The Western Province of Sri Lanka is now the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation’s administrative and business centre. The western province of Sri Lanka in 1861 had the area of 3,820 square miles and its inhabitants were 595,000. The mission of Kalutara was in the Western Province, one of the six administrative provinces in then Ceylon. The Vicariate Apostolic of the South or of Colombo comprised of the Southern, Western, and Central Provinces in 1861.
The mission of Moratuwa began seven miles from Colombo and stretches for 16 miles. The areas of Dehiwala, Galkissa, Uyana, Kadalana, Pankade Wadduwa, Sariccamulla, Kaluwella, and Pettah were included in the mission of Moratuwa. It was a region low, flat at the level of the sea, producing cinnamon and coconuts. Most of the people were Sinhalese speaking and were Fishermen. The Catholic population, distributed into 09 centres, was about 4029 in 1852. They inhabited the land along the coast extending only to a few miles inland. The churches were supported by a levy, which the Christians had fixed with regard to fishing and to any other profit they make from any other trade.
The first oblate to go to this mission was Fr. Dominique Pulicani, o.m.i., in 1853. Bishop Eugene de Mazenod at the request of Propaganda Fide sent four Oblates to the Vicariate Apostolic of the South in 1851. It was the first group of Oblates to be sent to the Southern (Colombo) Vicariate. They were placed under the jurisdiction of Bishop Giuseppe Maria Bravi, a Sylvestrine, the Vicar Apostolic of Colombo, whereas the Oblates who were already working since 1847 in the North were under the jurisdiction of Bishop Orazio Bettachini, an Oratorian, the Vicar Apostolic of Jaffna. But both groups had Fr. Étienne Semeria, o.m.i., as their Religious Superior.
Fr. Pulicani was assigned to the mission of Moratuwa on 31 August 1853. His stay at Moratuwa was very successful. God was pleased to shower His most abundant blessings on his ministry. This mission was, at that period of a missionary of the type of Fr. Pulicani, in order to instruct the Catholics in their faith and to arm them in advance against the Protestants who were numerous there.
Immediately on his arrival at Moratuwa, he started a series of instructions that won for him the affection of all. Daily the faithful flocked to the church in large numbers not only to listen to his sermons which were so well adapted to their needs, but also to unload their conscience of the burden of sin, at the feet of the minister of reconciliation. A very good number of Catholics, among them several of advanced age, who had never received Holy Communion, were thus, to their great satisfaction, admitted to the Sacred Banquet. With another Oblate priest, Fr. Pulicani held conferences, in the form of dialogues, on matters of controversy between Catholics and Protestants. This was very much appreciated by the hearers and every evening the crowd increased. The Protestants too came in large numbers for these conferences and several among them were converted. These conversions naturally caused considerable stir in the locality and opposition was not wanting. While Fr. Pulicani was the Parish Priest of Moratuwa, he had the consolation of introducing Christianity into the village of Wewala. His first attempts met with opposition. But in April 1854, he succeeded in converting the 85 year old Headman of the place. Thus, he gradually built a church dedicated to St. Lazarus at Wewala. Fr. Pulicani continued his mission here until 1855.
The other oblate to go to the mission of Moratuwa was Fr. Jean-Pierre Perréard, o.m.i., who had been looking after the mission from 1858 to 1860. According to an archival document of the diocese on the appointments, Fr. Perréard was assigned to the churches of St. Joseph, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Anthony, Purification of Our Lady, St. Anthony, St. Sebastian, Nativity of Our Lady, St. Lazarus, St. Anne. During his tenure in this mission Fr. Perréard spent his most of his time and energy in catechising the people who were very much ignorant of catholic faith.
According to the report of Bishop Bravi on 06 September 1858 on his Pastoral Visitation, the Catholic population, distributed into 12 churches, was about 6000.
At the beginning of 1866, the General Administration of the Oblates decided to pull out the Oblates serving in the Vicariate of Colombo and sent them to join the Oblates in the Vicariate of Jaffna. Thus, all the three Oblates left the vicariate. Again it was in 1883 when Propaganda Fide entrusted the vicariate of Colombo to Oblates and transferred Bishop Ernest Christophe Bonjean, o.m.i., from Jaffna to the vicariate, Oblates came again and extended their services in most parts of the vicariate.
Jerome Velichor, o.m.i.
