Father W.L.A.Don Peter - Rector at St.Joseph's during my time.

Rev. Fr. Don Peter came from a very humble background. His father was a farmer. Their village was close to the city of Negombo in the West coast of Sri Lanka. When someone asked him why he became a priest with all those distinguished qualifications? His short reply had been that it was "God’s decision and God has already planned my life".

Fr. Welgama Lekam Appuhamilage Don Peter was born on September 25, 1916 at Kondegammulla, Katana. After a brilliant academic career at Maris Stella College, Negombo - the cradle of many a Catholic priest, he entered St. Aloysious’ Seminary in 1935. He later had his education at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and priestly formation at St. Bernard’s Seminary. He was ordained a priest on March 25 by Dr. J.M. Masson, the then Archbishop of Colombo.

From 1941 to 1946, he served as an Assistant Parish Priest at St. Mary’s Church, Negombo and then at St. Thomas’ Church, Kotte. In 1946, Fr. Don Peter was appointed to the staff of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. He also functioned as the prefect of boarders, prefect of studies and prefect of discipline there.

Fr. Don Peter, who studied Pali on his own at the seminary itself now began to lean towards Oriental studies. While leading a busy life at St. Joseph’s, he spent his leisure hours studying Oriental languages, history and culture.

The Church was not slow to recognise the talents of Fr. Don Peter. In 1950 Archbishop Thomas Cooray sent him abroad for further studies. He studied for one year at the Urbanian University taking up his residence at the College of St. Peter, the Apostle in Rome.

In 1951 Fr. W.L.A. Don Peter proceeded to England and joined the school of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He presented the thesis `A Comparative Study of Buddhism and Christianity in Ceylon Education’ for his PhD at the University of London.

In 1961, Fr. Don Peter was appointed the Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, the leading Catholic school in Sri Lanka. He was the first old Josephian, the first Diocesan Priest and the first Sinhalese to hold the post.

The foremost Catholic scholar of our times passed away on April 24, 2008 at the ripe old age of 91.

Strait of Magellan

Strait of Magellan, in South America's southern tip.

The Strait of Magellan is a navigable sea route separating mainland South America to the north and Tiera del Fuego to the south. The strait is the most important natural passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans but it is considered a difficult route to navigate because of the unpredictable winds and currents and the narrowness of the passage.

A replica of Victoria one of Magellan's ships

Ferdinand Magellan a Portuguese explorer and navigator in the service of Charles I of Spain, became the first European to navigate the strait in 1520 during his global circumnavigation voyage.
On March 22, 1518, the expedition was organized in Valladolid, naming Magellan captain general of the fleet and governor of all the lands discovered, and establishing the privileges of Magellan and his business associate Rui Faleiro. The fleet would become known as the "Armada de las Molucas" or "Fleet of the Moluccas". The expeditionary fleet of five ships set sail from Sanlucar de Barrmeda on September 20, 1519.

Magellan's ships entered the strait on November 1, 1520, All Saints Day, and it was initially called Estrecho de Todos los Santos (Strait of All Saints). Magellan's chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, called it the Patagonian Strait, and others Victoria Strait, commemorating the first ship entering it. Within seven years it was being called Estrecho de Magallanes in honor of Magellan. The Spanish Empire and the Captain General of Chile used it as the southern boundary of their territory.

Map of Magellan strait

U.S. Air Craft Carrier in Magellan Strait

Father Marcelline Jayakody - a legend of his lifetime

Fr. Marcelline Jayakody was born on June 3, 1902 at Dankotuwa in Sri Lanka. He had his early education at a school in Madampe, a village close to Dankotuwa. And, both the villages, Madampe and Dankotuwa are in Chilaw District. He had his secondary education at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. In 1920 he entered St. Bernard’s Seminary and was ordained a priest on December 20, 1927. He had an eventful career replete with ups and downs. He was a priest ahead of the times and all his defeats later turned out to be victories. No other Catholic priest in Sri Lanka had touched the hearts and lives of the people in our country like Fr. Marcelline Jayakody.

There was always the love for national culture in his veins. As a young priest Fr. Marcelline Jayakody was criticized in Church circles for offering some Lotus flowers at the sanctuary at the wedding Mass of one of his relatives. Since then much water has flowed under the bridges in Sri Lanka. Now the national culture is given its due place in the Catholic Church and Fr. Marcelline Jayakody is considered an exponent of indigenous culture.

In the 1940s and 1950s, especially around Independence, there was a national awakening in Sri Lanka. This national consciousness had its effect on the Catholic Church as well. Accordingly Fr. Marcelline Jayakody too began to compose hymns with a national fervour. The outstanding hymns of Fr. Marcelline Jayakody at the time like, ‘Ronata Vadina Bigngu Obay’, ‘Nelum Pipeela Pethi Visireela’ and ‘Suvanda Jale Pipi Kumudiniya’, with their superb lyrics, sweet music and local setting, captivated the hearts of all.

These hymns of Fr. Marcelline Jayakody were simple and close to the people. They are appreciated by even non-Catholics. They contain both Christian aspects and national sentiments. They are a clear example for cultural adaptation in its true perspective.

Fr. Marcelline Jayakody underwent some training at Shanthinikethan, the famous oriental arts centre set up by Rabindranath Tagore. When Fr. Marcelline Jayakody returned to Sri Lanka he was sent to Tolagatty in Jaffna as punishment for leaving the country without the permission of the Church authorities. Later he served as teacher at St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna.

Fr. Marcelline Jayakody made use of his stay in Jaffna to make a study of the Hindu religion and Tamil culture. He wrote a series of articles to the ‘Times of Ceylon’ on Hindu culture and the simple and serene life of the people and the beauty of Jaffna.

In 1953 Fr. Marcelline Jayakody was appointed to the staff of St. Peter’s College, Colombo. And few years later he was transferred to St. Joseph's College where he joined tutorial staff of his Alama Mater.

Continuing his literary work, he published the book, ‘Muthu’, containing the poems in ‘Kaviya’. ‘Mutu’ won for Fr. Marcelline Jayakody the Presidential Award for the best poetry book in 1979 and in 1983 the famous international award, the Magsaysay Prize.

That is not all. Fr. Marcelline Jayakody was the author of several books of prose and poetry, both in Sinhala and in English. He was also a well known journalist who has carried columns in both Catholic and secular newspapers. He was also an active member of the ‘Hela Havula’ for several years. Until his death he was the president of the Sinhala Poets’ Association.

Ven. Dr. Ittapane Dhammalankara Thera has written a book on Fr. Marcelline Jayakody titled ‘Malpale Upan Pansale Piyatuma’. This is the first book in the whole world written by a Buddhist prelate on a Catholic priest.

Fr. Marcelline Jayakody was awarded the Kalasuri title by the state and Kirthi Nandana Pranamaya by the Catholic Church for his outstanding contributions to the arts and culture in Sri Lanka.

The death anniversary of Fr. Marcelline Jayakody OMI, the well known Catholic priest, musician, poet, author, journalist and patriot falls on January 15. A household name in our country and a legend in his lifetime, he passed away on January 15, 1998 . He lived long till the ripe old age of 96.

Sincere to God and sincere to man, Fr. Marcelline Jayakody is the proud boast of Catholics, as a national artist and patriot.

The above is taken from an article written by Mr Lesli Fernando.

My Teacher at St.Joseph's College - A great inspiration

Legend in his life time, Father Marcelline Jayakody, was my English and Sinhala teacher at Grade 10- class. It was a blessing to come under the tutelage of Farther Jayakody and I was inspired to write during the time I was his student. He taught me how to put my thoughts into words, and make great stories. I thank God for the talent, without which it’s not possible to continue on this journey. I started my writing with penning down event of years spent during sailing over the seven seas.

More on the life and works of Father Jayakody will follow.

St Joseph's College - A worthy walk, but my Dad did not like it...

Slowly but steadily I cruised through my studies. I was in grade four, and I had an encounter:  I got a severe caning from my father for walking back home with my brother after school. This was how it happened. We had monthly season tickets to travel by bus. I had mine and my brother's tickets with me all the time. On this particular day, we boarded the bus to school and when the bus conductor came to issue tickets as usual I said "SEASON" meaning that we had a monthly pass. On certain days, mainly because most of the conductors were known to us, they did not ask us to produce the season tickets. My brother and I got off the bus at Darley road and proceeded to school.

After arriving in my class, I checked my pocket for the season tickets and did not find them. It did not take long for me to realize what had happened. I had left the tickets at home. There was no money to pay for the return trip. I confided in one of my cousins who was driven to school by his father. He immediately offered us a lift home. To bring us home his father has to drive on a completely different route almost in the opposite direction. I made up my mind, and said "No, we are walking back home".

After school my cousin met me and I told him that we will walk back home and not to bother about a lift. My brother who was only about eight years old at the time, walked approximately 4 miles back home with me. We arrived home just about 30 minutes later than usual but it was not noticed by my mother and therefore no questions were asked. When my father returned from office, however, he came straight to me and asked me "how did both of you get back home from school today?" I replied "by bus as usual"  he got so angry, and caned me severely.

That was the only time I saw my Dad that angry. My Uncle had phoned him and told him that both of us declined his offer of a lift and walked back home. That was a memorable day in my life. Although I was severely punished by my father for lying to him and for making my little brother walk all that distance, I was proud that in a situation like that I did not depend on any one but made it my way.

                                                              Chapel of the College

Cape Horn and Bad weather

 / -55.98000; -67.28917

Cape Horn
Southern tip of Cape Horn
Cape Horn Location of the Cape Horn in continental Chile
Country	Chile

Cape Horn has been named after the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands, and it is the southernmost headland of the southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which are the Diego Ramirez Islands), Cape Horn marks the northern boundary of the Drake Passage and marks where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. For decades it was a major milestone on the clipper route, by which sailing ships carried trade around the world. The waters around Cape Horn are particularly hazardous, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents and icebergs; these dangers have made it notorious as a sailors' graveyard.

The need for ships to round Cape Horn was greatly reduced by the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Sailing around the Horn is widely regarded as one of the major challenges in yachting. Thus, a few recreational sailors continue to sail this route, sometimes as part of a circumnavigation of the globe, and almost all of these choosing routes through the channels to the north of the Cape. (Many take a detour through the islands and anchor to wait for fair weather to visit Horn Island, or sail around it to replicate a rounding of this historic point). Speed records for round-the-world sailing are recognized for following this route. There have been a number of small boats rounding of the Horn but one in particular stands out: Howard Rice sailed and paddled a 15-foot (4.6 m) wood canvas folding canoe doubling the Horn. In 1987 The British Cape Horn Expedition, headed by Nigel H Seymour, rounded Cape Horn in the world's first ever 'sailing kayaks' called 'Kaymaran' two sea going kayaks which could link together with two sails mountable in any four of the sailing positions between the two kayaks...

                                                       Bad weather in Cape Horn

I joined St.Joseph's College.

My family moved to Colombo in 1958. For my further studies, my parents decided to send me to St. Joseph’s College. It is one of the best schools in Sri Lanka. I am so thankful to my parents for educating me and my brother at St. Joseph’s.

I still remember the day, I went there for the entrance exam to get into the Upper Kindergarten class of the College. I was accompanied by my father. When I came out after finishing the exam, I saw my father talking to some parents of other children who also had come for the same exam. The father of one child said, to my father, “Even if the children do not do well in studies towards the end of their school days, at least they will have some good friends who possibly will help one another.”

I passed the entrance test, and joined the UKG-class of the college in January, 1960.

St. Joseph's College Flag.

                                                     Main cricket grounds of the College