Auxiliary Bishop of Trinco-Batti visiting Canada …

Auxiliary Bishop of Batticaloa-Trincomalee diocese Rev. Dr. Joseph Ponniah is visiting Canada. Bishop has arrived on September 25, 2008. Upon his arrival at the Pearson Internation Airport, he was greeted by quite a large crowd of his friends, families, as well as Old Boys of St. Michael’s College.

Below is a photograph of Bishop taken at the airport with those who were present to give him their warm welcoming.

During his stay in Canada, Bishop will be attending the following events as highlights:

• Friday, October 3, 2008 - English Mass at 6.30 pm at St. Martin of Tours -1290 McBride Avenue Mississauga Ontario.
  
  
• Saturday, October 4, 2008 - He will be the Chief Guest of “Batti Night 2008”, organized by the Past Pupils Association of St. Michaels College at Capitol Banquet Centre at 6435 Dixie Road, Mississauga, Ontario at 6.00pm. The tickets are on sale for the event.
  
  
• Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 4.30pm, Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s Church and Our Lady of Good Health located at 172 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario.

Given below is a brief description of Bishop as stated by our Vice-Patron Mr. Inparajah Mylvaganam:

“His Lordship Bishop Joseph Ponniah, was born on 12th October 1952, at Thannamunai, Batticaloa, was ordained a priest on 30th April 1980.

Having done his B.Ph at St. Paul's Seminary, Tiruchirapalli in South India, and B.Th in the Papal Seminary, Poona, India, returned to Sri Lanka for the Ordination. Thereafter he did B.A. in the Unversity of Peradeniya, Licentiate in Biblical Theology at Urbania University, Rome, and Ph.D in Christian Civilization at the University of Jaffna.

He served at the Parishes of Batticaloa Cathedral, Vakarai, Veechukalmunai, Aiyithiyamalai, Periya Pullumalai and Thandavanvely. He was appointed as the Rector of St. Joseph's Minor Seminary, Batticaloa and served from 1993 to 1996. In 1996 he appointed as a Lecturer at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy in 1996 and was involved in the National Seminary formation and lecturing Sacred Scripture, Hinduism, Indian Philosophy and Catechetics, until 2001.
 
He was also Resource person at the National Institute of Education, Maharagama, lecturing Religion in Tamil language to the teachers.
 
He was the Editor of the Diocesan Catholic Paper "VETTAPPU" and the Diocesan Bulletin. As a Spiritual Director he assisted the Legion of Mary and Divine Mercy Apostolate.
 
He was appointed as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Trinco-Batticaloa on 19th February 2006 and beside the commitments in the Diocese, he had been lecturing at the Eastern University, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa.