Celebrating 127 years of Opulent Heritage and History of St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10
View(s):“From the bottom of the heart of a servant of our Patron, St.Joseph”.
It gives me immense pleasure in penning down the words on our Alma Mater and praise and thank St.Joseph, our Patron from my bottom of my heart, for guiding and protecting us.
“In Scientia et Virtute”
It has been always the motto of the College, to maintain Josephian excellence in body , mind and spirit. Priority has always been given to value based education in order to achieve ‘Excellence in Education’ thus promoting spiritual and human values , thereby producing good citizens possessing knowledge , skills and aptitude to serve the community in the public and private sectors , in professions and self employments besides to serve the Motherland.
History:
The College was founded in 1896 by French Missionaries lead by Rev. Fr.Christopher-Ernest Bonjean, O.M.I, which stands tall today as one of the leading Schools in Sri Lanka.
No event at St.Joseph’s College is complete without a reference to Archbishop Christopher Ernest Bonjean because he was instrumental in launching the ideal of the need for a Catholic College. He did not live to see his dream realised. However he had appointed for the project, men who knew his mind and his plan and were capable of implementing them. They were Rev.Fathers Charles Collin and Charles Lytton. Subsequently they became the First and the second Rectors of St.Joseph’s College respectively.
Celebration:
On the 2nd of March 2023 St.Josephs’s College, Colombo 10 celebrated its 127 years of excellence in Academic, Sports, Extra Curricular activities and Spiritual Upliftment and thereby producing a galaxy of multi-talented Josephians, who have created ideas that changed the way people learn, live, work and play for the betterment of our Motherland and the universe. But we believe the best of our abilities lies ahead of us. It is for this reason we constantly challenge ourselves in the process. To break into new grounds of achievement and consolidate on our position. To innovate, conceive and make glittering visions of impossibility a reality.
The Secret of Success:
The Pedagogues and the educators of this college, always strive to impart knowledge, instill values, inculcate positive attitudes, develop, sharpen and inspire young minds and transform young Josephians as multi talented exemplary leaders and valuable citizens to our pride nation and the globe.
We are at a Pivotal point in Josephians rich history . We are unusually indebted to all our Reverend Father Rectors, administrators and teachers who have inspired and guided us to be ideal Josephians and citizens of our Motherland. Much of our accomplishments in our lives have come from our association with them.
We had the privilege of having “Education for Life” at our Alma Mater. Our teachers possessed Positive Teaching methodology, in-depth knowledge, skills, talents, innovative techniques, expertise, versatile experience and wisdom.
Hence, we were motivated to work to excel in education, sports and Spiritual Upliftment besides for the value of Peace, harmony, Compassion, forgiveness, brotherhood and love.
We can best pay our debt to our Alma Mater by building a better future for new generations on the framework our forebears established.
Values:
Values give direction to our behaviour, and put meaning in to our existence. The values we hold necessarily blossom forth into action and shape our lives. Education forms, develops and re-shapes values. By the teaching of the national traditions, cultural heritage, and civic sense in the classroom situation, children learn how values are shaped. When the student learns to be obedient, diligent and conscientious, there is a genuine growth of values. Through curricular and co-curricular activities, the school must positively promote values. In the higher forms; through the literary associations, ’interact’ clubs and other societies, a democratic milieu must be fostered by group discussions and critical evaluation of facts. The students must follow the “Triangle of duties”, in other words Respect, Obedience and Responsibility (ROR) to fulfill the students’ motto to lead disciplined and successful lives in this challenging world .
The school must not only concern itself with a creative extension of knowledge, but be engaged in total quality development of Personality.
Considering the above facts, the Josephians are humbled, honoured and privileged to have had the total quality development of Personality by being the students of this sacred Educational Institute.
Recent Achievements:
In spite of several crises including the social, economical and political crises the year 2022 was a resounding success for us in terms of excellent and outstanding performances in Academic and , Sports affairs.
Academic Excellence:At the G.C.E Ordinary Level and G.C.E Advanced Level examinations held in 2021, there were significant achievements made by the students, thus maintaining the high standards in Academic affairs at the College.
Excellence in Sports: St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 was crowned with the awards of many championships in 2022, including the All Island School Championships of Basketball, Football, Swimming (for the 17th consecutive year)and in rugby, became the runners up in the under 19 All Island League Tournement and runners up in the President’s Trophy rugby knock out Tournement and in Hockey, became the runners up in the Western province Inter school tournament. St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 has produced three players to the under 19 World cup cricket tournament in 2022, namely Dunith Wellalage who captained the national under 19 cricket team and Sadeesh Jayawardena and Shevon Daniel.
Also, being a school boy cricketer, Dunith Wellalage played for the national cricket team and all of them brought honour and glory to our Alma Mater. Thus, the College continues to produce dependable and reliable players to represent our Sri Lankan teams in particular the Sri Lankan Cricket team and we are striving to maintain the high standards in the years to come.
In order to maintain the leadership position, the College expect the students, teachers and the staff to always maintain quality and the high standards, Values and work towards translating the vision of the College to a reality by remaining strategically focused besides always being strong and clear in all endeavours.
The College also encourages open communication, transparency,Team work,Multitalented skills and performances, and creates a multicultural and multi linguistic environment in order to maintain peace and harmony in the college, societies and ultimately and eventually in our Motherland.
Appreciations:
We are greatly indebted to our Reverend Father Rectors and teachers past and the present for their noble and yeomen services rendered toward the success of our students and college besides helping and guiding the students to have a brighter future in their lives.
In this context, it is with great joy,happiness and gratitude,we wish to congratulate and sincerely thank our Good Shepherd, present Rector and the President of the Old Boys’ Union, Rev.Fr.Ranjith Andradi for his visionary,vibrant and dynamic leadership,guidance, values, unwavering commitment, immense valuable sermons during the holy masses, wisdom, motivation, inspiration, Devotion to duty, counsel, Daily prayers and possesing humane qualities, thereby maintaining the high standards of the Students, Teachers and the staff besides the college. We are delighted to note that the past values instilled through out in our opulent heritage and history have been perpetuated in students to date.
We wish Rev.Fr.Ranjith Andradi, The Rector and Principal, Reverend Fathers and Reverend Sisters,administrators Educators, Masters and Teachers in charge of the respective associations and teams, coaches, the staff including the Clerical staff, Josephians the young and the old in Sri Lanka and overseas, parents, well wishers as well as the new comers who will join us and commence their journey towards their academic lives, success in their current and future endeavours.
Let us continue to dedicate ourselves to work toward building a better future for our young Josephians and young Sri Lankans in order to make our Motherland to regain its name for “paradise Island.”
“May St.Joseph’s College, which has maintained the highest standards in Education, sports, Values, discipline and character building for 127 years, go forward from strength to strength for many more centuries till the mountains disappear”.
“St.Joseph dear, who never fails to aid us in every needy hour, we praise and thank thee”
(The writer was the Former Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Blue and White Newsletter Committee, An Editorial Board Member of the Centenary and Millennium Blue and White Magazine Committee , A former member of the Association of “Josephian Blues” and the Founder President of Josephian Group of 88’).
- Maruthai Ravindhiran
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