Peace builder and former Caritas director Father Firth dies
An Oblate of Mary Immaculate, he passed away at the age of 81. He met with Tamil Tigers leaders and laid the groundwork for an end to hostilities. He was also behind various educational programmes and groups promoting development and interfaith dialogue.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Father Oswald Bernard Firth, who passed away on Monday, was laid to rest following a funeral service held yesterday at St Joseph's Church in the city of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka).
A missionary and a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he led Caritas Sri Lanka between 1990 and 1995 and, for a long time, worked to build peace in the country.
After “81 years of life, our father is walking again today to the God who gave him his calling after spending nearly 60 years as a priest,” said Fr Rohan Silva, director of the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) who led the religious service.
In a symbolic address, Fr Silva said: “Even though you have left us, your words, your fragrance, carry our lives forward. To make our lives pleasant, to make this society a fairer and more just society, to build a world where everyone can live in peace, strengthen us by praying for us before the Lord.”
Lastly, he noted that “Father Firth came into this world and fulfilled a unique mission,” which was “to preach the Gospel to the poor, deliver the captives, give sight to the blind, and free the oppressed.”
The Oblate missionary was an educator, academic, activist and director of Caritas at a time of great political and economic upheaval in Sri Lanka, when the civil war bred inequality and led the country's regions to grow apart in terms of development.
He was able to meet the leaders of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) long before the 2003 peace agreement. Along with other civil society leaders, he entered their headquarters in the forests in the north of the country. And on that occasion, he had managed to free ten hostages and lay the foundations for an end to the hostilities.
Fr Oswald was also behind an important programme that trained 700 instructors chosen by diocesan centres to teach the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
He was a founding member of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) and the National Peace Council (NPC) and was co-chair of the Interreligious Peace Foundation.
"Father Firth had been the stalwart behind NAFSO and many other Sri Lankan civil society organisations,” reads a statement by NAFSO. “We cannot forget how he was instrumental in protecting civilian activists not only in the north, but also in the south during the 1987-89 southern insurrection. We pray for Fr Firth that he may attain eternal life.”
Likewise, the “National Peace Council mourns the demise of founding member Father Oswald B Firth. We remember his service to the country and its people, especially those who are disadvantaged and excluded, with much love and appreciation."
Father Oswald was born in Nugegoda (Sri Lanka) on 13 September 1942. He joined the Oblates in 1961 and was ordained in Rome on 20 December 1967.
In 1973 he received a PhD from the University of Human Sciences in Strasbourg (now University Marc Bloch, France) and was first assistant general for the congregation's mission in Rome from 2004 to 2010.
He carried out his ministry in Australia from 2011 to 2014, lecturing in philosophy and teaching at St Mary's Seminary.
After that five years in Sri Lanka, he moved again to Australia in 2019 where he served for 18 months starting in March 2019 at St Pius X Parish in Dernancourt (South Australia).
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23/01/2008
20/12/2018 16:35
