In a year marked by both celebrations and challenges, Our Lady of Lanka National Seminary in Sri Lanka continues to stand as a beacon of hope for the Catholic Church in south Asia. With 218 seminarians currently studying for the 2024/2025 academic year, representing all 12 Sri Lankan dioceses and 13 different religious congregations, the seminary maintains its position as a truly national institution of formation.
A milestone year
The year of 2024 marked the 70th anniversary of the seminary’s academic institution, a milestone that reflects its enduring impact on the Church in Sri Lanka. Fr Quintus, the seminary Rector shares:
‘The history of the National Seminary is a story of God’s unfailing and benevolent love for the people in this country. During the last 70 years, the National Seminary has given birth to 1700 priests for the mission of the Church. Among them 21 are Bishops and 1 Cardinal… All these men of God have nourished the faith of our people and kept it alive to build the vibrant Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, that we are today.’
The year saw significant progress in formation, with 32 new priests ordained – 17 diocesan and 15 religious. Additionally, the seminary celebrated various stages of formation, including 22 first-year theologians being accepted as candidates to the priesthood, 24 second-year students receiving the ministry of Lector, and 11 third-year students being conferred with the Ministry of Acolyte.
Exploring theology
This year, the seminary launched the Living Faith Symposium, bringing together academics from various theological faculties across Sri Lanka. The inaugural event, themed ‘Relevance of Religious Faith in a Secularised Society,’ saw 21 scholars presenting research papers, demonstrating the seminary’s commitment to engaging with contemporary pastoral challenges. The selected research papers of the symposium will be published in Living Faith, the theological journey of the National Seminary
Resilience amid challenges
Sri Lanka, as a whole, is still reeling from the aftershocks of the global COVID-19 pandemic. High inflation rates have seen food prices spiral upwards. While facing significant challenges, including these economic pressures and agricultural setbacks, the seminary community has shown remarkable resilience.
The institution is actively working towards greater self-sufficiency, with plans to modernise its 75-year-old dairy farm. This initiative aims not only to meet the seminary’s needs but also to continue its tradition of supporting local families. Historically, shares Fr Quintus, the Rector of the seminary:
‘…at least 50 children in the village were fed with the milk of our farm.’
Could you help?
In mission dioceses in Africa and Asia, it costs at least £700 a year to train a student for the priesthood. Even though their families and parish communities do everything they can to support them, and the Seminaries do their best to grow their own food, it’s a struggle to cover the full costs of seminary training.
Missio has been set a unique task by the Holy Father, to channel help from our supporters in England and Wales to help build the future of our Church. With your help, we can meet the practical needs of seminarians in mission areas like Kenya, so that no vocation is turned away.
Looking forward: A journey of hope
As the Church journeys through this Jubilee Year, the seminary embraces Pope Francis’ call to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Fr Quintus emphasises this transformative vision, stating that:
‘…as the academic community of the National Seminary, we strive hard to abound in hope “so that we may bear credible and attractive witness to the faith and love that dwell in our hearts”.’
The seminary is also actively engaging with the Church’s synodal journey. Fr Quintus notes:
‘One of the best places to begin to transform the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka to be truly synodal is the National Seminary, where future church leaders are formed.’
This commitment to formation for a synodal Church demonstrates the seminary’s dedication to preparing priests who will lead the Church into a more inclusive, diverse, and participatory future.
With your help
The National Seminary continues to play a vital role in Sri Lankan society, where Catholics represent a minority within the Christian population of 7.4%. Through its formation of future priests and engagement with contemporary challenges, the seminary remains committed to its mission of forming missionary priests for the third millennium, configured to Jesus Christ and rooted in his Word and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
With your help, we can make sure that all vocations are given a chance to flourish. Watch the film of Br Jude, who has benefitted from sponsorship through Missio’s Seminarian Sponsorship Programme:
If you would like to find out more about sponsoring a seminarian like Br Jude, click here>>