Media Release
Udupi, Sep 24: St Pio Delegation, Sri Lanka, joyfully celebrated the silver jubilee of twenty-five years of Capuchin presence from Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, in Sri Lanka on September 23 at Padre Pio Nivasa, Pallansena.
The celebration was held on the feast of the delegation’s patron, St Pio of Pietrelcina, making the occasion a significant moment of thanksgiving for god’s blessings and guidance throughout the past twenty-five years.
The silver jubilee was not merely a celebration of twenty-five years of institutional presence. It was an occasion to remember with gratitude the friars who pioneered the mission, the brothers who received formation in Sri Lanka, the communities and institutions that welcomed the Capuchins, and all those who, in various ways, contributed to the growth of the Capuchin presence in the country. Above all, it was a moment to acknowledge the providence of God that has accompanied the Delegation throughout these twenty-five years.
Solemn Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration
The jubilee celebration centred around the Solemn Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Rt Dr Maxwell Silva, Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo. The celebration was honoured by the presence of Fr Robin Victor D’Souza, provincial minister of the Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka, together with the vicar provincial and mission secretary, Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza; councillors - Fr Santosh Naveen D’Souza, Fr Charles Furtado, and Fr Antony Raj.
Also present were the former provincial ministers, Fr Alwyn Dias, presently provincial minister of St Fidelis Province, North India; Fr Jossy Fernandes; Fr Arokiya Dass, provincial minister of Mary Queen of Peace Province, South Tamil Nadu; and Fr Jeric Quintas, the delegate.
The gathering was further graced by the presence of Fr Anura Sri Kanal, parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Pallansena; Fr Arun Kumar, provincial delegate; together with fathers, brothers and sisters, benefactors, friends, and well-wishers.
In his homily, the bishop reflected with gratitude on the twenty-five-year journey of the Capuchin presence in Sri Lanka. He recalled how the friars came to Sri Lanka in response to the needs of the Church, particularly in the area of formation, and gradually became an important presence through their pastoral, educational, spiritual, and missionary services.
As the delegation enters the next chapter of its journey, he urged the friars to carry forward the legacy of the past with renewed faith and commitment, becoming, in the spirit of St Pio, humble instruments of God’s love and mercy.
Silver jubilee felicitation programme
Following the Eucharistic celebration, a short felicitation programme was held in the same premises. Addressing the gathering, Rt Dr Maxwell Silva, auxiliary bishop of Colombo, expressed appreciation for the service and contribution of the Capuchin friars in Sri Lanka. His message encouraged the friars to continue their mission with dedication, fraternity, and a spirit of service to the Church and the people.
Fr Arun Kumar, provincial delegate, presented the report of the twenty-five-year journey of the St Pio delegation, recalling the important milestones and paying tribute to the friars and collaborators who contributed to the mission over the years. Fr Robin Victor, provincial minister of Holy Trinity Province, addressed the gathering and expressed his gratitude to all who had supported and accompanied the Capuchin mission in Sri Lanka.
He thanked the Church authorities, friars, benefactors, friends, and well-wishers for their continued cooperation and support.
The distinguished guests and dignitaries were subsequently felicitated as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation for their presence and contribution to the Jubilee celebration.
The jubilee souvenir was also released by the dignitaries to recall and cherish this beautiful journey of service. This souvenir preserves the history, memories, photographs, messages, and reflections connected with twenty-five years of Capuchin presence in Sri Lanka. It stands as a lasting testimony to the people and communities who have shared in and supported the journey of the St Pio Delegation. Another meaningful moment was the distribution of certificates to students who had successfully completed English language classes held by the delegation.
Brief report about Capuchin mission in Sri Lanka - A journey of grace and legacy of love
The silver jubilee was an opportunity to remember the remarkable journey that began in 2001, when the Capuchins of Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, responded to the need for formation of young Capuchin friars from Pakistan in Sri Lanka. It was born from the spirit of international fraternity when the then minister general, Br John Corriveau, appealed to the Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka to assist the then vice province of Pakistan in the formation of its novices.
Responding generously to this call, the provincial minister, Br Vincent Gabriel Furtado, together with his Council and in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Colombo, laid the foundations of what has today become a vibrant missionary Delegation. Nicholas Fernando, the Archbishop of Colombo, welcomed the capuchins with open arms. With the necessary ecclesiastical permissions and the collaboration of the Archdiocese of Colombo, the Capuchins began their mission of formation and pastoral service.
Establishment of the fraternities
The first Capuchin residence was Padre Pio Ashram, Katuwapitiya, generously made available by the TOR brothers. It was canonically established as a Novitiate on June 28, 2001, with Br Liguori Noronha as the first novice master and seven novices from Pakistan. After a brief period at Dalupatha, the friars moved to Padre Pio Nivasa, Pallansena, purchased in 2003. It served as the Novitiate from 2004 to 2006 and later as a formation and administrative house. The need for a permanent novitiate led to the establishment of St Pio Friary, Mawila, which was inaugurated on September 8, 2007.
With the generous assistance of the Province of Belgium, this house became the principal centre of Capuchin formation. Since 2023, it has served as the Post-Novitiate House. St Francis of Assisi House, Ampitiya, was established to provide philosophical and theological formation. The present house was blessed and inaugurated on February 6, 2010.
The friars remain deeply grateful to the national seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Kandy, for its continued academic and pastoral collaboration. The fourth fraternity, St Joseph Vaz Friary, Madurankuliya, was established on September 19, 2019. A new friary was constructed with the assistance of Economic Solidarity, Rome, and inaugurated on December 13, 2024. Along with pastoral ministry, the fraternity and its orchard contribute to the sustenance of the delegation and provide brothers in formation with valuable pastoral and manual work experience.
Growth and milestones
The first major milestone was the decennial celebration of the Capuchin Presence in Sri Lanka, held on September 23, 2011 at Pallansena, presided over by his excellency Rt Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka. The mission, initially established for the formation of Pakistani Capuchin brothers, also became a fertile ground for local vocations. Fr Nishanka Perera and Fr Rukman became the first Sri Lankan Capuchin priests on February 6, 2016, followed by Fr Tiron Jesus Fernando, the third Sri Lankan Capuchin priest, on May 11, 2019. Their ordinations remain significant milestones in the history of the Delegation.
Over the past twenty-five years, more than thirty-two Indian missionary friars have served the mission, each contributing generously to its growth and development. More than one hundred brothers from Pakistan have received formation at different stages and are now serving the Church in various parts of the world.
Ministries and apostolates
Formation continues to remain the primary mission of the delegation, encompassing postulancy, novitiate, post-novitiate, philosophy and theology. At the same time, the friars and brothers actively participate in parish ministry, pastoral service at major shrines, retreats, recollections, preaching, confessions, spiritual direction and charitable activities. The brothers regularly serve the elderly, children, poor families and people in need.
During times of national crisis—including the tsunami, Easter Sunday bombings, economic crisis and recent floods—the friars have responded through pastoral and charitable assistance. Their formation also includes manual work, agricultural activities and direct engagement with the lives and struggles of ordinary people. The delegation gratefully acknowledges its collaboration with the Archdiocese of Colombo, the dioceses of Chilaw and Kandy, the national seminary, religious congregations and numerous ecclesial institutions that have supported its mission throughout these twenty-five years.
Words of gratitude
On this silver jubilee, St Pio Delegation offer profound thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity, through the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph, St Francis of Assisi, St Pio of Pietrelcina and all the saints.
St Pio Delegation express sincere gratitude to major superiors, the general Curia, the Office of Economic Solidarity, the Mission Department, the Holy Trinity Province, the Province of Belgium, the Mariam Siddeeqa Custody of Pakistan, and all those who have accompanied and supported this mission.
Delegation gratefully acknowledges His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, the bishops of Sri Lanka, and the major superiors of religious congregations for their fatherly care, guidance and collaboration. Delegation remain especially thankful to the provincial ministers and councils of the Holy Trinity Province, pioneers, all the Indian missionary friars who served in Sri Lanka, and Capuchin brothers from St Joseph Vaz delegation and Tamil Nadu for their fraternal support.
Above all, we remember with gratitude our benefactors, well-wishers, friends and collaborators, whose prayers, sacrifices and generosity have sustained this mission. As Delegation celebrate 25 years of Capuchin presence in Sri Lanka (2001–2026), we look to the future with renewed faith, hope and commitment, seeking to remain faithful to the Gospel and to the spirit of St Francis of Assisi and St Pio of Pietrelcina.