Rayappu Joseph

Bishop Rayappu Joseph (Tamil: இராயப்பு யோசப்; 16 April 1940 – 1 April 2021)[1] was a Sri Lanka Tamil prelate and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.[2][3][4]

Rt Rev.

Rayappu Joseph
Bishop of Mannar
Native name
இராயப்பு யோசப்
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseColombo
DioceseMannar
Installed6 July 1992
Term ended14 January 2016
PredecessorThomas Savundaranayagam
Personal details
Born(1940-04-16)16 April 1940
Delft, Ceylon
Died1 April 2021(2021-04-01) (aged 80)
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
BuriedSea
Alma materPontifical Urbaniana University

Early life and family

Joseph was born on 16 April 1940 on the island of Neduntheevu in northern Ceylon to a practitioner of indigenous medicine[5][6][7] Living in Cheddikulam and Mannar during his early childhood, he was educated at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.[8][9] Joseph has a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.[6]

Career

Joseph was ordained as a priest in December 1967.[5][6] He was a professor at the St Xavier's Seminary, Jaffna.[6] In July 1992 he was appointed Bishop of Mannar and was ordained as a bishop in October 1992.[5][6]

Joseph has been a vocal critic of the Sri Lankan government/Sri Lankan military's conduct during the Sri Lankan Civil War and the country's human rights record.[10][11] This has led to him being threatened by government supporters.[12]

References
  1. "Bishop Emeritus of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away". Colombo Page. 1 April 2021.
  2. "Mannar". Pontifical Mission Societies – Sri Lanka.
  3. "Resignation accepted of Bp. Rayappu and new Apostolic Administrator of Mannar appointed". Vatican Radio. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  4. "Remembering Bishop Rayappu Joseph: A Tireless Campaigner for Justice in Sri Lanka". Jeevethan Selvachandran. The Diplomat. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. "Bishop Rayappu Joseph". Catholic Hierarchy.
  6. "BBishop Joseph". Union of Catholic Asian News.
  7. "Former Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away | Tamil Guardian". www.tamilguardian.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  8. "Past Bishops". St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014.
  9. Rasaiya, Christy (16 July 2000). "St. Patrick's 150 years old". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  10. "Sri Lanka's war panel arouses strong emotions". BBC News. 11 January 2011.
  11. "Sri Lanka row over Catholic letter on human rights". BBC News. 6 March 2012.
  12. Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (2 June 2012). "Pope Benedict to express concern over Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph's safety to President Rajapaksa at Vatican". dbsjeyaraj.com.
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