Pope appoints new auxiliary bishop in Colombo

Friday, 6 April 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pope Francis appointed Father J. D. Anthony Jayakody as the new auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka yesterday (4 April), the Vatican said.

Father Jayakody will take over from Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Marius Joseph Peiris who has stepped down, having reached the canonical retirement age of 75 in 2016.

Fr. Jayakody has been the Episcopal Vicar for priestly formation and rector of St. Mary Vianney Archdiocesan Seminary. With his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop, he has been assigned the Titular See of Mulli.

Born on 2 October 1958 in Pamunugama, Fr. Jayakody entered the minor seminary of St. Aloysius in 1975. In 1977, he entered the Intermediate Seminary in Kalutara and the following year, he began his philosophical studies at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Kandy.

After completing his theological studies, he was ordained a priest on 27 July 1985 for Colombo Archdiocese.