THE VICE-PROVINCE OF JAFFNADESPITE THE HARDSHIPS
Despite the hardships, the Vice-Province of Jaffna decided to celebrate in January 1998 the 150 years since the arrival of the Oblates. Fr Marcello ZAGO, Superior General at the time, had secured special authorization from the Sri Lankan authorities to go to Jaffna for the celebration, together with Fr Bernard QUINTUS, Provincial of Sri Lanka (Colombo) (seeOMI InfoApril '98). The people continue to endure similar enormous difficulties due to the war. One with their people, the Oblates of the Vice-Province go on with their work under the responsibility of Fr Jeevendra A. PAUL, the Provincial. He succeeded Fr Philipiah JESUNESAN, who was elected General Councillor for Asia-Oceania at the last Chapter.
It is close to twenty years now that Sri Lanka, and more particularly the northern and eastern parts of the island, have been living under the trials of a civil war.... Newspaper figures show the conflict has caused close to 60,000 victims, and that the number of displaced persons is more than a million....
Writing about this conflict, Archbishop ZAGO said: "The war between the central government – dominated by the Singhalese forces in the South – and the Tamil rebel forces in the Northeast has one cause, or according to some, one pretext: the non-recognition of the Tamil Nation and its rights as a people and a nation. The Tamils are considered by the Sri Lankan majority as an ethnic minority that must adjust itself to the rest of the country. In fact, Tamils make up 17-20% of the population. They are a people/nation with their own very ancient culture, rich history, language, religion (traditionally Hindu), and territory inhabited for thousands of years, with a long history of political independence and their own particular social structures...." The administrative centralization wanted by Colombo, and the decision to accept only Singhalese as the official language, set off the conflict.... The clashes between the Sri Lankan Army and the "rebel" freedom fighters of the LTTE, the "Tigers" – many under 18 years of age, some hardly even 14 – became more and more severe. Until now all attempts for a solution, be they political, diplomatic or military, have failed....
To help us better understand this difficult situation, we quote from some recent news releases. The Newsletter of the Province of Sri Lanka (Colombo) reported last October: "The worst news in the current period was the ferocious battle waged at Killinochchi from 29th September which led to the loss of the defence salient of Killinochchi-Paranthan and the death of 1500 cadres on both sides.... The hopes of the return of normal conditions and civilian administration to the peninsula were shattered by the assassination of the mayor of Jaffna on September 11th.... A civilian plane returning to Colombo from Jaffna crashed into the sea on September 29th...."
FidesService, April 16, 1999: "Bishop Joseph Rayappu of Mannar has protested against the army occupation of Madhu Church. In an April 5 letter to the President of Sri Lanka, Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Bishop wrote: "I appeal to your Excellency to give proof of your noble disposition towards spiritual things and your praiseworthy commitment to respect minority rights and feelings, by immediately ordering the removal of the Armed Security Forces and all in military uniforms from the sacred area of the Madhu Shrine consisting of 400 acres." The shrine... is situated on forest-land.... It has already provided shelter for 25,000 in the past seven years. The UN High Commission for Refugees designated it as an "open camp": people affected by the war could take refuge there during the conflict and return to their homes at the time of a truce. The entire Madhu region has always been a non-violence zone. In mid-March, the Army took control of the Shrine revered by both Singhalese and Tamils.... According to some observers, the presence of the Army in the Madhu area is necessary as a safeguard against a possible attack by the LTTE." We might add that Fr Anton THEVARAJ is assisting the refugees in a camp near Madhu.
FidesService, May 7, 1999: "The Religious Alliance for Peace, formed recently to express the solidarity of religions in the pursuit of peace, met with the President, Ms Kumaratunga, to discuss peace initiatives. Previously, in February, the Alliance consisting of dignitaries representing Buddhist leaders and Christian clergy had met members of the political wing of the LTTE. Bishop Joseph Rayappu of Mannar co-ordinated this meeting. The President stated that the Government was willing for peace talks with the LTTE provided they give up their demand for a separate state and that a strict timeframe be agreed upon...."
Returning to Jaffna
In November-December 1995, together with the entire population, the Oblates had to leave the city of Jaffna, which was under the control of the LTTE, then bombed and taken by Government troops. They found "refuge" in the countryside and the forest, and some further south in the Diocese of Mannar. The Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux – 244 professed Sisters in their Jaffna Province – experienced the same trials. In April 1996, Fr Philipiah JESUNESAN, Provincial at the time, took the decision to return to Jaffna, a city to be rebuilt. A major and symbolic event was the opening of the Columbuthurai/Jaffna scholasticate in October 1997. Repair work at the juniorate was begun and in September, the juniorate which had been provisionally housed in Madhu, was reopened in Jaffna. Even the elderly Oblates, who had been taken to Madhu for awhile, were moved back to Jaffna.
Fr JESUNESAN, wrote in September '97: "We have made the logical decision to return to Jaffna and re-institute our various communities, and thus be with the people who are coming back to their cherished homes. It is again a difficult time. I commend our men for their steadfastness, audacity and the readiness to venture out on their journey back home.... Now, we have the great task of re-building ahead of us, both on the community level and on the level of the mission...." This context gave real meaning to the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Communication still remains very difficult. Jaffna is not accessible by land, because the road remains closed. Sea and air links are risky and often disrupted. Moreover, special authorization is needed to use them. Fr ZAGO was granted this authorization in January '98, but Fr Clyde RAUSCH, General Councillor for Europe, was refused last November. Because of the military situation, the group of Oblates in Jaffna is almost totally cut off from the group in the Mannar area.
Last March, the new Provincial, Fr Jeevendra PAUL, wrote: "The experience of the abiding presence of the Risen Lord was the source of encouragement, strength and renewal for the disciples. I wish that this season awaken in our hearts too a similar experience. The dark clouds of war, death and destruction that hover over us and our people should never be allowed to darken the vision of our life and mission...."
Missionary activity and formation
The March '99 Vice-Province Newsletter,Yazha-Thoni, reports: "The most important event of the year in the Diocese of Jaffna is the preaching of the Grand Mission. At the Bishop's request, five of our young and able Oblates are already in the field. Fr Celestine MASCARINGHE, who heads the team, and Frs Jacob YOGARAJAH, Wenceslaus GNANAMUTHU, Francis LOSHINGTON, and Robert PERERA are fully involved in this great undertaking. Fr Francis has joined the team after serving as a full-time preacher on our preaching band at Vavuniya. It is important to know that travelling to Jaffna makes everyone sick and frustrated.... We hear that Fr Robert is already at Trincomalee waiting for the next ship. We hope and pray that he gets a place on the ship soon....
"The Grand Mission means a lot of work both for the parish priests and for the missionaries.... Presently the Mission is being conducted at Point-Pedro Deanery, i.e. in the parishes of Mirusuvil, Eluthumadduval, Palai and Chavakachcheri.... Two Claretians and one Verbite are also on the team. We earnestly pray for the preachers so that they enjoy good health and spiritual strength so as to achieve the purpose of renewal in the whole Diocese...."
The Vice-Province has maintained what were at first temporary foundations in the Diocese of Mannar. In 1981, there were two Oblates working in the diocese. Today there are ten, either in parishes, or at the preachers house in Vavuniya, and we must not forget the Father helping in the refugee camp at Madhu.
The Vice-Province also has missionaries abroad, in Pakistan, Korea.... Fr M. Sebastian SANTHIAPILLAI is chaplain to the Tamils in Paris. He succeeded Fr S. Sebamalai THURAM, who now works among the Tamil refugees in Southern India. Fr Nicholapillai ARULNESAN, who will soon be 87, continues a work begun more than 20 years ago among the migrant workers in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
There are presently 17 scholastics in the Vice-Province. Eight are at the scholasticate at Ampitiya/Kandy and one in Rome. The others are at the Columbuthurai/Jaffna scholasticate. They attend courses at the Jaffna Major Seminary. In January the juniorate at Columbuthurai was able to send two pre-novices to the pre-novitiate at Maggona. The Vice-Province has eight novices at the novitiate in Bandarawela. And finally we might add that 14 of the younger Oblates were able to meet for a two day session at Vavuniya in February. Fr Norbert ANDRADI, Superior of the Ampitiya scholasticate, led the session.
