THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY OF SRI LANKA “REGISTERED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS OF SRI LANKA” UNDER NO. QD /10/NEWS/2021 Sunday March 28, 2021 Vol 152 No 12 16 Pages Rs: 50.00 Registered as a newspaper We have no other alternative but to stand by the people as Shepherds of God’s fl ock By T. Sunil Fernando and together, assured His Em- lives of God’s people. Roshan Pradeep inence Malcolm Cardinal He made these re- Ranjith, Archbishop of marks delivering a spe- e will standby Colombo. cial statement at the end the Easter vic- During the special of the prayer service Wtims and will prayer service held that was held with the never isolate them. What- last Sunday at the participation of a large ever the obstacles and Shrine of Our Lady of number of priests and hardships we may have Lanka, Tewatta, the religious. Thanking the to encounter until jus- Archbishop pointed out Catholic Bishops’ Con- tice is meted out we will that as Shepherds of ference in Sri Lanka be at the forefront of our (CBCSL) for support- people. We shall stand from God, one day they ing the Archdiocese’s arethe �lockaccountable with a forcalling the ➢ CONTD ON PG. 13 �irm in our commitment Prayer recited by the Archbishop Con�irmation Service at St. Aloysius' before the Blessed Sacrament at the Special Prayer Service Minor Seminary Lord, render justice to all those who suffered the rav- ages of this attack on their dignity, which You gave them – take away their pain – help them experience Your love once again. Full prayer on Page 9 Decrees on Holy Week and Easter Celebrations Messenger this week carries the Decrees on Holy Week and Easter Celebrations issued by the Con- gregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments. Please see page 12 for details. is Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Brian Udaigwe, the Apostolic Nuncio of HSt. Aloysius’ Minor Seminary, Borella last week. Messenger Easter Edition UnveilingSri Lanka of the was Statue the Chiefof St. CelebrantJoseph to coincideof the Con�irmation with the Year Service of St. heldJoseph at Messenger Special Easter Edition will be also took place after the service. out on April 4th. Picture shows Rev. Fr. William Evans, Rector Minor Seminary welcoming the Reserve your copy today! Nuncio. The homily delivered by the Apostolic Nuncio is on Pg 8 The Statue unveiled Pope on World Water Day: Having the name in the Family book will not ‘Do not waste or pollute’ make one a good Christian ope Francis called aving ones name in the Parish Family Book or for responsibility Hlong hours of prayers will not make one a good Pand care in the use of “sister water”, pointing out with concern for others, leading a life as Christ our that, still today, “access to LordChristian. taught Facing us is truelife Christianwith courage, discipleship, being saidsel�less His safe, drinkable water is not Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of within everybody’s reach,” Colombo. that it is not a “commod- Delivering the homily at the Eucharistic Celebration ity”, and that we need to make haste “to give drink to held to inaugurate the Year of Small Christian Com- the thirsty.” munities at All Saints’ Church, Borella last week, His ➢ CONTD ON PG. 13 ➢ CONTD ON PG. 13 The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days’ time. ... (Mark 14:1) 2 2 TheMessenger Messenger March March28, 2021 28, 2021 March 28, 2021 Messenger 3 by the Holy Spirit, two of the most important fruits we you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a New Convent Building for SINCE FEBRUARY 1869 Episcopal Anniversary messenger greater than the one who sent him. (St. EDITORIAL on how our Blessed Mother - after the angel proclaimed John 13:1-17) Sisters Email:[email protected] Ǥϐ Website:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com to her that she would conceive the Son of God--travelled His Lordship Telephone: 011 2695984 Fax: 2692586 / 2670100 more than 100 kms across hills and valleys, on a After this wonderful proclamation of servant Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis March 28, 2021 donkey several days and nights on dangerous terrains leadership, the Lord Jesus took the bread, broke it (2005) to be with Elizabeth for about three months. We need “Take me, bless me, and gave it to his disciples saying “Take it and eat issued an order for a census St. Joseph had to travel to Then he took the wine, blessed it and said to the Ǧϔ his birthplace, ϐ Bethlehem. With Ǥ Ǥthe pregnant Blessed ϐ dzǤ Ad Multos Annos Vivat! break me and give me” disciples, “Take this and drink it for this is the blood Mother seated on a donkey, St. Joseph would have of the everlasting covenant It will be shed for you and also walked about 100 kilometres across dangerous t the end of Lenten season we begin the for many so that sins may be forgiven”(St. Matthew Open Competitive Examination for territory. When they reached Bethlehem, the meek and 26:27-28). Thus the Lord instituted the Sacrament of humble St. Joseph would have pleaded or begged the the recruitment to Grade 3-I (C) of whether the Lenten religious services, the the Holy Eucharist. Therefore, when we also receive A ǡϐ innkeeper to give them some room because the Blessed the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service for rites and rituals have changed our hearts, minds and Holy Communion, we need to tell the Lord, “Take me, Mother was about to give birth to the Lord Jesus. English Teacher Vacancies in National attitudes and brought us into a deeper relationship bless me, break me and give me to others.” m the priests, religious and people day. Everything that has happened, is due to the plam On Thursday April 1, we celebrate Holy Thursday. In and Provincial Schools and for the with God. If not, after Easter Sunday we go back to living in and around Lunupokuna, Mutwal in my young worked out by God Almighty. Nothing could be done by his Gospel proclamation St. John says, The evening meal ϐ Vacancies in Information Technology, After the mock trial before the High Priest and days gave we courage and a strong backbone to speak our own selves without God”. was in progress, and the devil had already prompted out for justice and fairplay, said, His Eminence Malcolm Very Rev. Sister Robina Paulin, Provincial of the other vices and are guided by worldly values making Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, the Lord Jesus is Home Economics and Aesthetic Subjects ϐǡǦ ǡǡ Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo addressing Sisters’ of Holy Cross expressed her deep gratitude (Art, Music, Dancing) in Northern and knew that the Father had put all things under His power, those present at the Blessing of the chapel and the addressing those present including Very Rev. Fr. Jude whole period of Lent would have been a waste of our message is, “Even if you betray, deny or desert me, ceremonial opening of the new Convent building for Eastern Provinces – 2021 ϐ ǡ and that He had come from God and was returning to Samatha Fernando, Archdiocesan Procurator General, time. even ϐ Ǥ if you whip and strip and kill me on the cross the Sisters’ of Holy Cross, constructed in place of the old Rev.Fr. Gihan Ridley Perera, Administrator Lands and God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer Y Applications are invited from both male and fe- like a criminal of criminals I will still love you building adjoining St.Andrew’s Vidyalaya,Lunupokuna, Properties, Rev. Fr. Srinath Manoj Perera, Director clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After Mutwal. In Palm Sunday’s lengthy Gospel proclamation, because God’s nature is love.” Archdiocesan Constrution Programmes, Rev. Fr. that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash vacancies. The respective application has been we could meditate on some vital issues for growth Speaking further His Eminence said: “I attended Kithsiri Thirimanne, Administrator St Lucia’s Cathedral published ϐ through “Online Applications - Insti- His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was St. Andrew’s Sinhala Vidyalaya upto Grade Four and I Kotahena, cum Dean Colombo North Deanery, Rev. Fr. and maturity in our spirituality. The Gospels tell us tutional Exams” under “Our Service” in www. As expected, God the Father raised the Lord Jesus Gamunu Dias Jayawardene, National Director, Catholic that the Lord Jesus was seated on a donkey when as a student of the same School. I never thought I would doenets.lk website of the Department of Exami- their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his from the dead and through Him opened the door Education along with the Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe, He entered Jerusalem for what He knew would be be ϐ a priest one day, when I joined the rest to serve as nations and the applications should be submit- Ǥ ϐ to Heaven and eternal life. God’s love is unending, Parish Priest, Lunupokuna . place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” an altar server. I never dreamt to be a Bishop and I ted only in online method. he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and unfailing, unlimited, and unmerited. Whatever we could never dream or think of becoming a Cardinal one (Pic. T. Sunil and Roshan Pradeep) salvation and eternal life. Normally, kings or other ϐ rightly so, for that is what I am.