The Holy Father Pope John Paul II has on Monday, 27th November 2000, appointed Reverend Father Vincent Marius Joseph Peiris, Rector of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Ampitiya, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo. He has been assigned the titular Episcopal See of Tacarata.

Bishop-elect Peiris was born on the 11th of October 1941 in Moratuwa. He had his early education at the Roman Catholic School in Katukurunda and at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. He entered the University of Ceylon Peradeniya in 1960 and obtained the B.A. (Ceylon) Degree. He was on the tutorial staff at St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4 and entered St. Aloysius’ Minor Seminary, Colombo and the National Seminary, Ampitiya for priesthood. He had his ecclesiastical studies at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome and obtained the S.T.L. Rome Degree. He has also gained a Diploma in Mariology at the Pontifical Institute Marianum.

On his return as a Deacon in 1971 he was a Formator and Teacher at St. Eymard’s Minor Seminary, Haputale. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Colombo by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray, OMI on the 25th of January 1972 at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena.

From 1972 to 1973, he was the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street, Negombo. From 1973 to 1975, he served as Professor and Vice Rector of the Staff of the National Seminary, Ampitiya.

From 1976 to 1979 he did his Post-Graduate studies at the London School of Economics of the University of London and obtained the M.Sc. Econ. (London); Ph.D. (London), the field of specialization being on Political Sociology.

He returned to the National Seminary as Dean of Philosophy.

From 1989-1992 he was the Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Halpe and from 1992 to 1995 he was Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, Dehiwela. From 1995 to 1998 he was appointed Vicar General of the Colombo Region of the Archdiocese of Colombo. In 1998 he was appointed as the Rector of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Ampitiya, Kandy where he served until he got the next appointment.