Sisters of the Holy Angels of Sri Lanka
Our humble beginning...
The Congregation had a very humble beginning. It was founded to answer the desire and request of a young girl, Queenie Wright who had heard the call of the Master, ‘Come follow me.’ She made known her desire to our beloved founder, Most Rev. Joseph Van Reeth S. J. Another reason for founding it was that our beloved founder came to Sri Lanka with an intention to begin a congregation for the indigenous women to meet an apostolic need namely that of dedicated people for missionary work, of the Diocese especially in rural areas as the band of foreign nuns looked after the urban areas. Thus the little mustard seed was planted which has grown and developed into an independent Congregation. In 1977 the Holy See set its seal and approved it.
Milestones …..
Our religious family has had its peak experiences, its saints (although not canonized), its apostolic effectiveness, and its times of trial and difficulty.
Our Beloved Father Founder – Most Rev. Joseph Van Reeth S.J.
Name : Most Rev. Joseph Van Reeth S.J.
Date of birth : 6th August 1843
Father : Mr. Petrus Van Reeth
Mother : Mrs. Maria Cenlemans
Home town: Antwerp, Belgium
Initial Education : Our Lady’s College, Antwerp, Belgium
Priestly ordination: 8th September 1857
Episcopal ordination : 19th March 1895
Entry to Eternal Life : 11th September 1923
Offices held: Secretary to Provincial, Provincial, Formator, Bishop,
Founder of Holy Angels Congregation
Our First Member – Rev. Sr. Mary Aloysius Wright
First Holy Angel nun.
Name: Sr. Mary Aloysius Wright
Nee name : Ms. Fanny Mary Alfreda
Date of birth : 19th June 1884
Father : Dr. Alfred Wright
Mother : Mrs. Barbara de la Harpe
Home town: Galle, Sri Lanka.
Initial Education : Sacred Heart Convent, Galle, Sri Lanka
Date of Clothing : 25th July 1903
Date of First Profession: 15th July 1905 Entry to Eternal Life : 9th November 1963
Apostolates : Teacher, Head-Teacher, Principal
Co-Foundress and the First Superior General
Name: Sr. Mary Gertrude Perera
Nee name : Ms. Imelda Perera
Date of birth : 28th October 1894
Father : Mr. K. D. Lawrence Perera
Mother : Mrs. Christina Perera
Home town: Kandy
Initial Education : St. Agnes’ Convent, Matale, Sri Lanka.
Date of clothing: 11th November 1913
Date of First Profession : 11th December 1915 Entry to Eternal life : 15th December 1971
Apostolates/ offices held : Teacher, In-charge of Boarders, Superior of first Holy Angel community, first Novice directress, First Superior General, Co-foundress of Holy Angels
Superior Generals
Rev. Mother Mary Cecilia Caspersz(19.04.1945-24.04.1957)
Rev. Mother Mary Martina Grenier (24.04.1957-13.04.1969) (18.04.1974-19.04.1980)
Rev. Mother M. Rita Caspersz (13.04.1969-18.04.1974)
Rev. Mother M. Rosary Gunawardena (19.04.1980-13.06.1992)
Rev. Mother Marietta Jayawardena(13.06.1992-21.04.1998)
Rev. Mother Raymond Wijesuriya (14.05.2004-14.04.2016)
Rev. Mother Assumptha Perera (Present superior General)