Don Bosco Institute

DEMOGRAPHY

The Don Bosco Institute,  in Hiralugedera, Kotadeniyawa, Gampaha District, in the Western province , under the Archdiocese of Colombo is situated in a land consisting of 50 acres.  The foundation stone of this house was laid on March 7, 1995, and Rev. Fr. Giaime inaugurated it as a Salesian Novitiate then.  The following year, on August 1996, the new studentate of Philosophy was attached. This presence have then been used through the years as a place to train both future and young Salesians.

At present, this Salesian presence is known for 2 apostolates: First, it houses the Don Bosco Farm with a piggery, goatery and a coconut plantation with variety of fruit trees like cashew, mangoes, rambutan, banana and pineapple on the side.  This farm helps the LKC Vice-province to generate some funds that helps the running of the formation apostolate of the Vice-Province.  It is directly under the care of the Economer of the Vice-province, with a Salesian who is full-time assigned to oversee its running and management.

Secondly, and most importantly, this Salesian presence is where the St. Zatti Pre-Novitiate House of the LKC Vice-Province of Sri Lanka is located.  This house of formation caters to young men who have made an initial choice to be a Salesian one day, and thus begins their initial formation-journey in becoming a future SDB.

At present it caters to both Local Sri Lankan and non- Sri Lankan candidates.  Pakistani pre-novices are now being sent to this house for their formation.  The main purpose and task of this institution is to prepare candidates (i.e. those who have had their not less than a year of aspirancy) for their entry to the Novitiate which will be the official entry of a candidate to the Salesian Congregation.  The focus of their formation is their development and maturity on both the Human and Christian aspects of their lives (i.e. spiritually, intellectually, socially, and pastorally) which will be foundational for a more balance and healthy religious life. The candidates stay for a period of formation that will last for not more than a year but not less than 6 months.  The house is staffed with Salesians who have been prepared to tackle the ministry of guiding the candidates in making sure that they mature—both as an integrated man, and as a Christian.

VISION

The ST. ZATTI PRE-NOVITIATE IS:

A Faith Filled-Community of Mature Disciples—Salesians and Pre-Novices; freely committed in following Christ in the Salesian Way of life; inspired by the examples of our patrons St. John Bosco and St. Artemide Zatti; under the guidance and protection of Mother Mary, the Help Of Christians.

MISSION

We commit ourselves to:

• Grow together in depth as human and Christians;
• A deeper knowledge of our own personal vocation, and the different ways to be more committed to it without any internal nor external pressure;
• Be formed and prepared for the next stage of Salesian formation, i.e., the Novitiate.