The Inauguration and the blessing of the new building of the CASA Claret, the novitiate House of the Dependent Delegation of Sri Lanka of the Province of Germany took place on December 22, 2012 at Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. This place and its surroundings were badly affected by two days of heavy rain that caused floods last week.
Most Rev. Harold Anthony Perera, the Bishop of Kurunegala blessed the new building and presided over the Eucharistic Celebration. Very Rev. Fr. Stefan Wolf, the Provincial Superior of the Province of Germany, who is doing his canonical visitation to the delegation cut the ribbon and ceremonially declared the new building open. Many priests and Religious of the diocese of Kurunegala, Claretian priests, sisters and brothers and the neighbours participated in the ceremony.
The Novitiate House was first established in Sri Lanka in 1977 at Fussimanya, Kandy. Later in 2008 it was shifted to CASA Claret at Kurunegala. Since the house was small there was a need for the renovation of the house. The Provincial Government decided for the extension of the building.
The Construction of the building has begun in the beginning of this year. Through the generous contribution of the benefactors and the assistance from the province, the building was completed within 8 months. Temporally the Novitiate has started to function at Claret Nivas, Kandy since September 7th , the day of acceptance of the new novices batch of 2012/13.
Fr. V. Lawrence of the Chennai Province is the Novice Master. Fr. S. M. S. Sathesh, the Delegation Econome and Fr. Everest Dias, the Vocation Promoter are also residing at this house. There are six novices this year. They are Thepusius Xavier, MarsaloPioSelvarajah, Anthony JosephNivaskaran, Antony MathuranayagamAbilas, Edward Christy ParingtanLeenus, Vionthan John Pakiyanathan.
