SINCE FEB 11,1869 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY O F SRI LANKA We wish our Hindu brethren a Happy and St. Charles Borromeo Prosperous Deepavali! November 4 "REGISTERED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS OF SRI LANKA UNDER NO. QD / 50 / NEWS /2013" Sunday, November 3, 2013 Vol 144 No 43 20 Pages Rs: 25.00 Registered as a newspaper Don’t the Heads of Commonwealth need to visit their places of religious worship? ommonwealth Heads of Many Heads of the their respective places of religious Government will meet Commonwealth are either worship has been taken into account betweenC November 15 - 17. The practising Christians or Muslims. in drawing up the arrangements three-day visit, also consists of They generally practise their faith made for their stay here, which may visits to the locations of the two by visiting Churches or Mosques on also include Commonwealth graves out-of-Colombo forums - the the respective Sabbath or holy days maintained by the Commonwealth Commonwealth People’s Forum which are Friday for the Muslims countries which are situated (CPF) in Hikkaduwa and the and Sunday for the Christians. So at cemeteries in Trincomalee, Commonwealth Youth Forum one wonders whether the need for Peradeniya, Jawatte and Borella. (CYF) in Hambantota. these Heads of Governments to visit Church commemorates 25th Death Anniversary of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray OMI n a ceremony that Iportrayed love and respect, the Catholic community gathered last Tuesday at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatte for a Thanksgiving Mass, to commemorate the 25th Death Anniversary of His Eminence the Late Thomas Benjamin Cardinal Cooray OMI, the conducted the prayer for the late Cardinal. Servant of God. service at the crypt of His The Philatelic Presiding at the Eminence Thomas Bureau of the Department ceremony was the Cardinal Cooray. The of Posts, Sri Lanka, issued Archbishop of Colombo Pic: Rev. Fr. Sunil de Silva crypt was lined with a First Day Postal Cover to His Eminence Malcolm mark the occasion. Cardinal Ranjith together Nuncio in Sri Lanka, Their graced the occasion. the Servant of God, was a symbolized the love and beautiful flowers which with Auxiliary Bishops Grace Archbishops Delivering the perfect example of faith respect the people had (Contd on Pg. 2) Their Lordships Rt. Rev. Dr. Emeriti, Most Rev. Dr. homily at Holy Mass, Very and a shining lamp of Emmanuel Fernando and Nicholas Marcus Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Christian living. Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Silva. Fernando, Most Rev. Dr. Fernando (Episcopal After the Best Writer of the Messenger - 2013 His Excellency Oswald Gomis, and Msgr. Vicar), said that His Eucharistic Celebration, At the Catholic Literary Awards Day organised Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Renato Kucic, Secretary to Eminence Late Thomas His Eminence Malcolm by Catholic Writers’ Association held at Paul VI Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic the Apostolic Nuncio also Benjamin Cardinal Cooray, Cardinal Ranjith Centre, Colombo last Sunday, well-known Catholic writer Mr. Francis Madiwella, won the Award for Aquinas Rector calls for Education Commission the best writer of the Catholic Messenger. ector of Aquinas University nation like Sri Lanka. Light and darkness in the Church RCollege, Colombo Rev. Dr. “A good education,” he said, Placidus de Silva, called on the “is the beginning of wealth, the Government to appoint a beginning of health, the beginning of Commission similar to the Lessons spirituality and is where the miracle Learnt and Reconciliation process all begins.” Commission to formulate Fr. Placidus was educational reforms so that the addressing the General habit of ministers taking Convocation of the College, held temporary decisions to provide recently at the Msgr W.L.A. Don patchwork solutions will not Peter Auditorium where several occur. students were conferred with The commission would Internal Degrees and Diploma Picture shows His Eminence being welcomed to the Church focus on issues like School by the Administrator of the Shrine Rev. Fr. Noel Nonis. (Pic H.A. Caldera) Admissions, University Curriculum Report of Aquinas University occasion was His Grace, changes, School Curriculum College, Fr. Placidus pointed out Archbishopcertificates. The Chief Guest on the Emeritus Most Rev. Dr. rchbishop of Colombo, told the gathering of His Eminence faithful present that the subjects, Vocational Education and that Education is a vital A component of any society, but Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith 12 Apostles Graduate unemployment crisis. Chancellor of the College. presiding at the feast of especially so of a developing Oswald Gomis, who is also the first Presenting the Annual (Contd on Pg. 2) St. Jude’s Shrine, Indigolla (Contd on Pg. 2) 2 The Messenger November 3, 2013 FROM THE DIOCESES Cultural Day at St. Aloysius' Minor Seminary Church The 5th Annual Feasts Cultural Day of St. Aloy- sius' Minor Seminary was held last month. The Sin- hala Literary Union of St. Aloysius' Seminary was started in 1948 by Rev. Fr. Nicholas Joseph and Rev. Fr. Sevarinus. The Literary The Annual Union celerbated its 65th Feast of All Saints’ anniversary with the dis- Church, Seda Watte, guished presence of Music Pamunugama will be Maestro Dr. Pandit W.D. celebrated on Friday Amaradewa as the Chief 1st November. Fes- Guest for the event. tive Mass at 5 pm fol- This function was lowed by blessing of organised by the Seminar- boats. Concelebrants ians under the guidance of -Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Rev. Fr. Lalith Felix, Rector Silva, Auxiliary Bishop and Rev. Fr. Malin Samurd- of Colombo and Very hka, President of the Sin- Rev. Fr. Shanthikumar hala Literay Union. Welivita, Archdioc- Ranesh Lakshan esan Episcopal Vicar. Secretary of the Sinhala Procession of boats Literry Union carrying the Statue of Our Lady will proceed from Sebastian Place Sinhala Literary Day 2013 - Ballet performance at to the Church via the Negombo Lagoon at Sinhala Sahithya Udanaya Balagala Church 4pm on this day. The Annual Feast of the Church of Christ the Healer, We- ligama (Galle Diocese) will be celebrated on Sunday 24th Novem- ber. Festive Mass at 8.30 am, followed by bless- ing of the sick. Chief A Musical Drama titled "Ape Daruwo" (our chil- celebrant -Rt. Rev. Dr. dren) was staged at the Parish Church of Our Lady of Raymond Wickremas- Succour Balagala Parish by the Sunday School Children. inghe, Bishop of Galle. It was a concept of the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Raj Vespers Service on pre- Fernando, script by Very Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, vious day at 5.30 pm Episcopal Vicar for the Missionary Region and Choreog- presided over by Very The Annual Sinhala Literary The Day’s proceedings enlight- raphy by Ms. Thilini Tharanga Rodrigo, a student from Rev. Fr. Nihal Nanayak- Day of St. Benedict’s College was held on ened with the presence of Maestro Sunil the University of Fine Arts. kara, Vicar General of Friday October 25. Edirisinghe. Ashen S. Senarathna Galle Diocese. Thilina Allahakoon There is a light.... Aquinas Rector.... Church Feast at Hapugoda Contd from Pg. 1 Contd from Pg. 1 whom Jesus chose were mostly simpletons who misun- Stating that both higher education and secondary edu- derstood the teachings of the Lord. Even until the end cation lagged behind while the economy of the country they failed to grasp His message. developed on a global agenda which led to a mismatch St. Peter was so full of himself that he even of educational reforms to meet the needs of the labour denied Our Lord three times (John 18:15-27), but Je- market. Fr. Placidus said the reason for this was that sus knew Peter would lead the Church one day. Thus reforms were introduced as ad hoc measures to bring set the apostolic tradition and it is this tradition that is He also quoted from the inaugural newsletter continuedwe have St Peter as the first head of the Church which for over 2000 years and today the Catholic ofabout political benefits. the University of Ruhuna in which the Vice Chancel- Church has as its head the 266 Pope. lor Professor Susirith Mendis had stated the following: Likewise, His Eminence said, that priests, reli- “We are at a point in time when multiple events that can gious and the clergy are the product of ordinary folk and be called crises have developed within a short time. The are not angels. “As a Church we are all simple people trade union actions by the non-academic and academic hence there is light and darkness in the Church and we staff for higher salaries, demand for higher public sec- learn from that.” posed amendments to the Universities Act of 1978 and invitationtor investment in education, the ‘Z’ score fiasco, the pro- to the international private sector to invest in The 88th Annual Feast of St. Mary's Church, Text: Doreen Perera higher education in Sri Lanka by establishing ‘private’ Hapugoda was celebrated recently, presided over by Church commemorate... universities are some issues that are prominent in the Rev. Fr. Vimal Tirimanne, CSsR. Contd from Pg. 1 current debate.” Professor Mendis furthermore poses a Picture shows the pandal erected by the youth very opportune and pertinent question: Is Higher Edu- at the entrance to the Church. His Eminence Thomas Benjamin Cardinal Cooray was cation in Sri Lanka in crisis or at the Crossroads? H.A. Caldera born on December 28, 1901 and hailed from the Parish of Periyamulla, Negombo. He was called to Eternal Rest in the Lord on October 29, 1988. He belonged to the Feast of the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Munhena Congregation of Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was ordained a priest on June 23, 1929. Annual Feast of the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Munhena, Maggona, was celebrated recently.