The Sylvestro Benedictine Congregation, a monastic order rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict and founded by St. Sylvester Guzzolini in the 13th century, has elected Rt. Rev. Dr. Shamindra Jayawardena OSB as its new Abbot General (Superior General) on 2025-05-28. He is now the 119th successor to St. Sylvester, taking up the spiritual leadership of a centuries-old community devoted to prayer, fraternity, and apostolic service.
Fr. Shamindra is a monk of the Sylvestro Benedictine Priory in Sri Lanka. A scholar and dedicated priest, he holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Peradeniya, a Licentiate in Psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (magna cum laude), and degrees in Theology and Philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University.
In addition to serving as a Psychology Lecturer at the University of Peradeniya and pursuing doctoral studies in Psychology at the American Girne University in Turkey, Fr. Shamindra is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). Pastoral ministry has taken him to parishes in Wahacotte, Puttalam, and Thoduwawa.
Fr. Shamindra is also a musician and composer of liturgical hymns, devoted to preserving the sacred tradition of Gregorian chant while incorporating the beauty of Sri Lankan musical heritage.
The Sylvestro Benedictine monks follow the Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia, who in the 6th century laid down a way of life centered on prayer, work, and community. His spiritual vision later inspired St. Sylvester Guzzolini, who in 1231 founded the Congregation in Montefano, Italy.
The monks live a coenobitic (community-based) monastic life, combining contemplation with pastoral and missionary work. Their charism emphasizes seeking God, serving the Church, and building unity through prayer and fraternal life.
The Sylvestro Benedictine Congregation began its Sri Lankan mission on 1845-08-14 under Propaganda Fidei, with Fr. Giuseppe Maria Bravi as the first monk to arrive. The community quickly became a pillar of the Church in Sri Lanka, entrusted with the southern vicariate of Colombo in 1857, and later with the newly created Diocese of Kandy in 1883.
Though administrative responsibility was handed over to the diocesan clergy in 1972, the monks continue to serve the Church in many ways. Today, the Montefano Monastery in Kandy remains the central house of the Sylvestro Benedictines in Sri Lanka.
Notable institutions and missions include:
● Montefano Monastery, Kandy – the principal house of formation
● St. Benedict’s Monastery, Adisham, Haputale – a serene monastic retreat
● Sacred Heart Church, Rajagiriya – a Benedictine parish mission
● St. Anthony’s Shrine, Wahacotte – a place of pilgrimage and prayer
● St. Clement’s College, Kandy – a formation and education center
● St. Anthony’s College, Kandy – a prominent Catholic school
The Archdiocese of Colombo extends its heartfelt congratulations to Rt. Rev. Dr. Shamindra Jayawardena OSB on his appointment as Abbot General. His election is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to the vitality of the local Church and the enduring contribution of the Sylvestro Benedictine monks to the life of the Church in Sri Lanka and beyond.
“Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus – That in all things, God may be glorified.”
— Motto of the Rule of St. Benedict