OBLATES RE-ENTER THE FIELD OF EDUCATION IN ANURADHAPURA
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“The Catholic Church continues to impart education to children of all Religions through their Schools and the Holy Family Sisters and the Oblates who had been pioneers in this field already in Anuradhapura many years ago through their schools namely Holy Family Convent (which is now Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya) and through St. Joseph’s College. The Catholic schools also insist on discipline and good behaviour in the students.” said Bishop Norbert Andradi, OMI, Bishop of Anuradhapura, at the blessing and laying of the foundation stones for the building of the new Mazenod College in Anuradhapura on May 15.
May 15, 2024, is an unforgettable day in the history of the Oblates in Sri Lanka since it was on that day the foundation stones were blessed and laid for the construction of new Mazenod College at Shravasthipura, Anuradhapura. The day began at 10.30 a.m with the prayer recited by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando OMI, invoking God to bless the Foundation stones for the construction of the new College.
On that occasion Fr. Shane de Rosairo, OMI, the Vice-Rector of Mazenod College, in his welcome speech said: “I am delighted to see that we are joined by a wide array of esteemed guests and well-wishers in our audience this morning, who truly add joy and colour to the ambience of this glorious occasion. It is indeed a Red-letter for Mazenod College family of Anuradhapura as this this day will go down in history of Sri Lanka as a quantum leap in the journey that Mazenod College has been treading so far since its humble inauguration at Rajabima Oblate Centre, Anuradhapura, on January 7 in 2019.” He pointed out that Mazenod College at Anuradhapura, the brain-child of the Oblate Congress held in September 2018, is an actualization of the timely need for holistic education felt by the Oblates in Sri Lanka, making a comeback to the field of education in Sri Lanka.
Ven. Batagolle Pangnarathna Thero, Teacher of Presidents’ College and Asst. of Jayanthi Temple, speaking at the function of the Blessing and Laying the Foundation Stone of the new Mazenod College at Anuradhapura said he very much appreciates the spirit and the attitude of Fr. Dileepa Jayamaha in the way he assists the Buddhist children studying at Mazenod College, by his insistence on attending Daham Pasala in the temples.
Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI, in his speech, mentioned that the Catholic Church continues to impart education to children of all Religions through their Schools and that the Holy Family Sisters and the Oblates had been pioneers in this field already in Anuradhapura many years ago through their schools namely Holy Family Convent (which is now Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya) and through St. Joseph’s College. Bishop Norbert mentioned that the Catholic schools insist also on disciple and good behaviour in the students.
Bishop Norbert Andradi recited the prayers and blessed the foundation stones for the construction of the buildings of Mazenod College and they were laid by Fr. Roshan Silva, the Provincial Superior, Bishop Norbert Andradi, the Bishop of Anuradhapura, Batagolle Pangnarathna Thero, Frs. James Jayasinghe, the Vice-Provincial of the Oblates of Colombo, Anton Grecian OMI, the Provincial Treasurer. Among the others who laid foundation stones were: Frs. Shane de Rozayro OMI, Emmanuel Fernando OMI, Alec Roy Fernando, the Vicar General of the diocese of Anuradhapura, Sr. Irene Fernndo, Sr. Mala Fernando HF, Major T.R.C.S Thennakoon, 212 Infantry Bridge, Mr Rasike Melroy and Vasana (our contractors, Chief Engineer of RDA, Major General Nishantha Manage, Mr. Shiroman Joison, Deputy Principal, Gateway College, Negombo, Mr. Punchirala Rathnayake, the president of farmers Association.
Very Rev. Fr. Roshan Silva OMI, the Provincial Superior of the Oblates of Colombo Province addressing the audience praised the untiring commitment of Fr. Dileepa Jayamaha OMI to the apostate of education of the children through Mazenod College since its inception in 2019. He praised also the collaborative spirit of Fr. Shane de Rosayro OMI. He mentioned that it was during administration of the former Oblate Provincial Council that Fr. Irwin Morais OMI, the Provincial and Fr. Christy Silva OMI, the Oblate treasurer, that this project was initiated and that he, as Oblate Provincial together with his Councillors, is committed to the realisation of this project. He thanked Bishop Norbert, the Venerable Buddhist Monks, the parents, teachers, students and everyone present on that occasion.
Fr. Dileepa Jayamaha OMI, the Rector of Mazenod College in his ‘Thanksgiving speech’, said classes began on the 7th January, 2019 with 33 children and 3 teachers in the Rajabima Oblate Centre, at Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura. Fr. Dileepa noted that the Oblates had been committed to the education of children in Sri Lanka since 1847. For example, the Oblates began St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna, St. Henry’s College at Illavalai, in the Northern Province, St. Joseph’s College at Anuradhapura, St. Joseph’s College at Trincomalee and also De Mazenod College, Kandana, and also St. Joseph’s College, St. Peter’s College, and Aquinas University in Colombo. Mindful of the Oblate contribution to education of children in the past, the Oblates at a Congress in 2018 decided to recommence their commitment to education of children. As an outcome of that Oblate Congress, Mazenod College, Anuradhapura had its humble beginning as noted above on 7th January 2019, with the prayer and the blessing of the foundation stone of the new Mazenod College by Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI, the Bishop of Anuradhapura.
Having recommenced education at Mazenod College, our Oblate Superiors with foresight bought a spacious plot of land to promote holistic education. Unfortunately, the Oblates had to face some difficulties about that plot of land. In sorting out the difficulties with the various Departments, Buddha Sasana and Christian Affairs Ministry, several Government Departments and the Farmers’ Society of Shravasthipura, Anuradhapura had been of great assistance to obtain the needed authorisation from the Agrarian Department in November 2023. Fr. Dileepa said that he was very grateful to all the members in the above-mentioned Government Ministries, the Departments and to the members of the Farmers’ Society. He was very grateful also to Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI for his kind assistance.
Fr. Dileepa Jayamaha OMI was very grateful also to the Venerable Buddhist monks, our neighbours and the parents of our students for the trust they have placed in us. Rooted in such a loving trust, we promise to be faithful.
At present, there are 378 students (boys and girls), of whom 297 Buddhists, 44 Catholics, 21 Christians, 14 Muslims and 2 Hindus. Having children at Mazenod College, Anuradhapura, representing all our Religions in Sri Lanka, He said, “we commit ourselves to journey together, in a spirit of affection and solidarity in our apostolate of holistic education, embodying also sports and other useful skills. To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, everyone’s cooperation is needed.”
Concluding his speech, Fr. Dileepa thanked the Venerable monks who were present, Bishop Norbert Andradi, R & V Construction Company, Mr and Mrs. Rasike Melroy and their trustworthy workers, Mr. Duminda Pathirana and co-workers, the priests, the Religious Sisters, the Rev. Brothers, the teachers, parents and the students.
The beautiful dances and the songs of the students on stage captured the attention of the audience which responded with a big ovation.
Fr.Emmanuel Fernando OMI
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