“REVERABREATIONS OF LOVE”

An attractive Christmas programme was held on December 20^th 2014 at Don Bosco Multi purpose Hall  at Don Bosco Dungalpitiya and It was organized by the Salesians, staff, teachers and children. The programme was a potpourri of a representation on Christmas message, carol singing, dances and Christmas gift distribution.

The chief  Guest of the Programme was Rev. Fr. Mal Warashantha, the Principal of St. Anthony’s college Wattala. The Guest of Honor was Mrs. Kay-Nina,  First Secretary of Embassy of Switzerland. In his chief guest’s address stated that all should be able to love as Christ did and he expressed that we have to be faithful to the spirit of love and sacrifice taught by Christ.

The charismas drama exhorted on the theme ‘Open our eyes’ narrated that each one has a duty to heal the world in order to make it better place. and the drama was directed and staged by Rev. Fr. Nihal Liyanage - the Provincial.

Gift of two Priests

Gift of two priests under the auspicies of the Bicentenary of the Birth of St. John Bosco. 1815-2015

Rev. Deacon Hendalage Don Saman Chinthana and Rev. Deacon Anton Nuwan Tharaka will be ordained Priests on 13^th December 2014 at 10.00 a.m. by His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Maxwell Silva, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, at Mary Help of Christian’s Shrine in Don Bosco Technical College, Ettukala, Negombo.

Rev. Deacon H. Saman Chinthana is the son of Mr. H. D Joseph Anthony and Mrs.A. A. Dona Jennet Perera of Hekitta, Wattala. He is the youngest in the family of the three sons. He was born on 5^th October 1984. He had his primary education at Christ the King College, Hekitta, Wattala.  He entered Don Bosco minor Seminary at Dankotuwa. He sat for his Ordinary level at St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa and completed his Advanced Level studies at St. Xavier’s College, Marawila. 

He entered the novitiate in 2004 and made his first profession on 24^th May 2005 at Don Bosco Kotadeniyawa. He completed his philosophical studies at Chinthanaloka Salesian Institute, Kotadeniyawa. He did his Practical training in Pre- Novitiate Dungalpitiya, Don Bosco Technical School Kandy, Don Bosco Technical Centre Nochchiyagama and Don Bosco Technical College Negombo respectively.

He made his perpetual profession on 24^th May 2011 at Don Bosco Provincial House, Dungalpitiya. Then he completed his theological studies at Sacred Heart College, Shillong, North India. He was ordained a deacon on 1^st of July 2014 and he practiced his diaconal ministry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Palliyawatta and at St. Sebastian Church, Nochchiyagama. His first thanks giving mass will be offered in St. Lazaru’s Church on Sunday 14^th December 2014 at 8.00 a.m.

Rev. Deacon Anton Nuwan Tharaka, is the son of Mr.Joseph Canicius Mihindukulasuriya and Princy Mihindukulasuriya of Dungalpitiya. He was born on 11^th October 1982.  He is the youngest of two elder brothers and an elder sister in the family. He did his primary schooling at Dungalpitiya primary school. He completed his Ordinary level and Advanced Level studies at Gonsalves College at Pamunugama.

In 2003 he joined the Pre- Novitiate at Don Bosco, Dungalpitiya.  He entered the novitiate in 2004 and made his first profession in 24^th May 2005 at Don Bosco Kotadeniyawa. He completed his philosophical studies at Chinthanaloka Institute, Don Bosco, Kotadeniyawa. He did his Practical training at Don Bosco Seminary Dankotuwa, Don Bosco Technical College, Negombo and Bosco Sevena, Uswetakeiyawa respectively. He made his perpetual profession in 24^th May 2011 at Don Bosco, Dungalpitiya.

Then he proceeded to Shillong in North India to pursue his Theological studies at Sacred Heart College. He was ordained a deacon on 1^st of July 2014 and he practiced his diaconal ministry at St. Sebastian Church, Nochchiyagama and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Palliyawatta. His first thanks giving mass will be on Sunday 14^th December 2014 at St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Dungalpitiya at 4.00 P.M

Vice Provincial's Visit to Rome

Fr. Dixon Ferenando the Vice Provincial of Don Bosco Sri Lanka left for Italy on 17th November 2014. He will be attending a preparatory meeting in anticipation of the Bicentenary Celebration of the Birth of Don Bosco. The meeting will be held from the 19th until the 24th of November at the Salesianum, Rome.

SPCSA Meeting

THE SPCSA:  the 23rd meeting of the Salesian Provincial Council of South Asia was held from 15 to 16 of November 2014  at Don Bosco Provincial House Dungalpitiya, Sri Lanka, it was chaired by Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga, the Regional Superior of South Asia and the participants were: Fr. Fernandes Ajoy; Vice Provincial of Bombay, Fr. Nirmol Gomes; Provincial of Kolkata, Fr. Nestor Guria; Provincial of Dimapur, Fr. Thomas Vattathara; Provincial of Guwahati, Fr. Balaraju Raminedi; Provincial of Hyderabad, Fr. Thomas Anchukandam; Provincial of Bangalore, Fr. Jayapalan Raphael; Provincial of Chennai, Fr. Michael Peedikayil; Provincial of Delhi, Fr. Ian Figueiredo; Provincial of Panjim, Fr. George Maliekal; Provincial of Silchar, Fr. Albert Johnson; Provincial of Tiruchy and Fr. Nihal Liyanage, the Provincial of Sri Lanka,  Fr. Noel Maddhichetty, the Secretary of SPCSA. The main features that were discussed at the meeting were:  Project of Animation and Government (PAG) of the Rector Major and the General council. for the six year period 2014-2020, Bicentenary celebrations of birth of Don Bosco – 2015 and Composition and Roles of the Standing Committee of SPCSA.

Anniversary Celebration of Religious Profession

The Vice-Province of St.Joseph Sri Lanka celebrated the 60^th, 50^th and 25^th religious professions of Fr. Joseph Giaime, Fr. Francis Cheeramben and Fr. Anthony Fernando respectively. A large number of well-wishers and religious attended the thanks giving Holy Eucharist. The Holy Mass was held at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians followed by a cultural programme at Don Bosco Negombo on the 8^th of November 2014. The main celebrant of the Mass was Fr. Anthony Fernando. 

Salesian Family Day

The Annual Salesian Family Day was held this time on the 25^th of October 2014 in the Palliyawatta Parish with the participation of the Salesians, Salesian Sisters (FMA), the Salesian Cooperators, ADMA members, the VDB and the Past Pupils paricipating in it. There were more than 200 participants from Negombo, Dankotuwa, Uswetakeiywa, Dungalpitiya, Nochchiyagama and the Palliyawatta units. The days events were as follows: At 9.30 am the Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Rev. Fr. Nihal Liyanage SDB our Provincial Superior.  After a tea break there was the introduction and presentation of the newly translated book into Sinhala of Blessed Stephen Sandor, the Salesian brother, martyred in Hungary and the various programs for the Bicentenary Celebration to be held next yearby Fr. Dixon Fernando SDB, the Coordinator for theSalesian Family Commission. Then there was the presentation of the book to be readied and to be released very soon the life of Blessed Laura Vicuna by Fr. Bernard Fernando SDB and then before lunch there was a meeting the Provincial with all the heads of the various branches of the Salesian Family.

After lunch various units of the Salesian Family presented entertaining items to enliven the Salesian Family members and others gathered. It was a lively sharing of Family spirit lived in the Bosconian way. A big thank you to Fr. Felix Mellawarchchy SDB the parish priest of Palliywatta along with the Palliywatta unit of Cooperators who made all this possible and for all the units who actively participated in the Liturgy and brought all the necesaary food to be shared with all the rest. May the Salesian Family grow from strength to strength to work for the poor and abandoned youth. One of the results of this days gathering was to help the new aspirantate of the North to cultivate in the new land coconut saplings for future use.

Seminar on Salesian Youth Ministry, Salesian Spirituality and Child Protection Policy.

Sri Lanka, Colombo 16-17/ Sep/ 2014:  Two days of seminar was conducted on Salesian Youth Ministry, Salesian Spirituality (pedagogy of Don Bosco), and Child Protection Policy by Fr. Maria Charles SDB the Director, Don Bosco Youth Animation (DBYA), South Asia.

Virtual Commission Meeting

On 10^th of November 2013 at 12.00 noon the new Social Communication Commission of the Vice Province of Sri Lanka created history by way of having its first meeting virtually, in turn managing time and resources in the most efficient and effect manner.  This was the very first official meeting held virtually by the Salesians in the Vice Province of Sri Lanka.  The commission members who took part in the virtual meeting were Fr. Reginald Fernando, Fr. Bernard Fernando, Fr. Manjula Priyantha and Mr. George Panicker. The idea of going virtual was novel helping the Salesians take advantage of the new age communication technology.  The positive result at the end of the meeting with this new age initiative was an overwhelming success.

Colombo Delegation Meets With VC

A two member delegation consisting of the Chairman of Don Bosco Society Sri Lanka Fr Nihal and Don Bosco Society Colombo’s Higher Education Executive Fr Paul met with the Vice Chancellor Fr Stephen Mavely at ADBU’s Azara Campus, Tuesday 13th August.

The Vice Chancellor appraised the visitors about the possibility of undertaking all on-line courses offered by ADBU as it has already signed an MoU with University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka.

The visitors have commissioned the CEO of Don Bosco Development Office Colombo Mr George Panicker to pursue the implementation of the project.

http://web.dbuniversity.ac.in/colombo-delegation-meets-with-vc/

Corpus Christi (Eucharistic Procession)

The parish of Palliyawatta with 2 substations celebrated Corpus Christi feast on 18 Aug 2013. For the first time the parishioners took in procession the Blessed Sacrament from palliyawatta to Dickowita newly build, st. Antony's church.

Feast of Rosa Mistica

The annual feast of Rosa Mistica was celebrated on 20th Sep 2013. Many faithful were present from varies parishes. 

Remedial classes Resume

4 September.

Remedial classes Resume. Once again the corridors of Don Bosco Murunkan are resounding with the laughter and shouts of young people from the neighborhood. About 150 children attend the cases. A dozen teachers are busily engaged in molding the life of these Children through Prayer, Moral instructions, counseling and tuition classes.

Lord we thank you for the gift of Priests

24 September

Lord we thank you for the gift of Priests. The Marian celebrations on 24th September had a special tone and colour at Don Bosco,Murunkan..  Rev.Fr. Pious the silver  Jubilarian celebrated the Holy Eucharist.  Fr.Pious was the director Don Bosco Murunkan for six years. Rev.Fr.Lawrence and Rev.Fr.Terrance also con-celebrated with him. They are the new priests who were ordained in April 2013 for the diocese of Mannar. During their years of formation they assisted the Don Bosco boarding as animators. The parish priest who is on transfer after four years of service in Murunkan was also thanked during the celebration for his collaboration with Don Bosco. A cultural programme consisting of Songs Dance and drama was organized after the Mass under the able direction of Rev.Fr.Melvin the dean of studies to felicitate and thank the priests.

English Academy and Computer Centre at Mathale

A beautiful piece of land at Mathale located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, donated by Mr. Milton Vantraex and Mrs. Clare Vantraex to Don Bosco Sri Lanka will soon bring hope and a bright future for the young of the region.  Don Bosco Sri Lanka will soon establish an English Academy and Computer Centre for which the construction plans are in place.  

On the 31^st of August 2013, Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando - Bishop of Kandy, Rev. Fr. Milroy the Vicar General along with the family members of the Vantraex family laid the foundation stone at the site for the construction of the Institution building which will house the English Academy and Computer centre.  The land was blessed by Rev. Fr. Nihal Liyanage the Provincial Superior and Rev. Fr. Shiran Karawgodage the Provincial Economer of Don Bosco Sri Lanka. The local Parish Priest along with a few Nuns and young people from the parish community took part in the ceremony. 

Annual Prize Giving at Don Bosco - Bibile