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NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOMBO |
Archbishop warned priests against temptations of “spiritual worldliness and clericalism” |
Archdiocese of Colombo Welcomes Twelve New Priests on 16 September 2023 |
PRESS RELEASE IN REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTARY AIRED ON CHANNEL 4 TELEVISION NETWORK OF BRITAIN ON THE 2019 EASTER SUNDAY BOMB ATTACKS |
Wesak Celebration - "It is the responsibility of all people to promote harmony and concord among all the different religions" His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith |
+REQUIESCAT IN PACE+ Kurukulasuriya Augustine Nicholas Fernando (Class of 1970) |

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith

Archbishop Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith

09th Archbishop of Colombo (05.08.2009 - to date)
B.Th., L. S. S. (Rome), Diploma in Biblical Studies (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
Fluent in Sinhala, English, Tamil, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Indonesian Bhasa languages
Justice of the Peace for the whole island of Sri-Lanka
Member of the University Council of the Sabaragamuwa State University, Sri Lanka

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  • 1947

    15th November, 1944
    Was born at Polgahawela, Sri Lanka
    • Father - Patabendige Don William
    • Mother - Hettiarachchige Mary Winifred Perera
    • Siblings: Three sisters, Eldest in the family
    Scholastic Studies
    • Roman Catholic Boys’ School & De la Salle College Lunupokuna, Mutwal, Colombo 15
    Ecclesiastical Studies
    • St. Aloysius Seminary, Borella, Colombo 8
    • The National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy

  • 1974

    15th November, 1944
    Baccalaureate in Theology, Urban University Summa Cum Laude Probatus

  • 1975

    29th June, 1975
    Priestly Ordination at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome by His Holiness Pope Paul VI

  • 1976

    • Diploma Course in Biblical Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    • Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy (Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide)
    • Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, Italy
    • Diploma Certificate in Biblical Studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  • 1978

    • LSS - Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures (LSS) at Pontifical Biblical Institute (Rome)
    • Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy (Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide)
    • Magna Cum Laude Probatus
    • October - Assistant Parish Priest of Pamunugama / Kepungoda / Dungalpitiya

  • 1980

    2nd June, 1980
    Spiritual Director Daham Sevana

  • 1981

    4th May, 1981
    Acting Parish Priest of Payagala
    3rd August, 1981
    Parish Priest of Payagala

  • 1982

    20th June, 1982
    Staff Member Pre-Philosophate Daham Sevana

  • 1983

    10th January, 1983
    Lecturer (Catechetics) Kalutara Museaus Training College
    29th April, 1983
    Parish Priest of Kalutara
    September - Appointed National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies
    Professor in Sacred Scripture at the Sinhala Theology Faculty, Colombo (Blessed Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Nikethanaya)

  • 1984

    13th August, 1984
    Archdiocesan Co-ordinator for Human Development
    Archdiocesan Director of Caritas Colombo - Seth Sarana

  • 1985

    20th February, 1985
    Elected to the Priests' Senate as Priests' representative of the Kalutara Region
    15th February, 1985
    Archdiocesan Chaplain St. Vincent De Paul Society
    1st September, 1985
    Parish Priest of Kolonnawa

  • 1987

    20th October, 1987
    Member of the College of Consultors
    20th October, 1987
    Member of the Council of Priests

  • 1988

    1988 to 1991 - Secretary of the Catholic National Commission for Missionary Activity, Sri-Lanka

  • 1990

    Asian Regional Meetings of the PMS
    6th to 10th Sept. 1990 - Monte Fano, Kandy

  • 1991

    17th June, 1991
    Appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo and the Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi
    31st August, 1991
    Episcopal Consecration by Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta.

  • 1992

    1992 to 1995 - Chairman of the Catholic National Commission for Missionary Activity, Sri-Lanka Asian Regional Meetings of the PMS
    16th to 22nd September 1992 - Indonesia, Jakarta

  • 1993

    1992 to 1995 - Coordinator/Chairman, National Steering Committee for the Pope’s Visit to Sri-Lanka & Beatification of Blessed Joseph Vaz

  • 1994

    Asian Regional Meetings of the PMS
    10th to 16th September 1994 - Seoul, Korea

  • 1995

    2nd November, 1995
    Appointed as the Bishop of Ratnapura
    1995 to 2001 - Chairman of the National Commission for Justice, Peace & Human Development, Sri-Lanka
    1995 to 2001 - Secretary General, Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka

  • 1996

    5th January, 1991
    Installation as the Bishop of Ratnapura
    Asian Regional Meetings of the PMS
    4th to 14th September 1996 - Tokyo, Japan

  • 2001

    1st October, 2001
    Appointed as the Adjunct Secretary, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican.
    2001 to 2004 - Adjunct Secretary, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican
    2001 to 2004 - President, Pontifical Mission Societies, International
    l9th to 13th September - Exposure Programme for Asian Bishops at Colombo

  • 2002

    2002 to 2009 - Member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses
    16th to 24th May 2002 - Annual General Assembly of the Superior Council of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome

  • 2003

    8th to16th May 2003 - Annual General Assembly of the Superior Council of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome

  • 2004

    29th April, 2004
    Appointed as the Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and Timor East
    29th April, 2004
    Appointed as the Titular Archbishop of Umbriatico
    2004 to 2005 - Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and Timor East

  • 2005

    10th December, 2005
    Appointed as the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Vatican
    2005 to 2009 - Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Vatican

  • 2006

    FABC Office for Evangelization Chaired the meeting
    1st December, 2006
    International Study Day on the Sacred Liturgy

  • 2007

    FABC Office for Evangelization Chaired the meeting
    1st December, 2007
    International Study Day on the Sacred Liturgy
    INTERNATIONAL AWARDS - Thomas Aquinas Medallion in the field of religious education, Thomas Aquinas College, California, USA

  • 2008

    FABC Office for Evangelization Chaired the meeting
    29th November, 2008
    International Study Day on the Sacred Liturgy
    INTERNATIONAL AWARDS - 7th International Award “Giuseppe Sciacca” by the President of the Republic of Italy for achievements in the cultural field

  • 2009

    16th June, 2009
    Appointed as the Archbishop of Colombo
    5th August, 2009
    Installed as the 09th Archbishop of Colombo, at St. Lucia's Cathedral, Kotahena, Colombo 13.

  • 2010

    20th November, 2010
    Appointed as a Cardinal
    20th November, 2010
    Appointed as the Cardinal Priest of San Lorenzo, Lucina
    • President, Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka
    • Chairman, Catholic National Commission for Priests, Religious, Seminaries, and Secular Institutes

  • 2015

    • Coordinator/Chairman, National Steering Committee for the Pope’s visit and the Canonization of St. Joseph Vaz.
    • Member of the Restricted Committee of the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS)
    • Member, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Office for Evangelization (OE)
    • Coordinator – Children’s Desk Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Office for Evangelization (OE)
    • Member of the Supreme Committee of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Rome
    PUBLICATIONS
    • Introduction to the Pentateuch (Sinhala) - Published by DDN Publications Colombo

OUR AUXILIARY BISHOPS

Bishop Sampathawaduge Maxwell Grenville Silva

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo
B.Th (Rome) B.A. (Hons) PGDE (Dip) (N.I.E.) M.A. (Sociology)
M.Ed, Diploma in Accountancy

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  • 1953

    27th September, 1953
    Was born at Willorawatte, Sri Lanka

  • 1981

    25th July, 1981
    Ordained as a Priest in Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • 1981

    Assistant Parish Priest - Dalugama

  • 1983

    Parish Priest - Mabola

  • 1993

    Resident - Kerawalapitiya

  • 1997

    St. Joseph';s Grand Pass School

  • 2001

    Principal - St. Thomas'; Kotte

  • 2011

    28th November, 2011
    Appointed asA Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • 2011

    28th November, 2011
    Appointed as Titular Bishop of Lesina

  • 2012

    11th February, 2012
    Ordained as Bishop Titular Bishop of Lesina

Bishop Jayakody Aratchige Don Anton Jayakody

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo
B.Th. (Rome), L.Ph. (Rome)

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  • 1958

    2nd October, 1958
    Was born at Pamunugama., Sri Lanka

  • 1985

    27th July, 1985
    Ordained as a Priest of Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • 1985

    Parish Priest - Wewala Parish

  • 1987

    Daham Sevana

  • 1990

    Parish Priest - Pannipitiya Parish

  • 1991

    Studies Rome

  • 1993

    National Seminary

  • 1995

    Parish Priest - Halpe Parish

  • 1996

    Parish Priest - Welivita Parish

  • 1998

    National Seminary

  • 2003

    Director - Philosophate

  • 2005

    Rector - National Seminary

  • 2011

    Vocations Director

  • 2016

    Rector Joseph Vaz Seminary

  • 2018

    4th April, 2018
    Appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • 2018

    4th April, 2018
    Appointed as Titular Bishop of Mulli

  • 2018

    23rd June, 2018
    Ordained as Bishop Titular Bishop of Mulli

Bishop Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo
B.Th. (Rome), B.Math. (Jaffna), Dip.Ed. (Colombo), M.Ed. (UK) Ph.D (Jaffna)

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  • 1966

    23rd September, 1966
    Was born at Jaffna, Sri Lanka

  • 2000

    16th September, 2000
    Ordained as a Priest of Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • 2000

    Staff - St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 04

  • 2006

    St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

  • 2007

    St. Joseph's College, Maradana, Colombo 10.

  • 2008

    St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 04

  • 2014

    Vice Rector - St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 04

  • 2019

    Rector - St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

  • 2020

    13th July, 2020
    Appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • 2020

    13th July, 2020
    Appointed as Titular Bishop of Materiana

  • 2020

    29th August, 2020
    Ordained as Bishop Titular Bishop of Materiana

Past Archbishops

Archbishop Christophe Ernest Bonjean, OMI

21 Sep 1823 - 03 Aug 1892

Archbishop André-Théophile Mélizan, OMI

27 May 1844 - 27 Jun 1905

Archbishop Antone Coudert, OMI

17 Mar 1861 - 31 Mar 1929

Archbishop Pierre-Guillume, OMI

23 Nov 1882 - 04 Jun 1937

Archbishop Jean-Marie Masson, OMI

21 Mar 1876 - 28 Jul 1947

Archbishop Thomas Benjamin Cardinal Cooray, OMI

28 Dec 1901 - 29 Oct 1988

Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando

06 Dec 1932 - 10 Apr 2020

Archbishop Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis

12 Dec 1932

Archbishop Emeritus