The Australian Province announces with sadness the death of Fr Oswald Firth OMI, on June 19 in Sri Lanka. The Province was blessed to have him as a Missionary here for a number of years, and he was a great Oblate, a kind and gentle priest with a keen intellect.
Oswald Bernard Firth was born in Nugegoda, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on September 13, 1942. He joined the Oblates in 1961, and was ordained in Rome on December 20, 1967.
He was an Oblate of many talents, receiving a doctorate from the University of Human Sciences of Strasbourg in 1973, directing a number of institutions in Sri Lanka, and was First Assistant General for the Mission of the Congregation in Rome from 2004 to 2010.
He ministered in Australia from 2011 to 2014, including lecturing in Philosophy at CTC and working in formation at St Mary’s Seminary. He returned to Sri Lanka for 5 years, then again ministered in Australia for 18 months from March 2019, mostly at Dernancourt parish.
We, his brothers in Australia, rejoice in thanksgiving for the life of Fr Oswald Firth and join with you in prayers as our hearts are deeply saddened.
