Fr. Cletus Perera installed as Bishop of Ratnapura

Rev. Fr. Cletus Chandrasiri Perera, Superior of the Benedictine Fraternity at Monte Fano, Kandy, and currently the Conventual Prior of the Sylvestro Benedictine Congregation in Sri Lanka, was installed as Bishop of Ratnapura at a simple ceremony on July 28. Bishop Cletus was born in September 1947 and had his early education at Dhavisamara Maha Vidyalaya in Seeduwa. Having entered St. Sylvester's Monastery at Monte Fano in Kandy in January 1964 he was ordained on August 4, 1973 by Rt. Rev. Paul Perera, Bishop of Kandy.

Among his academic qualifications are a Bachelor's degree in Theology from Rome, a Licentiate in Liturgy (Rome) and a diploma in Philosophy. He was appointed Chaplain to Hospitals and Prisons in Kandy and was assistant pastor at Fatima church, Padiwatta, Kundasale. In 1976 he was made the assistant pastor at St. Anthony's church, Wahakotte in the diocese of Kandy.

The new Bishop served as assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Rajagiriya, before becoming the Parish Priest and Administrator at St. Anthony's shrine, Wahakotte. He was made the Vicar General of the diocese of Kandy in 1992 and held the post for nine years. He served as parish priest of St. Anthony's Cathedral, Kandy from 1995 to 1998 while holding the Vicar General's post.

Bishop Cletus Perera was elected to the august position of the Conventual Prior of the Sylvestro-Benedictine Congregation in Sri Lanka on April 25, 2002. He was also the General Manager of the Catholic private schools in Kandy. The new bishop will be the shepherd of the 21,855 Catholics in the diocese of Ratnapura.

He is the third bishop of Ratnapura - Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith was the first, followed by Rt. Rev. Harold Anthony. Rt. Rev. Tilak Jayasundera who was to succeed him resigned due to ill health and Rt. Rev. Cletus Perera was chosen to fill the vacancy.
Our prayerful wishes go to the new bishop to whom we wish Ad Multos Annos and "Chiran Jayathu".