Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born to a poor family in the village of Periyamulla, Negombo, in Ceylon, present day Sri Lanka, Thomas Benjamin Cooray attended St. Aloysius's Seminary in Borella and successively St. Joseph's College and University College in Colombo before going to Rome, where he studied at the Angelicum, obtaining a doctorate in philosophy 'summa cum laude'. Entering the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was ordained priest on June 23, 1929. Finishing his studies in Rome in 1931, back in Colombo he taught at St. Joseph's College and served as University chaplain. Pope Pius XII appointed him coadjutor archbishop of Colombo on December 14, 1945, with Cooray receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular archbishopric see of Preslavus on March 7 of the following year. Succeeding Msgr. Jean-Marie Masson OMI., as Archbishop of Colombo on July 26, 1947, during his tenure Cooray favored saw the realization of a respectful dialogue between Buddhists and Christians. Pope Paul VI created him cardinal priest with the title of of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo in the consistory of February 22, 1965, making him thus, the first Sri Lankan member of the College of Cardinals. Resigning the pastoral government of his see on September 2, 1976, he passed away around 6:45 pm., in Tewatta Ragama, on Saturday, October 29, 1988. His remains lie buried in the crypt of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka whose completion he oversaw in Tewatta. Known for his patience, humility and holiness, on October 29, 2010, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo announced the opening of the canonization process for the late Cardinal.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born to a poor family in the village of Periyamulla, Negombo, in Ceylon, present day Sri Lanka, Thomas Benjamin Cooray attended St. Aloysius's Seminary in Borella and successively St. Joseph's College and University College in Colombo before going to Rome, where he studied at the Angelicum, obtaining a doctorate in philosophy 'summa cum laude'. Entering the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was ordained priest on June 23, 1929. Finishing his studies in Rome in 1931, back in Colombo he taught at St. Joseph's College and served as University chaplain. Pope Pius XII appointed him coadjutor archbishop of Colombo on December 14, 1945, with Cooray receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular archbishopric see of Preslavus on March 7 of the following year. Succeeding Msgr. Jean-Marie Masson OMI., as Archbishop of Colombo on July 26, 1947, during his tenure Cooray favored saw the realization of a respectful dialogue between Buddhists and Christians. Pope Paul VI created him cardinal priest with the title of of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo in the consistory of February 22, 1965, making him thus, the first Sri Lankan member of the College of Cardinals. Resigning the pastoral government of his see on September 2, 1976, he passed away around 6:45 pm., in Tewatta Ragama, on Saturday, October 29, 1988. His remains lie buried in the crypt of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka whose completion he oversaw in Tewatta. Known for his patience, humility and holiness, on October 29, 2010, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo announced the opening of the canonization process for the late Cardinal.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
Inscription
THOMAS CARDINAL COORAY O.M.I.
FIRST SRI LANKAN ARCHBISHOP AND CARDINAL
BORN 1901. 12. 28
ORDAINED PRIEST 1929. 6. 23
ORDAINED BISHOP 1946. 3. 7
CREATED CARDINAL 1965. 2. 22
DIED 1988. 10. 29
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