NAZARETH OBLATE PREACHING COMMUNITY
"Nazareth," situated in the Diocese of Chilaw, stands as a dedicated house of preachers who travel across the country breaking the Word of God. As our Oblate Constitution reminds us, "We fulfill our mission in and through the community to which we belong. Our communities, therefore, are apostolic in character" (C. 37).
As a dynamic group of Oblates, the Nazareth community continuously reads the signs of the times. They remain sensitive to the spiritual needs of the people, making themselves available to preach the Good News to the poor in all its forms while remaining open to learning from the faithful they serve.
Our History
The story of the Nazareth house is deeply intertwined with the history of the Diocese of Chilaw. In 1939, when Rt. Rev. Dr. Edmund Peiris, OMI, was elected Bishop of Chilaw, his official residence was still under construction. Consequently, he took up temporary residence at the "Nazareth" house in Wennappuwa, which at the time belonged to the Holy Family Sisters.
In 1947, marking the centenary of the Oblates' arrival in Sri Lanka, Bishop Peiris invited the Congregation to expand its apostolic services within the diocese. Under the leadership of Sr. Sacred Heart, HF, the Holy Family Sisters generously offered the Nazareth house to the Oblates—on the condition that the resident priests would minister to the spiritual needs of the Sisters. The pioneer Oblate community at Nazareth consisted of Rev. Fr. Augustine, OMI, Rev. Fr. Nicholas Croos, OMI, Rev. Fr. Vincent Weerakkody, OMI, and Rev. Fr. Andrew Peter, OMI.
As the Oblate community grew in numbers and ministry, the Oblate Province of Sri Lanka officially purchased the house and property in 1951 from Mother Helan, HF, the Provincial Superior of the Holy Family Sisters. Since then, the property has been expanded to meet growing needs, notably with the addition of a two-story building in 1985 and further land acquisition in 2008.
Our Ministries
Today, the Oblate Nazareth community branches its ministry into several key areas:
Parochial Grand Missions Our founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod, considered mission preaching the most effective way to bring marginalized Catholics back into the mainstream of the Church. Today, Nazareth preachers conduct intensive three-week parish missions, particularly during the Lenten season or to mark a church jubilee.
Preparation & Week 1: Following initial parishioner education, the first week is dedicated to house-visiting. This allows the preachers to intimately understand the socio-cultural context, daily struggles, and specific needs of the faithful.
Weeks 2 & 3 (The Retreat Proper): Living together as an Oblate community within the parish, the preachers conduct specialized spiritual sessions for men, women, youth, children, and married couples.
Culmination: The mission concludes with a special "Family Day," where all families consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, ending with a Sunday Eucharistic celebration and an Apostolic Benediction imparted by the Mission Superior.
Novena Preaching
Oblate preachers are frequently invited to prepare parishes for their annual feasts by conducting nine-day novenas. Rather than just visiting for the service, the preacher remains with the community throughout the nine days. They deliver theme-based homilies during the Eucharistic celebrations and set aside a specific day for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, remaining available for confession and counseling. By living among the people, the preacher accompanies the faithful on their spiritual journey. Our preachers are also regularly invited to minister at national sanctuaries, such as the Marian Shrine in Madhu.
Retreats & Spiritual Direction
At the request of various groups, the community makes itself available to conduct tailored retreats for school children, youth, seminarians, engaged and married couples, catechists, priests, and religious.
Apostolate to the Holy Family Sisters
True to the foundational agreement made when the Oblates first arrived at the Nazareth house, the community remains deeply faithful in generously attending to the spiritual needs of the Holy Family Convent in Wennappuwa.
