(Sri Lanka) The new Bishop of Kandy, Sri Lanka, Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis paid a visit to our Redemptorist Studentate in Kandy, in the Region of Colombo, on 9th February 2022, just three weeks after his installation in the diocese. After informally conversing with our students, he blessed the new plaques of our entrance. Later he joined at dinner with the Studentate community and had pleasant things to say about the Redemptorists. This is his first visit to a religious community in the diocese as the new Bishop of Kandy.
The Redemptorist major seminarians had been going to Bangalore for their priestly formation ever since the Studentate in Bangalore, India was started in the 1940s. At that time, Redemptorists in India and Sri Lanka belonged to one single Vice-Province. However, having become a Region in 1974, the Sri Lankan Redemptorists began their own Studentate in 1991 in Kandy. Since then, the major seminarians had been going to the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Ampitiya, Kandy for both their philosophy and theology studies.
A few years ago, the Sri Lankan Redemptorist major seminarians were sent to Davao, Philippines, for their theology studies while their philosophy studies continued in Kandy. With the Covid-19 restrictions of international travel, today, once again, they are having both their philosophy and theology students in Kandy. At the moment, there are four students of theology and three students of philosophy at Frangipani. There is also one theology student who is completing his final year in Davao while residing at Frangipani. Three theology students who were already in Davao (before the Covid-19 pandemic engulfed the world), are continuing their theology studies in the Philippines and Australia.
Vimal Tirimanna, CSsR
