Catholic Contribution to SL Freedom Struggle Unique
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SINCE FEB 11,1869 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY O F SRI LANKA Year of Word of God Heavenly Father you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and OUR LADY revealed them to simple people. OF LANKA “REGISTERED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS OF SRI LANKA UNDER NO. QD / 11 / NEWS / 2012” 4TH FEB 2012 Colossians 3:12-21 Sunday 29th Jan 2012 Vol 143 No 05 16 Pages Rs: 20.00 Registered as a newspaper WORLD Catholic contribution to SL freedom struggle unique LEPROSY DAY the Archbishop of all Sri Lankans and the The time is opportune to the freedom struggle is Colombo, His Eminence, Catholic Church to join act with wisdom and unique. Our united Malcolm Cardinal hands with all patriotic Sri courage for a united Sri struggle overcoming petty Ranjith, has stressed the Lankans to share the glory Lanka. It is the need of the mindedness of certain importance of justice of the occasion. hour to launch a plan of sectors of the society gave and truth leading to We thank God for action based on justice and us victory. It is with great peace and trust among giving us a beautiful land truth leading to peace and pride and joy that we the various communities. full of natural resources trust among the various mention the Catholic Below we give communities. contribution to our excerpts of the Message: The challenge It is crystal clear national freedom struggle. Sri Lanka will withbefore its us, fauna the peopleand flora. of from an objective study of The time is n a message released celebrate its 64th this God-given beautiful Sri Lanka and the history appropriate to move from Ito mark the 64th Independence Day on the land is to build a united Sri of the Catholic Church in a culture of violence to a independence 4th of February, 2012. Lanka with all the variety the country, that the celebrations of Sri Lanka, This is a joyful occasion to and diversity it unfolds. Catholic contribution to (Continued on Pg. 2) 29th January 2012 A Seminarian should possess: Firm as ‘Rock’ for 90 years “Integrity, maturity, asceticism, dream became a reality on constancy and heroic fidelity,” Wednesday January 1st 1922, when St. Joseph’s says the Holy Father College, Colombo South was ceremoniously declared open in Bambalapitiya. It was blessed by His Grace the Archbishop of Colombo, Most Rev. Dr. J. M. Masson OMI and declared open by Mr. E. Evans, Acting Director of Education. The Railway Department made special arrangements to transport students from St. Joseph’s College, Maradana for the occasion. A total number of 204 students were admitted on that day. Pope Benedict XVI greets a seminarian during the The Chief Celebrant at Mass for Seminarians. ednesday 18th Family, both living and the Introduction prior to the Thanksgiving January 2012, dead, who had lent a the Holy Mass. Long years Pope Benedict XVI advised the seminarians of W Eucharistic Celebration his diocese that it takes “integrity, maturity, asceticism, marked the 90th heart and lent a hand to ago, Rev. Fr. Maurice Le was His Grace. Archbishop Anniversary of the build up this “Rock of Goc OMI, Rector of St. Emeritus of Colombo, and become a great young priest. founding of St. Peter’s Education” were Joseph’s College, Most. Rev. Dr. Nicholas constancy and heroic fidelity” to be a good seminarian College, Colombo 04. remembered with Maradana had a vision. Marcus Fernando, whose As Bishop of Rome, the Pope addressed the A Holy Mass of Thanks- gratitude during this His dream was to open a students and staff of the Almo Collegio Capranica, one giving commenced the Holy Mass. branch school of St. young priest of God was to of the oldest seminaries of Rome, last week in the Year of Celebration. A short history of Joseph’s in the southern first appointment as a Vatican’s Clementine Hall. Members of the Peterite the College was given in suburbs of Colombo. His (Continued on Pg. 2) (Continued on Pg. 2) Ruby Priestly Anniversary Rev. Fr. Neville Joe assumes office as Monsignor he Holy See Rev. Fr. Dennington Subasinghe - Reporting from Rome Tappointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Neville Perera as Chaplain to the Holy Father recently in recognition of his uninterrupted service for 20 years as the National Co-ordinator of (PIX by: Rev. Fr. Saman Maximus) the Sri Lankan is Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Marius Pieris, Auxiliary immigrant Catholics the homily during the HBishop of Colombo celebrated 40 years in his working in Italy. The special Eucharist of priestly vocation, together with Rev. Frs. Edward special ceremony for thanksgiving, said that Revelpulle, Raymond Samarakoon and Noel Dias. conferring this honorary A Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated on office was presided over rather than entitle one to by His Eminence Wednesday, 25th January 2012, the day of the thesehonours titles and and privileges offices, Conversion of St. Paul, at Evening Star, Havelock Malcolm Cardinal embody a deeper calling conferred on persons by Town. Ranjith, and held at St. within the one common the Holy Father in It is a calling to work In lighter vein Bishop Marius remarked that Mary’s Church, baptismal calling to appreciation of ecclesial theclosely Holy within Father the by Holy office. this 40th anniversary coincided with the release 40 Internetto, Rome. shoulder the Cross of Chaplaincy to the service to the people of See in her evangelizing mission in the world. Christ in a profound “Hathara Denama Surayo” and the four priestly Holy Father popularly God in various realms of His Eminence, manner. years‘Surayos’ ago were in 1972, still going of the strong well-known in the Lord. Sinhala film, known as the post of apo-mission. They are “Monsignor” is generally called to be of service to addressing the faithful in (Continued on Pg. 2) 2 The Messenger 29th January 2012 "Day by Day with the Lord" CARITAS HELPS RESETTLED FAMILIES IN MANNAR DISTRICT Many families tas Mannar. These families ours such as water pumps cycle repairing. They were A copy of Arundathy Gunawardena’s second gift returning to Musali Divi- were displaced in 2007 for cultivation. Dairy provided with tool kits at book titled Day by Day with the Lord was handed over to sion in Mannar District are as a result of military ad- farming was encouraged the end of the training. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop vancement in that area. through the distribution of Psychosocial sup- of Colombo recently. The book has been published by funded by Misereor Ger- Under the proj- cows and goats. port was also given to 500 Godage Publishers. (cmesenger) manybenefitting and fromimplemented a project ect, 58 boats with engines 149 youth were individuals while another by Valvuthayam under the and nets were distributed given vocational training In honour of St. Sebastian direction of Rev Fr S. Jeya- among 116 persons while from group counselling. balan, Director and the 400 families were provid- electrical wiring, beauty 150 persons benefitted overall guidance of Cari- ed with livelihood endeav- culture,in fields sewing such as and masonry, motor- Carits Communication Unit Rev. Fr. Neville.... Prize-giving at Sacred Contd. from Pg. 1 Heart, Sunday School trusted to him by God, found, as he inaugurated his mis- Christ,sion, that who he came too could down not among execute us theto fulfil task a without mission help en- on the part of others. The calling of his disciples on the ermen, under-educated anduncultured, whom be chose seasideto collaborate takes place with inthis this divine context task. and it is the poor fish- The St. Sebastian's statue erected at Kuruku- All that God wants of us in our willingness and lawa Pahala Watta, St. Sebastian Mawatha completed readiness to be open to His action of the spirit in our lives, 15 years. his Eminence emphasized. The Cardinal referred to Fr. To mark the occasion the welfare society of the Neville Joe’s tireless efforts in building up communities Palrish organised various events with the guidance of of the faithful travelling the length and breadth of Italy at the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Prasad Ponnamperuma. a time when Sri Lankan immigrants lacked spiritual and Picture shows the statue been taken in proces- ferred on him by the Holy See with a view to deepening sion down the streets. (H.A. Caldera) pastoralhis endeavoursto leadership provide in the country.for the communities. The new office is con- The annual prize-giving of the Sacred Heart Sunday School at Mattumagala, Ragama was held re- Firm as..... Ninety years is a excel in whatever they do making us a unique part of cently. long period of time and and thus bring honour and this great and wonderful Picture shows Rev. Frs. Roggy Perera, Parish Contd. from Pg. 1 God Almighty has certainly fame to their Alma Mater. Peterite family! Priest, Mattumagala, Mahesh Chrishantha, Asst. Parish St. Peter's College, Colom- walked with us all the way. All in all, it was Looking forward Priest, Kandana and Rev. Fr. Nishal Ranatunga with the bo 4. During his address, It has no doubt been a long, a beautiful day, a day to our Centenary Year in three children who welcomed them. he told the boys that they long walk. We have created on which each one of us 2022! (Imojen Mel ) (H.A. Caldera) thanked God Almighty for were fortunate to be Pet- erites and advised them to cation as a leading Catho- Vocation Camp for make the best use of their lichistory Institute in the of Educationfield of Edu- in Intergrity, maturity....