NEWS & EVENTS
THE fEAST OF oUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY
On October 7, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our
Lady of the Rosary. The Rosary remains a powerful prayer to defend us on earth,
and a powerful tool to help us attain eternal life. In every approved
apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Lady stresses the need to pray the
Rosary.
Special medical camp
A special medical camp was held in order to monitor the well being of our students. This move had to be taken in order to adapt ourselves to the new normal to face this global pandemic. We are grateful to Dr. Vajira for volunteering to help us in this endeavor.
cuisine instructions
A special program was conducted at the beginning of the year by Mr Jayanthan Innasithamby to instruct seminarians about cooking. Thereafter, one week in the month, cooking will be done by the seminarians
SWIMMING & BASKETBALL cOACHING CAMP
Mr Bernard Silva, a professional swimming and basketball coach was invited to coach our students about the basics of swimming and basketball.
inauguration of the new academic year 2021/2022
The new academic year 2021/2022 began adhering to Covid-19 health regulations. The student body comprises students from 11 dioceses. The students were admitted to Daham Sevana after a 14 day period of quarantine at their respective dioceses and a rapid antigen test at the Daham Sevana premises.
COvid-19 Response
Daham Sevana premise has been disinfected thanks to a special team. We are adapting ourselves to the ‘New Normal’. We are ready to begin for the new academic year 2021/2022
ANNUAL FEAST
The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was celebrated meaningfully on the 4th August. His Eminence, Most Rev Dr Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, who was to preside over the celebrations could not attend due to ill health. His Lordship, Rt Rev Dr Anton Ranjith, one of the Auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese presided over. Solemn Vespers was chanted on the 3rd August presided over by Fr Cecil Joy Perera, the Rector of the Seminary.
35th Priestly ordination anniversary of fr. rector
Dear Fathers congratulations on the 35th Anniversary of your Ordination to the Priesthood. God bless you all and all you have achieved and will continue to achieve. Enjoy your special day with those that are dear to you. Warm and loving congratulations on your 30th anniversary in the priesthood.
2nd year rememberence of the easter attack
Together with all Sri Lankan Catholics our seminarians at Daham Sevana too prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims of the Easter attack on 21.04.2019. Meanwhile silence was also observed across the country as thousands gathered in churches and attended the events to remember the over 260 killed in the blasts by suicide attackers in the early hours of April 21, 2019. Especially, we prayed that those affected by the attack may receive justice
Felix natalis dear Fr. Rector
Dear Fr. Rector, thank you for your concern over our spiritual life. You are an exemplary and visionary church leader who has dedicated his life to planting churches all over the world and winning more souls into the kingdom of God. Your messages are always supported by good Bible quotations and are clear and understandable to the congregation. As you celebrate your special day, may the Lord shower you with more grace and blessings
FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH THE LABOURER -
MAY DAY 2021
.The seminary community celebrated the feast of St. Joseph the labourer together with domestic staff of the seminary. A festive lunch was prepared by the seminarians themselves.
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
The 2020/2021 batch had the unique opprtunity of going through a outdoor leadership programme cum adventure. ‘Seth Sarana’, the social services arm of the archdiocese of Colombo facilitated the programme by providing accomodation and resource persons. Moreover, some priests of the archdiocese of Colombo volunteered to make it a success. It was conducted under the covid-19 prevention regulations of the health authorities
holy week 2021
Students do not go home for the Holy Week. All services are conducted at the Panwila Church except that of the Good Friday. A detailed catechism on the Holy Week services was conducted by Fr Cecil Joy Perera and the students were very grateful to have participated in these services in a typical rural setting with the Panwila parishioners. Moreover, seminarians fasted on each Friday (though there were some who fasted each day) and the money set aside for the meals was used to feed all inmates of the Marc Sri Homes at Katukurunda.The Holy Week services conducted meaningfully with the participation of the Panwila parishioners under covid-19 health regulations.
EASTER SUNDAY FRIENDLY CRICKET TOURNAMENT
An inter-group cricket tournament was organized in the morning of Easter Sunday. This year the seminarians were not sent home as per restrictions and regulations due to covid -19. The seminarians were served a festive breakfast & lunch in celebrating the joy of Easter.
Basics of Vocational Training at St. Vincent’s Home, Maggona.
Basics of Vocational Training at St. Vincent’s Home, Maggona. A two-day residential program was conducted at St. Vincent Home Maggona for all students to introduce them to the basic skills of motor-mechanism, electricity, carpentry an printing. These are extremely useful to us as priests. Those interested can pursue skills later on in life. Even if they do not pursue, what they learn during this workshop is quite useful. For instance; basic skills such as changing a vehicle tyre, checking battery water levels and engine oil levels, recognizing the various types of timber, basic knowledge about wiring, circuit breakers, power-consumption and ways to save power, basic knowledge about the printing industry etc. are very handy in our ministry.
FRESH WATER FISH PROJECT
The fourth school of fish was added to the fresh water fish pond since it was inaugurated in 2016. Our seminarians worked hard to add safety to the pond from outside threats.
BLACK SUNDAY
Our seminarians too joined the lay faithful in a silent protest requesting justice for Easter Bomb attack victims. Thousands of Sri Lankan Catholics countrywide attended Sunday Mass in their parish churches dressed in black to protest the lack of justice for victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.