Fr. Shamindra Jayawardena,

a Roman Catholic Priest and Monk of the Order of St. Benedict (OSB), is a Pastoral and Clinical Psychologist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA. Hons) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and a Licentiate in Pastoral & Clinical Psychology (L. Psy) from the Institute of Psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He has also obtained the philosophical and theological degrees (B. Ph & B. Th) from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. He has served as a Lecturer of Psychology, University of Peradeniya and a Lecturer of Religious and Social Psychology at the Blessed Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Nikethanaya (Sinhala Theologate), Colombo. As a priest he has served at the parishes of Wahacotte, Puttalam and Thoduwawa. Till recently he was the Warden and Administrator of the Benedictine Fathers’ Hostel at St. Anthony’s College, Kandy. He is a musician and has composed many hymns for liturgical singing. At present he serves as the Conventual Prior of the Sylvestro-Benedictine Monks in Sri Lanka and resides at Monte Fano, Ampitiya which is the Mother House of the Order in Sri Lanka.