RMG – SDB Provinces: the “Saint Joseph” Vice-Province of Sri Lanka (LKC)

19 March 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: the “Saint Joseph” Vice-Province of Sri Lanka (LKC)

(ANS – Rome) – The dream of the beginning of the Salesian Mission in the island nation of Sri Lanka, though starts from the life time of Don Bosco. It can be seen in the letter Don Bosco wrote to Cagliero on 31 October 1876. It was the fruit of a dialogue between Fr. Piccinelli, a missionary from Sri Lanka, with Don Bosco. From then on, we have had so much invitations to begin the Salesian mission in Sri Lanka. 

But this, dream came to a reality, with the arrival of Fr. Henry Remery, the first Salesian missionary to Sri Lanka on 22 March 1956. Almost waiting for 80 years for the Salesians to begin the mission. The mission was begun in Negombo, with the technical center along with few aspirants from the locality. The first house was canonically erected and Fr. Henry Remery was canonically appointed as the First Rector of the Negombo house on 24 may 1970. The Second house was canonically erected on 4 January 1976. 

Sri Lanka was made a delegation in January 1993, Fr. Joseph Giame, being its First ever superior of the delegation from 1 June 1993 to 1996. The delegation was canonically raised as vice province on 15 August 2004 with Fr. Anthony Humer Pinto as its first superior by Fr. Pascual Chavez, the then Rector Major. 

At present the Vice province has 96 confreres. Among whom 53 are priests, 2 Salesian Coadjutor brothers, 14 perpetually professed clerics, 27 clerics in temporary profession. We are blessed with 6 novices in the novitiate forming themselves to be Salesians soon. The median age of the confreres is 38. Making our vice province one of the youngest province in the congregation.

At present we have 19 presences all over the country. Among them we have 05 presences dedicated for the formation of the Salesians in the province. We have 05 technical study centers focusing on equipping the young people of the island with various skills. We have 03 schools at present. 02 English study centers. We have 03 parishes for the time and 02 boarding for the young at risks. Thus we work in parishes, youth animation centers, schools, technical centers, coaching centers, youth and leadership animation, formation, and for the young at risk. These are the mission the vice province has taken up these days and doing them successfully. 

Many of our centers work with the collaboration of lay people in our mission. Many of our teaching and non-teaching staff are lay people. We also work in collaboration with Salesian Family members in our mission. All our mission works are aimed towards for the benefit and the uplifting of the under privileged and poor young people of the society. The encounter of the young people with our Salesians has always been life transforming moments in their lives for their good.  

Apart from us, the SDBs, we have other 5 members of the Salesian Family being active in the promotion of Salesian Charism in the mission of Sri Lanka. They are the FMA, The MSMHC sisters, ADMA, Salesian Cooperators, and the Past Pupil. All of them work in cooperation and collaboration with the Salesians for the betterment of the young people of our society. These members of the Salesian Family support us in our mission for the poor and abandoned young people of our island nation. 

In the recent time, our province is focusing itself in developing and equipping itself with personnel and resources to improve our education institutes to reach out more young people. Building and developing of new English medium schools for the poor to study and expanding our technical and higher study centers with various study programs and affiliations in line with the developing need of the country.  

In a nutshell point of view, this is the history, development, and the current situation of the Salesian Vice Province of Sri Lanka. May our Blessed Mother Mary Help of Christians, St. Joseph, our province patron, continue to guide us and interced for us all.

A video presenting the Salesian reality in Sri Lanka is available on ANSChannel.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
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