FIRST SHRILANKAN CAPUCHIN ORDINATIONS 6th February 2016 was a golden day for the Franciscan Capuchins of Sri
Lanka. On this day the first two Capuchins of Sri Lanka viz., Brs. Nishanka
Priyasad Perera and Michael Rukman Rodrigopulle were ordained to the
priesthood by his grace Very Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis the Bishop of Chilaw.
The other two deacons of the Chilaw Diocese were also ordained. The Indian,
Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka was entrusted by the Franciscan Capuchin
General Curia with the responsibility of the formation of the Capuchins of
Pakistan and implantation of the Order in the Sri Lankan soil.
The Karnataka Capuchins came to Sri Lanka fifteen years ago and began the
mission and Brs. Nishanka Priyasad Perera and Michael Rukman Rodrigopulle
were its first fruits. From the Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka Vice
Provincial Rev. Fr. Alwyn Dias, Provincial secretary Rev. Fr. Deepak
Fernandes, Rev. Fr. Vincent Furtado, the Provinical Delegate of Sri Lanka
and Rev. Fr. Fredrick Brags, Rev. Fr. Anand Castelino the earlier Capuchin
missionary of Sri Lanka now working in Qatar came to witness the occasion.
Similarly, the Provincial minister of Holy Mary Queen Province Rev. Fr.
Peter Arumai also graced the occasion. Along with the eight Capuchin Priests
of Karnataka there were around two hundred priests from the various dioceses
and religious congregations to bless the ordinandi’s. Many religious
brothers and sisters, benefactors, friends, relatives and parishioners
joined the ordination ceremony.
After the Ordination there was short felicitation programme. The newly
ordained priests and their parents, the Vice Provincial, Provincial Delegate
were on the dais. The Katwapitiya English choir sang the specially composed
hymn to begin the event. Then the Capuchin Major Seminarians sang the
wishing song. Vice Provincial Rev. Fr. Alwyn Dias congratulated the newly
ordained priests and wished them well. He also thanked their parents, all
the formators, benefactors and all the Capuchins friars working in Sri
Lanka. Then newly Ordained priest V. Fr. Nishanka Priyasad Perera gave a
thanks giving speech. He specially made mention of the pioneers viz., V.
Frs. Ligoury Norona and Norbert D’Souza.
On 7th of February both the priests celebrated their first masses in their
respective parishes. All the Capuchins Friars accompanied them and wished
them well. Fr.Nishanka Priyasad Perera hails from St. Sebastian Parish
Pitipana and Fr. Michael Rukman Rodrigopulle from St. Philip Neri Parish
Thopua. Both belong to the Arch-Diocese of Colombo.
Presently, there are eight Capuchin Friars from Karnataka and three from
Tamilnadu Southern province working in Sri Lanka. There are three formation
houses and one mission house. They are involved mainly in the formation of
Pakistani and Sri Lankan student brothers and also render pastoral services
at various places.
