# Rayappu Joseph

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayappu_Joseph
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{{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.](/source/Right_Reverend)
| name = Rayappu Joseph
| honorific-suffix = 
| native_name = இராயப்பு யோசப்
| native_name_lang = ta
| title = [Bishop of Mannar](/source/Bishop_of_Mannar)
| image = 
| image_size = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| church = [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church)
| archdiocese = [Colombo](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Colombo)
| province = 
| metropolis = 
| diocese = [Mannar](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Mannar)
| see = 
| term_start = 6 July 1992
| term_end = 14 January 2016
| predecessor = [Thomas Savundaranayagam](/source/Thomas_Savundaranayagam)
| opposed = 
| successor = 
| ordination = 
| consecration = 
| cardinal = 
| rank = 
| other_post = <!-- -------- Personal details -------- -->
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|04|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [Delft](/source/Delft_(Sri_Lanka)), [Ceylon](/source/British_Ceylon)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|04|01|1940|04|16|df=yes}}
| death_place = [Jaffna](/source/Jaffna), [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka)
| buried = [St. Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar](/source/St._Sebastian's_Cathedral%2C_Mannar)
| nationality = 
| religion = 
| residence = 
| parents = 
| spouse = 
| children = 
| occupation = 
| profession = 
| previous_post = 
| alma_mater = [Pontifical Urbaniana University](/source/Pontifical_Urbaniana_University)
| motto = 
| signature = 
| signature_alt = 
| coat_of_arms = 
| coat_of_arms_alt = <!-- -------- Other -------- -->
| other = 
}}
Bishop '''Rayappu Joseph''' ({{langx|ta|இராயப்பு யோசப்}}; 16 April 1940 – 1 April 2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=Bishop Emeritus of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21A/Apr01_1617251936CH.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401073935/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21A/Apr01_1617251936CH.php |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 April 2021 |publisher= Colombo Page |date=1 April 2021}}</ref> was a [Sri Lanka Tamil](/source/Sri_Lankan_Tamil_people) prelate and the [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholicism_in_Sri_Lanka) [Bishop of Mannar](/source/Bishop_of_Mannar).<ref>{{cite web|title=Mannar|url=http://www.pontificalmissionlk.org/mannar.htm|publisher=Pontifical Mission Societies – Sri Lanka|access-date=20 June 2012|archive-date=26 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126081739/http://pontificalmissionlk.org/mannar.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Vatican">{{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](/source/Vatican_Radio) | date=14 January 2016 | accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Early life and family ==

Joseph was born on 16 April 1940 on the island of [Neduntheevu](/source/Neduntheevu) in northern [Ceylon](/source/British_Ceylon) to a practitioner of indigenous medicine.<ref name="CH">{{cite web|title=Bishop Rayappu Joseph|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bjoseph.html|publisher=Catholic Hierarchy}}</ref><ref name="UCAN">{{cite news|title=Bishop Joseph|url=http://directory.ucanews.com/bishops/bishop-joseph/562|work=[Union of Catholic Asian News](/source/Union_of_Catholic_Asian_News)}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Living in Cheddikulam and Mannar during his early childhood, he was educated at [St. Patrick's College, Jaffna](/source/St._Patrick's_College%2C_Jaffna).<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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)](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(Sri_Lanka))|date=16 July 2000}}</ref> Joseph had a [Doctor of Canon Law](/source/Doctor_of_Canon_Law) degree from the [Pontifical Urbaniana University](/source/Pontifical_Urbaniana_University).<ref name=UCAN/>

==Career==
Joseph was [ordained](/source/ordained) a priest in December 1967.<ref name=CH/><ref name=UCAN/> He was a professor at the St Xavier's Seminary, Jaffna.<ref name=UCAN/> In July 1992 he was appointed [Bishop of Mannar](/source/Bishop_of_Mannar) and was ordained a bishop in October 1992.<ref name=CH/><ref name=UCAN/>

Joseph has been a vocal critic of the [Sri Lankan government](/source/Sri_Lankan_government)/[Sri Lankan military](/source/Sri_Lankan_military)'s conduct during the [Sri Lankan Civil War](/source/Sri_Lankan_civil_war) and the country's [human rights](/source/Human_rights_in_Sri_Lanka) record.<ref>{{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](/source/BBC_News)|date=11 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{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](/source/BBC_News)|date=6 March 2012}}</ref> This has led to him being threatened by government supporters.<ref>{{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|access-date=28 December 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214335/http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/6763|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==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](/source/Thomas_Savundaranayagam)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Bishop of Mannar](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Mannar)|years=6 July 1992 – 14 January 2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[Kingsley Swampillai](/source/Kingsley_Swampillai)<br><small>(as Apostolic Administrator)</small>}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Rayappu}}
Category:1940 births
Category:2021 deaths
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 Roman Catholic bishops

{{Asia-RC-bishop-stub}}
{{SriLanka-bio-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rayappu Joseph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayappu_Joseph) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayappu_Joseph?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.