The Region of Colombo gathered for its Regional Assembly from 17 to 19 June 2026 at Watawala, Sri Lanka, as part of its continuing journey of discernment and preparation towards fusion with the Province of Oceania.
The Assembly brought together the finally professed members of the Region, together with a representative of the temporarily professed students, in accordance with the Regional Statutes. The gathering was enriched by the presence of Fr. John Hodgson, Provincial of Oceania, while Fr. Jeyaraj Rasaiah SJ served as Moderator.
The three-day Assembly provided an opportunity for prayer, reflection, dialogue and evaluation of the restructuring journey that had unfolded within the Region over the previous three years. Sessions included updates on the progress of the fusion process, discussions on future mission and governance, reflections on intercultural integration, and opportunities for the confreres to share their hopes, concerns and aspirations for the future.
Through small-group discussions and plenary sessions, the confreres reflected on the opportunities and challenges accompanying the transition towards a broader missionary reality. Particular attention was given to mission, fraternity, formation, belonging and the preservation of the Region’s rich missionary heritage within the Province of Oceania.
A significant moment of the Assembly was the formal discernment and vote on the future of the Region. Following the journey of consultation and reflection undertaken over the past three years, the Assembly voted in favour of the suppression of the Region of Colombo, thereby taking a decisive step towards its fusion with the Province of Oceania. The vote marked an important milestone in the restructuring journey and expressed the Region’s readiness to move forward into this new missionary reality.
A special session of appreciation acknowledged the contribution of the many confreres who had served the Region throughout its history. The Assembly also spent time in prayerful reflection on the growth and development of the Region and the blessings received through the ministry of generations of Redemptorists in Sri Lanka.
One of the highlights of the Assembly was a thanksgiving prayer service during which the confreres expressed gratitude for the Region’s history, its former leaders, deceased confreres, benefactors, missionaries and all those who had accompanied the restructuring journey. The gathering concluded in a spirit of hope, gratitude and renewed commitment to the Redemptorist mission.
As the Assembly concluded, the Region of Colombo looked ahead to the next stage of its journey towards fusion with the Province of Oceania. After formally expressing their support for the suppression of the Region, the confreres reaffirmed their commitment to proceeding together in mission, formation, and communion, seizing the opportunities offered by intercultural collaboration while remaining faithful to the missionary charism of Saint Alphonsus.
Fr. Chandana Perera, CSsR.
