Holy Family Convent, Colombo – A Hundred Years

[February 14, 2003 - 8.00 GMT] 

Holy Family Convent, Colombo – one of the leading girls’ schools in the country - celebrated their Centenary this month. Monday 3rd February 2003 saw Familians past and present; several thousand of them, gathered at the school to mark the event.

It was the Vicar Apostolic of Jaffna, Stephen Semeria who invited Abbe Pierre Benevenur Noailles, the founder of the Holy Family Congregation, to send a mission to Sri Lanka. When a small band of Sisters arrived in the country in 1862, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was the first Asian Mission of the Holy Family. Their ship anchored in the southern port of Galle and the group went all the way to the northern city of Jaffna.

After Jaffna and the islands in the North, the Sisters of the Holy Family proceeded to establish more Convents and Schools in the towns of Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Wennappuwa and several other towns in the North Central and Western Provinces. The Convent at Bambalapitiya in Colombo founded in 1903 became the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Holy Family Association in the country.

Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku launched a stamp to mark the school’s centenary. The stamp is priced at Rs.4.50.

Holy Family Convent also marked their Centenary with the launch of their website: http://www.hfcb.lk/ to link Familians throughout the world.

Religious services both morning and evening underlined the essential spiritual formation imparted to the students. The Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis, presided over a concelebrated mass at 5.30 p.m. The school quadrangle was packed with Familians past and present along with a multitude of well. Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Bishop Marius Peiris presided over the services in the morning.

The principal Rev. Sr. M Canice and Rev. Sr. Kumudini Dassanayake, the Provincial of the Holy Family Sisters addressed the gathering. A song specially written for the occasion was sung in all three languages by a group of students.

The night was soon aglow with little lamps in the hands of all Familians. The history of the school and the founding of the Holy Family Community by Abbe Pierre Benevenur Noailles was enacted by students in a graceful ballet.

Before the evening’s festivities closed, the tempo increased with some party music and a beautiful display of fireworks.

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Last Updated Date: February 14, 2003  - 8.00 GMT.