Joseph’s Society, of St. Joseph's Church Uyana, Moratuwa is a religious community involved with spiritual & humanitarian activities, while promoting charity for the deserving. It is a Society of male community in St. Joseph’s Church, Uyana, Moratuwa established on 23rd January 1910 on the initiative and guidance of the then Parish Priest of Moratuwa Rev. Fr. P. Giro. The objectives of the Society
are to promote the devotion and respect towards our Patron Saint St Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God and to secure his protection & intervention to live an exemplary life as good citizens and at the end of the life to have a peaceful death through the blessings of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of the dying. Amongst them, the other objectives are to develop healthy relations with the other Societies of the Church and to help each other, take the leadership and initiative in respect of all Church activities as required, to help & pray for the sick members of the society and respect the deceased members and offer prayers for the repose of their souls. During the recent times the objects of the society has been expanded to include meritorious activities such as helping the poor deserving with their medical requirements and children of deserving families needing assistance to pursue their educational activities. The Society has had 352 members over the years and at present the number of living members total 87, out of which 15 are life Members having completed 25 years of service to the Society. The Present Office Bearers are as follows. President - Mr. Philan Fernando
Secretary - Mr. Shivanka Fernando
Treasurer - Mr .Merl Wijesekera
The Executive Committee consists of the President, 2 Vice Presidents, Immediate Past President, Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer and 15 Committee Members. Meetings of the General Membership and Executive Committee are held monthly to discuss, plan and implement its affairs. Further the Society also has an Honorary Auditor to Audit its accounts and report to the Membership. Activities of the Society are operated through 6 sub Committees on the following lines. a. Finance & Projects Committee
b. Religious Activity Committee
c. Membership relations Committee
d. Social Services Committee
e. Pilgrimages Committee
f. Past Presidents Forum
The Society maintains very healthy relations and receives the guidance and assistance from the Parish Priest and other Priests in the Parish of Moratuwa. It maintains mutually helpful relations with all the other Societies of the Church. Apart from its various other activities the Society is much involved in a charitable project named as “Sahana Project” which is a Project to raise donations from voluntary donors in memory and for the repose of the Souls of their departed family members, relations and friends and route such finances to help and assist the poor for the following activities,
1. Assisting the Children from poor families with monthly donations towards their basic educational requirements. Those who excel in studies are specially rewarded with gifts.
2. Helping the poor sick with monthly donations to secure their medicines and other medical needs.
3. Visit the inmates of Elders’ Homes and entertain them and provide meals & dry rations.
4. Entertain poor children during Christmas and provide them gifts of school requirements. This Project is very efficiently & effectively managed with the maximum transparency on Accounts subject to close scrutiny through the Annual Audit as well as through review of activities on a quarterly basis. The Society ensures that they utilize every Rupee raised from the donors for the sole objective of the project ie. Assisting the deserving poor. Due to very efficient handling of affairs and the finances with maximum transparency, the Parish Priest and the other Priests of the Parish extend the maximum support and cooperation for this Project. Also, many donors who are convinced over the affairs of the Project and very careful handling of the finances have contributed to this Project continuously for the past 9 years. In the year 2021, the Society is embarking on the Project for the 10th consecutive year. The “Sahana Project” is a pioneer Project of the Society.
