The Arrival and Early Missions (1847–1899)

The story of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Sri Lanka began on November 28, 1847, when the first band of missionaries—led by Fr. Stephen Semeria—landed on the shores of Ceylon. Initially serving in the North under the Vicariate of Jaffna, these early Oblates braved cholera epidemics and immense hardships to establish schools, orphanages, and seminaries.

The Oblate mission quickly expanded southward. By 1851, missionaries arrived to serve the Vicariate of Colombo. A defining figure of this era was Mgr. Christopher Bonjean, who championed Catholic education and indigenous vocations. In 1883, he took charge of the Colombo Vicariate, and upon the establishment of the national hierarchy in 1887, he became the first Archbishop of Colombo. During this foundational period, the Oblates laid the groundwork for legendary institutions like St. Joseph's College and St. Lucia’s Cathedral.

An Era of Indigenous Leadership and Institutional Growth (1900–1967)

The first half of the 20th century was defined by a massive expansion in educational, pastoral, and lay ministries. The Oblates took charge of vital national shrines, including the Church of Our Lady of Madhu and the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatte.

This era also saw the rise of pioneering Sri Lankan leadership. In 1947, Mgr. Thomas Cooray became the first Ceylonese Archbishop of Colombo (and later, Sri Lanka's first Cardinal). Indigenous vocations flourished, and on February 13, 1967, recognizing its maturity and self-sufficiency, Sri Lanka was officially raised to the status of a full Oblate Province.

Social Action and Global Outreach (1968–1999)

Following its elevation to a Province, the Colombo Oblates embraced a bold vision of social justice and missionary expansion. In 1971, the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) was established to address the socio-economic struggles of the nation. The Province also paid the ultimate price for its dedication to the poor when Fr. Michael Rodrigo, OMI, who had founded a center for inter-religious dialogue and rural development in Buttala, was assassinated in 1987.

Simultaneously, the Colombo Province became a missionary-sending force. Sri Lankan Oblates stepped out of their home country to establish missions and support communities in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.

The Modern Mission (2000–Present)

Entering the 21st century, the Colombo Province continues to adapt St. Eugene de Mazenod’s charism to the urgent needs of modern Sri Lanka.

Today, the Province oversees a vast network of parishes, educational centers, and specialized ministries. Recent milestones reflect a continued commitment to peacebuilding and the marginalized, including the founding of the Oblate Institute of Higher Learning (OIHL) in 2016 to focus on conflict resolution, the opening of Mazenod College in Anuradhapura in 2019, and the establishment of the De Mazenod Care Half-Way Home in 2020 to shelter families of rural hospital patients.

As the Province looks toward the future, it remains deeply anchored in its nearly 180-year legacy of serving the poor, nurturing the local Church, and answering the call to the most difficult missions.