mashael Andardi was consecrated as the bishop of the Anuradhapura diocese.

September

Fr. Oswald B. Firth was elected as The First Assistant General.

15th July

The Philatelic Bureau of the department of Post issued a stamp to mark the 125th Anniversary of St. Vincent’s Children’s (Boys) Home.

Indian Delegation was raised to the status of Province.

Delegation of Japan and Mission of Korea came under the Jurisdiction of Colombo Province of Sri Lanka.

29th April

Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam was Appointed as the Vicar apostolic of Quetta in Pakistan.

16th July

Mgr. Victor Gnanapragasam was consecrated as a bishop for the Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta. (First Sri Lankan Oblate to be a Bishop outside of Sri Lanka).

September

Fr. Clement Waidyasekara was elected as the councilor General for Asia Oceania Region.

29th October

Late Cardinal Thomas Cooray’s Cause of Canonization commenced at Tewatte Basilica by Cardinal Malcom Ranjith and he has been bestowed with the title of servant of God.

21st May

The Philatelic Bureau of the department of Post issued a stamp to mark the 200th Anniversary of Oblates of Mary Immaculate

The Oblate Institute of Higher Learning (OIHL) was founded. Fr. Oswald B. Firth was named as First Director.

22nd February

Half-Way Home, the De Mazenod Care was opened at Maradana to provide a temporary shelter to those who come far away to the Colombo General Hospital.

Launched the Official Web Site for Colombo Province.