Report of the Beginning of the Mission in Ceylon of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary
This report prepared by Kaat Leeman, Coördinator Erfgoedhuis | Zusters van Liefde J.M. years ago & kindly made available to the Compiler of the blog on Sacred Heart Convent. THE BEGINNING OF THE MISSION OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF JESUS AND MARY IN CEYLON, 1896. By Kaat Leeman European Domination and the Christianization of Ceylon, 1501-1796. In order to tell the history of the mission of the SCJM in Sri Lanka, we should start with the return of the Jesuits to the Island in 1895. Indeed, we speak rather of a "return" of the Jesuits to Ceylon, since they had played an important role in the evangelizing of the Island during the Portuguese period. The Portuguese landed in Ceylon in 1505, searching for the rich eastern markets. They mostly engaged in the trade of precious stones and spices. Catholic missionaries followed in their wake. The first Franciscan Friars landed in Ceylon in 1543; they encountered little opposition but also little collaborat