Born to a devoted Roman Catholic family of Stanley John Silva and Eugene Victoria Dias. He was the second child of a family of four and the eldest of three brothers. He initially entered the Roman Catholic School in Willorawatte and later entered where he completed his secondary education. As a child he was very much attached to the , Willorawatte and has been a devoted member of the Legion of Mary. Young Maxwell Silva was greatly attached to the 'Brookside' St. Joseph's Convent- Piliyandala where he served as an Alter Server for many years.
Steps toward vocational ministry
Neither his parents John and Eugene Silva, nor his family observed signs of his calling when he was a child. He entered the St AloysiusMinor Seminary on May 3, 1967 after his General Ordinary Level examination. It is said that the Jesuit priests was inspirational in this vocational call and with the blessings of his parents he chose the way to priesthood. He excelled in both studies and in sports.
Ordination and priesthood
In 1971 he gained admission to the Harwarden Intermediate Seminary at Haputhale and on February 9, 1974 he entered the with God's guidance for the formation of the priesthood. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 25, 1981, alongside several other deacons at St. Lucia's Cathedral by :de:Nicholas Marcus Fernando|Nicholas Marcus Fernando, Archbishop Emeritus of Colombo. Since then he has served in the parishes of Dalugama, Thibbotugoda, Mabola and Kerawelapitiya. Diocese responsibilities
In addition to the Degree in Theology from Rome, he completed his Degree of the Bachelor of Arts from and subsequently the master's degree in Sociology also from the same university amidst parish responsibilities. He also obtained a Diploma in Education and Masters in Arts from the . He was the first to join the Governmental service as a Catholic priest under the direction of Archbishop Emeritus of Colombo and was posted to St. Joseph's College, Grandpass as his first appointment. Subsequently, he was assigned as the Vice Principal of the Ragama Basilica College and his final appointment was as the Principal of St Thomas' College Kotte which he relinquished upon his elevation as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo. His teaching carrier spans over 20 years.
Appointment
appointed him as the one of the Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Colombo on Nov. 28, 2011. He was the fourth priest to enter the episcopacy from Moratuwa following His Lordships Bishop Julian Winston Fernando, Bishop Marius Peiris, Bishop Valence Mendis.
The Coat of arms is in Maroon while the top half is in Gold. These are the colors of St. Thomas’ College, Kotte of which he served and loved the most. Three colors were chosen by the veteran missionary Rev. Fr. Zacharias Dabrera, the founder of the College. The lower half in Maroon has the, saw, “toothed edged” to remind the bishop of his hometown, Moratuwa, famous for its carpentry. It has a lamp and a threefold flame to symbolize the wisdom of the Holy Trinity, which is the basic of all education to which the bishop has dedicated his life. The lamp has an embossed Holy Spirit with the handle of wheat to symbolize his motto. The maroon signifies Strength and Vigor and the Gold signifies Victory. It has the Na flower to symbolize his devotion to Our Lady of Lanka.
Motto
"CIBAVIT EOS EX ADIPE FRUMENITI" The motto reads “He fed us with finest wheat”. This is taken from the office readings of Corpus Christi.
