(2 Feb) Br. S. Arockiam, the Provincial entered into collaboration with the Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka to undertake the mission in Tharanikulam in the Diocese of Mannar, Sri Lanka. Br. Peter Amalraj was the Pioneer and Parish Priest.
(2 Feb) The beginning of Capuchin Mission in the Northern Part of Sri Lanka by the Friars of Mary Queen of Peace Province. Tharanikulam Parish was bifurcated from Pambai Madhu Parish and given to the care of Capuchins. Br. Peter Amalraj the pioneer of the Mission was appointed as the first Parish Priest of Tharanikulam.
(25 Mar) The Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka handed over to our province the Tharanikulam Mission of Mannar for our independent administration. This eventuated us to work in the Tamil Dioceses of Northern Sri Lanka. The General Council represented by Br. Mauro Johri has formally approved it.
(25 Mar) The Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka handed over to our province the Tharanikulam Mission of Mannar for our independent administration. This eventuated us to work in the Tamil Dioceses of Northern Sri Lanka. The General Council represented by Br. Mauro Johri has formally approved it.
(30 May) Our entry into the Diocese of Trincomalee with Br. Alex Maria Chelliah & Br. Antony Arockiasamy. They were appointed as Assistant Parish Priests in two Parishes.
(20 Nov) Muthur Mission and the Parish was entrusted to the care of Capuchins for 10 years. Br. Alex Maria Chelliah was appointed as the Parish Priest and Br. Sebastian, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Antony’s Church, Muthur.
(10 & 11 Feb) Rev. Br. Mauro Johri, the General Minister along with Rev. Br. Micheal Fernandes the General Councillor, Rev. Br. Dolphy Pius the Provincial Minister of Karnataka Province and Rev. Br. S. Lawrence the Definitor of Mary Queen of Peace Province visited Srilankan Tamil mission.
(3 June) Br. Jerry the first native Tamil Capuchin of Sri Lanka was ordained Priest at St. Sebastian’s Cathedral, Mannar by Rt. Rev. Dr. Noel Emmanuel, the Bishop of Trincomalee.
(4 June) Br. C. Antony Arockiasamy was appointed as the second Parish Priest and Br. Charles Ephrem, the Assistant Parish Priest of Tharanikulam.
(17 July) Our entry into the Diocese of Jaffna. Br. Charles Ephrem was sent to clear the land at Silavathai and to do the preliminary works to start a technical institute.
(29 July) A long-awaited dream of completing the construction of the New Church at Sundarapuram, one of the substations of Tharanikulam Parish was realized through the great help of Br. Jegadhees and his benefactors. Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsely Swampillai the Apostolic Administrator of Mannar Diocese blessed and opened the new Church.
(8 June) Br. A. Selvaraj landed in Sri Lanka to resume his office as the Delegate Superior of St. Joseph Vaz Delegation, Sri Lanka. He was given a warm welcome by the Parishioners of Tharanikulam during the Sunday Mass.
(7 Jan.) Rev. Br. Peter Amalraj the pioneer and the first Mission Superior, after serving in the Mission for the past four years went back to the Province due to his ill health.
(18 Jan.) Br. John Arumainathan, the Provincial Minister signed an agreement with Bp. C. Noel Immanuel of Trincomalee thereby establishing our mission service to the Diocese through pastoral service in a Parish
(20 April) Our Mission in Sri Lanka was raised to the level of a Delegation under the Mary Queen of Peace Province, Southern Tamil Nadu. The Delegation was named as St. Joseph Vaz Delegation. It was officially announced by Rev. Br. Micheal Fernandes the General Councilor, during the 3rd Ordinary Chapter of the Province. Rev. Br. A. Selvaraj was appointed as the First Delegate Superior of St. Joseph Vaz Delegation and subsequently Br. Alex Maria Chelliah as the First Councilor and Br. Charles Ephrem as the Second Councilor were appointed.
(24 June) Rev. Br. A. Sebastian was installed as the Parish Priest of Muthur in Trincomalee Diocese. Br. Alex Maria Chelliah who served in Muthur Parish went in transfer to Silavathai in Jaffna Diocese to resume his post as the Guardian.
(15 July) Br. Jerric Quintas reached our Capuchin Mission home to resume his office as the Delegate Procurator and the Assistant Parish Priest of Tharanikulam Parish.
(5- 13 Aug.) Br. I. Sathian the Provincial Minister of Mary Queen of Peace Province paid his maiden visit to Sri Lankan Mission and during his visit he also met the respective Bishops of our presence.
(20 Aug.) Br. Charles Ephrem went to Palaiyoothu Parish to resume his new role as the Assistant Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Palaiyoothu in Trincomalee Diocese.
(28 Aug.) Rev. Br. Judes Maria Uthayan the second native Capuchin of our Delegation gave his Final Commitment into the hands of Br. A. Selvaraj, the Delegate Superior.
(2 Sep.) Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando the Bishop of Mannar Diocese paid his maiden visit to our Parish and Confirmed 16 of our children. He also visited our substations namely Pumbukar, Kothandar Nochikulam and Kalmadu.
(2 Oct.) Br. Prem Anandh arrived to the Mission
(3 Nov.) Br. Savariar arrived to the Mission
(2 Feb.) The Foundation Stone for the new Friary (Assisi Illam) at Tharanikulam was laid by the Friars of the Delegation.
(24 June) A renovated pre-school building was blessed and opened at Sahayapuram
(7 April) The Parish of St. Anne’s Church, Silavathai, was bifurcated from the Parish of Mullaitivu and given to the Capuchins. Br. Alex Maria Chelliah, was installed as the 1st Parish priest.
(14 June) The renovated parish house at Muthur was blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Noel Emmanuel. On the same day we also had blessed the newly constructed Arch at the premise of the Church
(28 July) The Blessing and opening of the new Church of “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” at Nochikulam, took place. The Provincial opened the Church and Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, the Bishop of Mannar, blessed the Church.
(18 Aug.) The new Church dedicated to St. Joseph, at Poombukar, was blessed by Bp. Emmanuel Fernando, Bishop of Mannar.
(10 Oct.) we started the Education ministry at Muthur, collaboration with the Jesuit Fathers.
The Formation programme began with 2 candidates
(6 Oct.) Br. David reached the Sri Lanka Mission.
(5 Jan.) New Church of “Our Lady of Fatima” at Manipuram was Blessed and opened by Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, the Bishop of Mannar.
(16 Jan.) St. Joseph Vaz church at Vedhatheevu was blessed and opened by Rt. Rev. Dr. C. Noel Emmanuel, the Bishop of Trincomalee, in the presence of Brs. Sathian, our Provincial Minister, Jegadhees, the Friars of St. Joseph Vaz delegation and the Priests, Religious and the laity of the Diocese. The major portion of the fund was organized by Br. Jegadhees, the social work director.
(19 Jan.) The New Delegate House “Assisi Illam” was blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, the Bishop of Mannar and opened by Br. John Baptist, the General Councilor of the Capuchins at Tharanikulam, in the presence of Rev. Br. Werner Galati, from Switzerland, our Friars for the province and Delegation.
(19 Jan.) New Building for Nursery/ Pre-school was blessed by Br. Sathian and opened by Br. Werner Galati at Tharanikulam
(20 Oct.) A Tuition Centre (Hall) was constructed at Iruthayapuram, neighboring Parish and was blessed by Br. Sebastian.
(19 Jan.) A new Church dedicated to St. Antony of Padua, at Keppapulavu, was blessed opened by Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam.
(2 Feb.) A New Church dedicated to “Our Lady of Lourdes” was blessed by His Lordship Bp. Justin Gnanapragasam, Bishop of Jaffna.
(12 Feb.) Br. Judes Maria Uthayan was ordained by Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, at St. Sebastian’s Cathedral in Mannar.
(3 Mar) CAPITAL (CAPuchin Information Technology And Life skills Campus) social work Centre was inaugurated at Tharanikulam.
(12 Mar.) The foundation stone for our Lady of Lourdes Church at Marukarampalai was laid by our Brs. Selvaraj and Arockiyasamy.
(11 Aug.) St. Joseph Vaz Capuchin Delegation of Northern Srilanka had the animators appointed after consultative vote by the Provincial Council: Brs. A. Selvaraj, David Dominic Sagayam and Jerric Quintas