Colombo, Sri Lanka. St. Joseph Vaz Independent Delegation – Sri Lanka has a new priest! Deacon Pakiyanathan Vinothan John, CMF was ordained on January 7, 2020 in his home diocese, Mannar.
Fr. Vinothan John was born in Mannar, (Northern Province of Sri Lanka) on 26th August 1985. After completing his primary, secondary and higher education at different schools in Mannar, Vinothan John joined the Claretian Minor Seminary in 2006. In Kandy (Sri Lanka) at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, he completed the philosophical studies (2009-2011) and entered the novitiate in 2012. After completing the year of Novitiate formation successfully at Casa St. Claret, Claretian Novitiate in Kurunegala (Sri Lanka), Vinothan John made his First Profession on 8th September 2013. He was sent to Spain to complete his theological studies in the Faculty of theology, Granada University (2016- 2019). On 18th May 2019, Vinothan John was ordained a deacon at St. Antony Mary Claret church, Sevilla, Spain, by Cardinal Aquilino Bocos, CMF. Then he returned to Sri Lanka and did his diaconate ministry both at St. Joseph’s parish (Veppamkulam – Vavuniya) and at VAROD (Claretian rehabilitation project for the differently-abled – Vavuniya). In 2020 January 7th at St. Sebastian’s Cathedral, Mannar, Vinothan John was ordained a priest by Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, the bishop of Mannar. And on 8th January Fr. Vinothan John, CMF celebrated his First Mass at St. Joseph’s church, Katkidanthakulam (Mannar). The newly ordained Vinothan John has received his first assignment (appointment) to serve as the assistant parish priest at St. Joseph Vaz church, Balleketuwa (a Claretian parish) amidst the tea plantation workers in the diocese of Badulla.
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