25 years of Silvery Steps with Don Bosco…

As the silver bells ring for Don Bosco Seminaryat Dankotuwa, the Salesians of Sri Lanka, with many other religious and lay communities and families,happily joined to celebrate the 25 years of Silvery Steps with Don Bosco at Dankotuwa, on 11^th and 12^th May 2013.

The Celebrations began with the 1^st Day of Novena (3^rd May, Friday) which was presided over by Fr. Roshan Miranda. Then on 2^nd Day Fr. Neil Kumara, on 3^rd Day Fr. Robin Fernando, ViyanRajith and Fr. SriranthaNiroshan (New Priests), on 4^th Day Fr. Roshan OSB, on 5^th Day Fr. ChalanaKalanga, on 6^th Day Fr. Melinda Wickramasinghe, on 7^th Day Fr. Dixon Fernando (the Rector) and on 8^th Day Fr. Felix Mallwarachchijoined us and enlightened the minds of the Aspirants and the faithful.

On 11^th May, Saturday, the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Spitheri joined us in celebrating the Vespers at 7.00pm. The colourful evening was melodiously harmonized by the beautiful singing by the Don Bosco Seminary Choir, which was accompanied by some of the music teachers of the aspirants themselves. Nearly hundred priests religious and nuns took part in the evening. And many other specially invited guests also joined the celebration with hearts full of love. After the Vespers, the aspirants led the mass to the centre garden where the aspirants had organized a back-to-back talent show, which contained Eastern Dances, Eastern Hewisi Drum Bands, Western Brass Bands, Orchestra Musicals, Mimes, Calypsos and etc… The evening was accomplished by the Grand Dinner at 9.30pm for all those present.

0n 12^th May, Sunday, the Bishop of Chilaw Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendispresided over the Festive Eucharistic Celebration, in which His Lordship addressed all the parents of the Aspirants, the parents of the Salesians who were present and the other invited guests about sanctity and our calling. The Holy Mass was solemnized by the beautiful festive mass animations and the excellent singing by the Don Bosco Seminary Choir, which was accompanied by some of the music teachers of the aspirants. After the Holy Mass, during the vote of thanks, Fr. Dixon Fernando, the Rector, thanked everybody who was behind the success of this beautiful celebration. Then Fr. NihalLiyanage, the Provincial, respectively appreciated and thanked God for all those who worked so much during last 25 years at Dankotuwa. A lot of Salesians, some religious, parents of the aspirants, some parents of the Salesians and many other distinguished guests took part in the celebration.