Fifty golden years and the rich harvest

"YOU sons of India, be you the ministers of your own salvation", was the motto given by Pope Leo XIII when he established the Papal Seminary of Kandy Mgr. L. Zaleski, the then Apostolic Delegate for South Asia was entrusted with the task of founding this seminary for the higher education of the clergy in these countries and he after visiting several sites finally selected Ampitiya to construct this prestigious institute.

The building work and the management was entrusted by them to the Jesuit Fathers of the Ranchi province who were known for the very successful missionary work done there. Thus the Seminary was declared open in 1893 with a small batch of students.

The Jesuit Fathers did an excellent job, training over 700 priests from all parts of India and Sri Lanka during the period of its existence here in Kandy till 1955 when the Papal Seminary was shifted to Pune on the request of the Bishops of India as the students found it extremely difficult to come to Sri Lanka after the gaining of Independence both by Sri Lanka and India.

The Jesuit Fathers gave an all round formation to the students, so that it was able to produce also over 60 Bishops of India serving dioceses in all parts of India.

From the time of the plan to shift the Seminary to Pune began to be discussed, the Archbishop of Colombo Mgr. Thomas Cooray began negotiations with the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and the Oblate Superior General to open a National Seminary for Sri Lanka occupying the buildings vacated by the Papal Seminary.

The shifting of the Papal Seminary was indeed a blessing for the church both in India and Sri Lanka. For India, it was indeed an anomaly to train its future priests housed in a foreign land, especially in the aftermath of the rise of nationalism in Independent India.

For Sri Lanka it made possible to have a National Seminary in spacious buildings with much land inherited from the Jesuit administration.

Once the Holy See approved the project, the management of the National Seminary was entrusted to the Oblate Congregation who ran it until 1972 when the Bishop's Conference in Sri Lanka decided to take it over and run it with a staff drawn from the dioceses and religious congregations.

The Oblate Fathers were already running St. Bernard's Seminary in Borella and therefore the staff there along with the students and a few Seminarians left behind by the Papal Seminary, the Oblate Scholastics and the Sylvestro-Benedictines formed the nucleus of this National Seminary.

The solemn inauguration took place on September 15, 1955 in the presence of the entire hierarchy with at the moment consisted of six bishops of the six dioceses.

At the Convocation, Very Rev. Fr. Fredrick Sackett OMI, an American Oblate was installed as the 1st Rector of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, a name suggested by Archbishop Cooray.

Being an educationalist and Liturgist, the new Rector began several improvements to the building since in many aspects the old seminary had very antiquated systems. During his Rectorship of 8 years Fr. Sackett laid a solid foundation for the National Seminary.

The inauguration of a National Seminary could be considered as one of the most significant events in the history of the Church in Sri Lanka. As we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of this institution, looking back, we can see the truth of the above statement.

This Seminary brought the Brothers of all the diocese and the main religious congregations together in their years of formation for the priesthood.

Thus priests of the South and the North, East and West lived together and worked together and so they could go to any part of the country and meet friends during their priesthood.

Under a galaxy of illustrious Rectors - Fr. Sackett OMI, Fr. Forbes OMI, Jim Cooke OMI, Fr. Pandithratne (the first diocesan priest Rector), Fr. Joe de Mel, Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, Fr. Marius Peiris (now Bishop), Fr. Valence Mendis (now Bishop) and the present Rector Fr. J. D. Anthony, the National Seminary has marched forward and during these past 50 years it has produced a rich harvest of over 1,100 priests serving in all the dioceses of Sri Lanka and even abroad as missionaries spreading the Gospel, and 'preparing a prefect people' for the kingdom of God as the motto of the seminary runs 'Parare plebem perfectam'.

The seminary can truly be proud of its achievements as it has produced the Bishops of all the dioceses in Sri Lanka and also an Apostolic Nuncio in Indonesia. This truly fulfills the expectation of Pope Leo XIII when he said 'You sons of India, be you the Ministers of your own salvation'.

According to a decision of the Bishops' Conference, in order to make the formation more effective and to have a better personal care of the students according to their particular needs in the year 2000, the Philosophate was separated and new buildings were put up and put under the charge of a Director and a separate set of formatters.

The first two years are spent in this philosophate and after an year of discernment, spent out in the world, they proceed to the theologate for a 4 year course in Theology.

As we celebrate the golden jubilee of this illustrious institute rejoicing over its achievement during the past 50 years, we thank God and Our Lady of Lanka for the many blessings received by the seminary.

Also the generous contribution received from various benefactors are gratefully remembered. Several bands of dedicated formatters and professors have contributed much to the spiritual, intellectual and human formation of these priests which is respectfully remembered.

The seminary could not exist if not for the sweat and sacrifices of the many members of the minor staff who labour day and night to support the formation of future priests.

It has to be proudly mentioned that the majority of these are non Christians, a few of them having served over 50 years when religion has never being a problem to be faithful to their work. God will surely bless them and their families.

As we mark 50 golden years of the national seminary, let it be also the beginning of a new era which will produce many more priest sons to bring the message of peace and unity and fraternity to a badly divided nation. Dear Alma Mater 'Ad multos annos' we joyfully wish you.

- Fr. Alex Dassanayake