Pope appoints new auxiliary bishop in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Pope Francis on  Wednesday appointed a new auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka.  Father J. D. Anthony Jayakody is the new Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo.  He takes over from Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Marius Joseph Peiris who has stepped down having reached the canonical retirement age of 75 in 2016.   

Fr. J.D. Jayakody, a cleric of Colombo, 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 October 2, 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 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 July 27, 1985, for Colombo Archdiocese.  Since then he has held the following responsibilities:

1985 – 1986         Staff member of the Intermediate Seminary of Kalutara

1986 – 1987         Parish priest of Wewala

1987 – 1990         Staff member of the Intermediate Seminary of Kalutara

1990 – 1991         Parish priest of Pannipitiya

1991 – 1993         Went to Rome, Italy, for higher studies

1993 – 1995         Economer of the National Seminary of Kandy

1995 – 1996         Parish priest of Halpe

1996 – 1998         Parish priest of Welivita

1998 – 2003         Formator at the National Seminary of Kandy

2003 – 2005         Director of the philosophy department of the National Seminary of Kandy

2005 – 2011         Rector of the National Seminary of Kandy

Since 2011           Episcopal Vicar for priestly studies of Colombo Archdiocese and rector of St. Mary Vianney Archdiocesan Seminary for adult vocations.