The concept of the branch schools in the Archdiocese was initiated by the Most. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis, the Archbishop Emeritus of Colombo. St. Joseph’s College, Wattala was in fact the first branch school started in the Archdiocese.
The school was initiated with 80 students in the year 1996 under the guidance of the first Rector, Rev. Dr. Stanley Abeysekera. Thereafter, few buildings were added as the requirements arose.
The school was initiated in a plot of land donated by Ms. Esther Senevirathna, a catholic from the Parish of Enderamulla. She donated this land in memory of her late husband Mr. Wilfred Senevirathna. Later, more land was added to the property with a donation made by the late Mr. Ranasinghe Premadasa. The school started flourishing very fast and attracted Catholics even from far ends of the diocese to get admission for their children.
Presently, Rev. Fr. Gemunu Dias works as the Rector of the College. Rev. Fr. Nilanga Rowel acts as the Deputy Principal. There are 1,380 students with 64 teachers serving them. The construction of the proposed building for the Primary School, College Auditorium and Priests’ Quarters is presently in progress.
Classes are held from grade 1 to grade 13 conducted both in Sinhala. English medium classes were initiated recently.
Blue & White
The official flag of the College is three same sized strips of clothes in blue and white. The white colour is in the middle while blue colour is on either side. On the white strip of cloth is placed the crest of the College.
Named after the Most Rev. Dr. Ernest Christopher Bonjean OMI, first Archbishop of Colombo.
Colour :
Named after the Most Rev. Dr. Andrew Melizon OMI, second Archbishop of Colombo.
Colour :
Named after the Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Coudert OMI, third Archbishop of Colombo
Colour :
Named after the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Marque OMI, fourth Archbishop of Colombo
Colour :
White short sleeved shirt with College Monogram stitched on the top right end of the pocket. The length of the sleeve should be a considerable amount above the elbow. Shirts with double pleats are prohibited. The shirt must be neatly put inside the trouser. Long sleeved shirts are not allowed on the normal days.
The trouser for the students of grades 1-9 would be a short stitched in navy blue colour. The length of the short should be little above the knee with a clear width and should not be worn against the thigh. Shorts with loops are prohibited to be worn to the school.
The trouser for the students of grades 10-13 is a white slack with two pleats. The width of the trouser should be as same as that of the thigh and the trouser should not stick tight at any level of the body. No loops should be attached.
Plain black wide-toe shoes without buckles are to be worn to the school. Sport shoes and other fancy shoes with designs will not be allowed at any time. Plain white socks without coloured lines or designs are to be worn. Ankle socks are prohibited.
The attire for special occasions known as ‘ceremonial uniform’ white long sleeved shirt with monogram as stipulated above for all grades. The students of grades 1-9 will wear white short and the students of grades 10-13 will wear long white trousers in both the cases as uniform being stipulated above. The College tie is to be worn by all the students with double knot with shoes and socks as explained above.
Holy Mass is offered twice a day, i.e. at 7.00 a.m. and during the interval. While 7.00 a.m. Mass is voluntary, the Mass during the interval is organized by a particular class.
Morning Prayers are recited daily before the commencement of the school, Angelus after the interval and the Recessional Prayers at the close of the school through the public address system.
Almost all the students have made it a habit to visit the Blessed Sacrament at least once in a given day.
Different religious societies such as YCS, Jesus Youth, Legion of Mary, SVP Society and Altar Servers organize their weekly prayer sessions as a part of their commitment to the objectives of the Society.
Every Thursday the students donate their pocket money to share their mite with the less privileged children in the school through Vincent de Paul Society.
Various societies organize prayer and Bible sessions as a part of their commitments in the society.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, instead of Morning Prayers, special Bible Services are organized and conducted on class basis in which inspiring Bible discussions take place.
Every First Friday of the month all the students of the College take part in the Holy Eucharist; one Mass for Primary School and the other for the Secondary School.
The students begin the new term and also end the term with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and by dedicating their lives and their activities to the Eucharistic Lord.
The teachers are availed to a special spiritual exposure programme at the beginning of every term as a preparation for the new term of activities.
The tutorial staff and the clerical staff begin the term with a special Holy Eucharist offered, asking God's grace upon their work and commitment.
The children are given an opportunity to make their Confessions and go for Counselling.
Ash Wednesday Masses and other special religious activities are organized during Lent. Way of the Cross is organized separately for students, teachers and clerical staff members. Acts of penance and mortification are highly recommended and persuaded for.
The Feast of St. Joseph is organized on a grand scale to give the children a glimpse of the Heavenly joy in their lives. Hoisting of the Flags takes place 5 days before the feast is celebrated. Preparatory Novenas are organized. The statue of St. Joseph is taken in procession around the College premises and final blessing is imparted.
The feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated preceded by Tridium of preparatory novenas. Hours of Adoration are given to students, teachers, workers etc. separately. Final Eucharistic blessing is imparted after the procession.
May Feast is celebrated on a very high key. The procession with the statue of Our Lady is taken in procession after the Holy Mass and the final blessing is imparted.
The Children's Day Holy Mass is organized as a special event. This is done by the Liturgy Committee of the College with much vigour and preparation.
The International Teachers' Day is celebrated with a Holy Mass organized by the Prefects' Body of the College.
The Rosary devotion in the month of May has a special feat in the College. The Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is taken in to different classes and kept there for one full day until it is transferred to the next class the next day. During that particular day the whole class gets together and prays the Rosary to Our Lady.
Annual retreats are organized for the members of the tutorial staff. This is generally a full day retreat in the Tewatte Retreat House.
In the month of November, as we commemorate our Dear Departed, children are given a special opportunity to offer Masses for them in our daily Masses in College.
The First Holy Communion Service of the College has some special features and shows the College's spiritual wealth and standardized internal preparation.
Christmas Carol Service takes a prominent place at St. Joseph's.
On the day of the granting of admissions for Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations, special prayer Services for blessing the children take place where the priests of the College lay hands and pray for every individual child.
On every examination day of the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students, Holy Mass is celebrated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo 10, for the children to invigorate them with the blessings of the Lord.
On the day of the admission of new students to the grade 01 class, a special prayer service is conducted for the children and the parents to officially enrol them to the Josephian Family.
Special retreats and preparatory seminars are organized for the First Holy Communicants and their parents.
The administering of the sacrament of Confirmation takes place in College as an annual event. A three-month preparation is given to them with special retreats, seminars and other activities of formative value.
The Leadership camps are organized for the students of grades 8 and 9 intertwined with a considerable dose of spirituality to mould their young personalities.
The enrolment to the Advanced Level Section is done followed by a 2-day residential retreat for the children.
Special motivational programmes, retreats, orientation programmes and a host of other activities are held for the students of the Advanced Level Section to invigorate their lives and prepare them for the immediate entry into society.
Cricket
Basketball
Wrestling
Athletics
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Chess
Liturgy Committee
Altar Servers Union
YCS Society
Bible Society
SVP Society
Legion of Mary
Jesus Youth
College Choir
ICT Society
Media Club
Cadetting
Commerce Union
Science Society
General Knowledge Club
Cub Scouting and Scouting
Traffic Union
English Literary Association
Sinhala Literary Association
Sinhala Debating Society
Prefects' Association
Old Boys' Association
Red Cross Society
Environmental Friendly Club
Announcers' Club
There are 64 members
There are 6 members
There are 8 members
