Rayappu Joseph
{{Short description|Sri Lankan Tamil bishop (1940–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date = April 2021}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = Rt Rev.
| name = Rayappu Joseph
| honorific-suffix =
| native_name = இராயப்பு யோசப்
| native_name_lang = ta
| title = Bishop of Mannar
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| church = Roman Catholic Church
| archdiocese = Colombo
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese = Mannar
| see =
| term_start = 6 July 1992
| term_end = 14 January 2016
| predecessor = Thomas Savundaranayagam
| opposed =
| successor =
| ordination =
| consecration =
| cardinal =
| rank =
| other_post =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|04|16|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|04|01|1940|04|16|df=yes}}
| death_place = Jaffna, Sri Lanka
| buried = Sea
| nationality =
| religion =
| residence =
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| previous_post =
| alma_mater = Pontifical Urbaniana University
| motto =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_alt =
| other =
}}
Bishop Rayappu Joseph ({{langx|ta|இராயப்பு யோசப்}}; 16 April 1940 – 1 April 2021){{cite web|title=Bishop Emeritus of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21A/Apr01_1617251936CH.php |publisher= Colombo Page |date=1 April 2021}} was a Sri Lanka Tamil prelate and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.{{cite web|title=Mannar|url=http://www.pontificalmissionlk.org/mannar.htm|publisher=Pontifical Mission Societies – Sri Lanka}}{{cite web | url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/14/resignation_accepted_of__bp_rayappu_of_mannar,_sri_lanka/1200923 | title=Resignation accepted of Bp. Rayappu and new Apostolic Administrator of Mannar appointed | publisher=Vatican Radio | date=14 January 2016 | accessdate=16 January 2016}}{{cite web | url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/remembering-bishop-rayappu-joseph-a-tireless-campaigner-for-justice-in-sri-lanka/ | title=Remembering Bishop Rayappu Joseph: A Tireless Campaigner for Justice in Sri Lanka | publisher=The Diplomat | work=Jeevethan Selvachandran | date=23 April 2021 | accessdate=6 June 2021}}
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.{{cite web|title=Bishop Rayappu Joseph|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bjoseph.html|publisher=Catholic Hierarchy}}{{cite news|title=Bishop Joseph|url=http://directory.ucanews.com/bishops/bishop-joseph/562|work=Union of Catholic Asian News}}{{Cite web |title=Former Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away {{!}} Tamil Guardian |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/former-bishop-mannar-rayappu-joseph-passes-away |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=www.tamilguardian.com}} Living in Cheddikulam and Mannar during his early childhood, he was educated at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.{{cite web|title=Past Bishops|url=http://www.patricians.org/index.php?view=past_bishops|publisher=St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323170933/http://www.patricians.org/index.php?view=past_bishops|archivedate=23 March 2014}}{{cite news|last=Rasaiya|first=Christy|title=St. Patrick's 150 years old|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000716/plus12.html|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=16 July 2000}} Joseph had a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
Career
Joseph was ordained a priest in December 1967. He was a professor at the St Xavier's Seminary, Jaffna. In July 1992 he was appointed Bishop of Mannar and was ordained a bishop in October 1992.
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.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka's war panel arouses strong emotions|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12154294|work=BBC News|date=11 January 2011}}{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka row over Catholic letter on human rights|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17268307|work=BBC News|date=6 March 2012}} This has led to him being threatened by government supporters.{{cite web|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|authorlink1=|title=Pope Benedict to express concern over Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph's safety to President Rajapaksa at Vatican|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/6763|publisher=dbsjeyaraj.com|date=2 June 2012}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- {{Url|1=mannardiocese.net/?page_id=18|2=Bishop of Mannar, Mannar Diocese}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|ca}}
{{s-bef|before=Thomas Savundaranayagam}}
{{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Mannar|years=6 July 1992 – 14 January 2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Kingsley Swampillai
(as Apostolic Administrator)}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Rayappu}}
Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Sri Lanka
Category:Alumni of St. Patrick's College, Jaffna
Category:People from Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Category:People from British Ceylon
Category:Pontifical Urban University alumni
Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Mannar
Category:Sri Lankan Tamil activists
Category:Sri Lankan Tamil people
Category:Sri Lankan Roman Catholic bishops
{{Asia-RC-bishop-stub}}
{{SriLanka-bio-stub}}