Our Charism
Evangelising the Poor — the First, the Most Abandoned
Since the first Oblate missionaries arrived in Ceylon in 1847, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate have answered the call of St. Eugene de Mazenod to bring the Good News to those most in need. Today, the Oblates of the Colombo Province — formed at St. Joseph's Seminary, Kohuwala — carry this flame across all eleven dioceses of Sri Lanka and beyond.
175+
Years of Oblate Presence
159
Oblates, Colombo Province
9 000+
Children in La-Kri-Vi Movement
The seminarians at St. Joseph's, Kohuwala are formed not only in the classroom but also on the mission field. Apostolic engagements form an integral part of their Juniorate experience, preparing them to step into active ministry upon Ordination. These placements are guided by the Oblate principle of being the best Christians possible — reaching out to every person, regardless of faith, race, or social standing.
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Parish Apostolate
Seminarians assist in local parishes on weekends and feast days, supporting liturgy, catechesis, and pastoral visits to families, the elderly, and the sick.
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Liturgical Ministry
Active participation in Sunday Eucharist, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, and the Way of the Cross — often celebrated publicly in the streets around Kohuwala and Nugegoda.
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Street Theatre & Drama
An Oblate tradition in Sri Lanka: seminarians use street plays, dramatic enactments, and creative arts to proclaim the Gospel to Catholics and non-Catholics alike in open-air spaces.
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Interfaith Encounter
Located in a multi-religious society, Oblate apostolate fosters genuine dialogue and respect across Buddhist, Hindu, and Catholic communities through service and shared witness.
The Oblates of the Colombo Province oversee parishes situated intentionally in difficult and remote mission areas — communities that other congregations have been unable to reach. These parishes are characterised by populations who are mostly non-Catholic (Buddhist or Hindu) and economically marginalised: plantation workers, day labourers, and poor farmers who face social discrimination.
Reaching the Most Remote
Oblate parish priests regularly travel long distances, often without reliable electricity or running water, to celebrate the sacraments and serve their communities. This dedicated presence is a living witness to the Oblate charism.
- Diocese of Colombo — urban and peri-urban missions
- Diocese of Badulla — estate plantation communities
- Diocese of Mannar — post-conflict pastoral care
- Diocese of Trincomalee — coastal mission stations
- Diocese of Jaffna — Tamil-speaking communities
- Non-formal education & tuition programs
- Emergency food and relief distribution
Colombo
Gampaha
Badulla
Trincomalee
Mannar
Jaffna
Kurunegala
Kandy
The Oblates are known across Sri Lanka as Grand Mission Preachers — a tradition stretching back to the congregation's founding charism under St. Eugene de Mazenod in France. In Sri Lanka this tradition was formalised in 1948 at Nazareth House, Wennappuwa, and the preaching band continues its work today from Amaithi-Aham, Vavuniya.
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Renewal & Reconciliation
The purpose of the Grand Mission is to bring renewal and reconciliation on both personal and community levels, forming the laity to show leadership and share the responsibilities of the Church. Missions prioritise remote villages and countryside parishes where access to the sacraments is limited.
Parish Missions
Multi-day mission programmes combining morning Masses, evening liturgies, family visitations, and sacramental preparation across rural and urban parishes throughout the country.
Youth & School Retreats
Seminars and retreat programmes tailored to school children, youth groups, and young adults — helping the next generation encounter Christ and discover their vocation in the Church.
Adult Formation Seminars
Workshop programmes on Scripture, Sacraments, Marian devotion, and family life, enabling the lay faithful to mature in their Christian commitment.
Open-Air Events
Street processions of the Blessed Sacrament, public Way of the Cross, and the Rosary — staged in public spaces to make the Gospel visible and accessible to people of all faiths.
Media Ministry
Adapting the preaching tradition to digital and broadcast media, reaching Catholics and non-Catholics beyond the physical reach of parish missions.
Faithful to their charism, the Oblates of Sri Lanka have continually responded to the nation's most urgent human crises — from three decades of civil conflict to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This integral evangelisation, which addresses both the spiritual and material needs of people, is the hallmark of Oblate social ministry.
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Helping Mother Theresa's Home
Mother Teresa's Home, Mutuwal
Seminarians from St. Joseph's regularly volunteer at the Missionaries of Charity home in Mutuwal, Colombo. They assist the sisters in caring for the destitute, the sick, and the dying — bringing companionship, practical help, and the presence of Christ to those whom society has forgotten. This ministry forms the seminarians' hearts in radical solidarity with the poorest of the poor..
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Visiting Poor Families
Visiting Poor Families
Following the Oblate tradition of going to the people, seminarians make regular visits to impoverished families in the surrounding communities. These visits offer prayer, a listening ear, and simple material support where possible. Through direct encounter with struggling families, seminarians develop the pastoral sensitivity and compassionate presence that Oblate missionary life demands.
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International Solidarity
During the civil war and tsunami, hundreds of Oblate collaborators and donors from around the world joined the Sri Lankan Oblates to provide relief and rehabilitation. This solidarity continues through the Oblate international network in their ongoing response to poverty and displacement.
One of the most distinctive fruits of Oblate ministry in Sri Lanka is the La-Kri-Vi Movement — "Valiant Children of Action" — founded by the Oblates and open to all children aged 5 to 15, regardless of race, religion, or sex. It is an integral development movement run by the children themselves, guided by youth volunteers who serve as animators.
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Fatima Church — Sunday School Preaching
Fatima Church — Sunday School Preaching
Each week, seminarians serve as catechists at Our Lady of Fatima Church, teaching Sunday school for children and youth in the parish. This ministry trains them in the art of accessible preaching and faith formation, preparing homilies and sessions suited to young people. It is both a school of evangelisation and a living expression of the Oblate commitment to forming the next generation in the faith.
The Oblates of Sri Lanka have pioneered a unique psycho-spiritual approach to ministry, recognising that true human flourishing requires both psychological healing and spiritual renewal. Qualified Oblate counsellors — trained in Canada and the USA — have established a network of centres across the island.
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Five Recognised Counselling Centres
There are five well-recognised Oblate centres for counselling and spiritual renewal — located in both the South and the North of the country — rendering unique services of healing, guidance, and life direction to clients in their own local languages (Sinhala and Tamil).
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Psychological Counselling
Individual and group counselling services for those experiencing deep wounds, trauma, grief, and personal crisis — provided by professionally qualified Oblate counsellors in local languages.
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Spiritual Direction
One-to-one accompaniment for those seeking to deepen their relationship with God, discern vocation, or navigate spiritual difficulties on their journey of faith.
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Shrines & Renewal Centres
The Oblates administer shrines and renewal centres across Sri Lanka — hundreds of which are dedicated to Our Lady — as places of pilgrimage, prayer, and sacramental ministry.
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Lay Formation
Training programmes enable lay people to become qualified counsellors and spiritual directors — multiplying the Oblate healing ministry far beyond what priests alone could achieve.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are, by name and charism, consecrated to Our Lady. Sri Lanka has been blessed with hundreds of churches dedicated to Our Lady as a direct fruit of Oblate missionary efforts. At St. Joseph's Seminary, devotion to Mary is woven into every aspect of community life.
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Legion of Mary
Legion of Mary
Seminarians actively participate alongside the Legion of Mary in local parish praesidia. Working with Legion members, they assist in home visitations, support the spiritual formation of members, and engage in works of mercy. Rooted in Marian consecration, the Legion's apostolic spirit resonates deeply with the Oblate charism of bringing Christ to all, especially those on the margins.
A significant number of Oblates serve as teachers and lecturers in schools, universities, and the major seminaries of Sri Lanka — in both government-sponsored and private institutions. This academic presence is understood as a vital avenue for reaching youth who hunger for spiritual inspiration and intellectual formation.
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Schools
Oblates serve as principals and teachers in Catholic schools, including the historic St. Joseph's College, Colombo — one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished educational institutions, founded by the Oblates in 1896.
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Seminaries & Theology
Oblate faculty serve at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Kandy, the Oblate Scholasticate, and the De Mazenod Scholasticate, Jaffna — shaping the next generation of Sri Lankan priests.
🌐
Missionary Formation
Sri Lanka now sends its own Oblate missionaries abroad — to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and beyond — trained at St. Joseph's and the wider formation network of the Colombo Province.
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Catechesis
Catechetical programmes for children, youth, and adults in mission parishes — including preparation for Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation in remote communities.
🌏
Beyond Borders — Internationality as a Value
Young Oblates from St. Joseph's are encouraged to serve beyond Sri Lanka's geographical boundaries. The Sacred Heart Novitiate, Bandarawela, welcomes novices from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Korea, and Indonesia — making internationality a living reality, not merely a principle.
Join Our Mission
Whether you feel called to serve alongside us as a volunteer, a co-worker, or a future Oblate missionary, we warmly invite you to get involved in the apostolic life of St. Joseph's Seminary.
Social Outreach
Service of the PoorFaithful to their charism, the Oblates of Sri Lanka have continually responded to the nation's most urgent human crises — from three decades of civil conflict to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This integral evangelisation, which addresses both the spiritual and material needs of people, is the hallmark of Oblate social ministry.
Helping Mother Theresa's Home
Mother Teresa's Home, Mutuwal Seminarians from St. Joseph's regularly volunteer at the Missionaries of Charity home in Mutuwal, Colombo. They assist the sisters in caring for the destitute, the sick, and the dying — bringing companionship, practical help, and the presence of Christ to those whom society has forgotten. This ministry forms the seminarians' hearts in radical solidarity with the poorest of the poor..
Visiting Poor Families
Visiting Poor Families Following the Oblate tradition of going to the people, seminarians make regular visits to impoverished families in the surrounding communities. These visits offer prayer, a listening ear, and simple material support where possible. Through direct encounter with struggling families, seminarians develop the pastoral sensitivity and compassionate presence that Oblate missionary life demands.
International Solidarity
During the civil war and tsunami, hundreds of Oblate collaborators and donors from around the world joined the Sri Lankan Oblates to provide relief and rehabilitation. This solidarity continues through the Oblate international network in their ongoing response to poverty and displacement.
Children's Ministry
La-Kri-Vi MovementOne of the most distinctive fruits of Oblate ministry in Sri Lanka is the La-Kri-Vi Movement — "Valiant Children of Action" — founded by the Oblates and open to all children aged 5 to 15, regardless of race, religion, or sex. It is an integral development movement run by the children themselves, guided by youth volunteers who serve as animators.
Fatima Church — Sunday School Preaching
Fatima Church — Sunday School Preaching Each week, seminarians serve as catechists at Our Lady of Fatima Church, teaching Sunday school for children and youth in the parish. This ministry trains them in the art of accessible preaching and faith formation, preparing homilies and sessions suited to young people. It is both a school of evangelisation and a living expression of the Oblate commitment to forming the next generation in the faith.
Counselling & Spiritual Renewal
Healing MinistryThe Oblates of Sri Lanka have pioneered a unique psycho-spiritual approach to ministry, recognising that true human flourishing requires both psychological healing and spiritual renewal. Qualified Oblate counsellors — trained in Canada and the USA — have established a network of centres across the island.
Five Recognised Counselling Centres
There are five well-recognised Oblate centres for counselling and spiritual renewal — located in both the South and the North of the country — rendering unique services of healing, guidance, and life direction to clients in their own local languages (Sinhala and Tamil).
Psychological Counselling
Individual and group counselling services for those experiencing deep wounds, trauma, grief, and personal crisis — provided by professionally qualified Oblate counsellors in local languages.
Spiritual Direction
One-to-one accompaniment for those seeking to deepen their relationship with God, discern vocation, or navigate spiritual difficulties on their journey of faith.
Shrines & Renewal Centres
The Oblates administer shrines and renewal centres across Sri Lanka — hundreds of which are dedicated to Our Lady — as places of pilgrimage, prayer, and sacramental ministry.
Lay Formation
Training programmes enable lay people to become qualified counsellors and spiritual directors — multiplying the Oblate healing ministry far beyond what priests alone could achieve.
Marian Devotion
Our Lady's ApostlesThe Oblates of Mary Immaculate are, by name and charism, consecrated to Our Lady. Sri Lanka has been blessed with hundreds of churches dedicated to Our Lady as a direct fruit of Oblate missionary efforts. At St. Joseph's Seminary, devotion to Mary is woven into every aspect of community life.
Legion of Mary
Legion of Mary Seminarians actively participate alongside the Legion of Mary in local parish praesidia. Working with Legion members, they assist in home visitations, support the spiritual formation of members, and engage in works of mercy. Rooted in Marian consecration, the Legion's apostolic spirit resonates deeply with the Oblate charism of bringing Christ to all, especially those on the margins.
Education & Teaching Ministry
Formation of YouthA significant number of Oblates serve as teachers and lecturers in schools, universities, and the major seminaries of Sri Lanka — in both government-sponsored and private institutions. This academic presence is understood as a vital avenue for reaching youth who hunger for spiritual inspiration and intellectual formation.
Schools
Oblates serve as principals and teachers in Catholic schools, including the historic St. Joseph's College, Colombo — one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished educational institutions, founded by the Oblates in 1896.
Seminaries & Theology
Oblate faculty serve at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Kandy, the Oblate Scholasticate, and the De Mazenod Scholasticate, Jaffna — shaping the next generation of Sri Lankan priests.
Missionary Formation
Sri Lanka now sends its own Oblate missionaries abroad — to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and beyond — trained at St. Joseph's and the wider formation network of the Colombo Province.
Catechesis
Catechetical programmes for children, youth, and adults in mission parishes — including preparation for Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation in remote communities.
Beyond Borders — Internationality as a Value
Young Oblates from St. Joseph's are encouraged to serve beyond Sri Lanka's geographical boundaries. The Sacred Heart Novitiate, Bandarawela, welcomes novices from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Korea, and Indonesia — making internationality a living reality, not merely a principle.
Join Our Mission
Whether you feel called to serve alongside us as a volunteer, a co-worker, or a future Oblate missionary, we warmly invite you to get involved in the apostolic life of St. Joseph's Seminary.