Thursday 5th August, 2010 3 BY S. B. DAVID late His Eminence Cardinal Cooray O.M.I. Although Fr Robert who has been referred as a human dynamo he Parishioners of St Lawrence Church, is no more with us but his name is synonymous with Wellawatte will be celebrating their Patron the parish of St Lawrence. TSaint’s 72nd Annual feast on Sunday 8th August Our second Parish Priest late Msgr. Manik 2010 Muthukumaru served our parish from 1968 to 1985. This year The Archbishop of Colombo has During his pastorate he encouraged the parishioners declared “ The Year of the Eucharist “ in the to form different religious associations and got them Archdiocese of Colombo from August 2010 to August involved in the parish activities and fostered a 2011 with the theme “ Let the Eucharist transform you Community Lfe and enabled the parish to flourish to be a Blessing “ As our church feast falls within this both in spiritual and material aspects He built a period more emphasis and awareness on the Divine Community Centre to accommodate the Free Medical adoration of the precious blood and body in the Clinic where free medicine and treatment were given Eucharist will be proclaimed and highlighted in all on every Sunday Morning for the needy marginalized throughout the novenas and feast celebrations. A with a cup of milk tea with Milo and biscuits for nour- triduum of fasting and prayer will be observed on ishment. Serving Hands projects, Sama Sevana and 5th,6th,7th August. By providence an opportunity is the home for the destitute boys of the parish too were graced for our Parishioners to learn and understand established. In memory of his mother he built a beau- more of the Divine adoration of the Eucharist the tiful grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes. He originated the presence of precious blood and body of Christ and to idea of creating a sub parish at Myura Place in hon- be in intimate union by direct dialogue with the our of St Anthony,Rev Fr Hugo Jesudasa Fernando Eucharistic Lord - a sacramental self gift of Jesus to served the parish for a short spell from January 1986 us which brings in a solidarity for all humanity. to October 1986, Late Rev Fr. Cyril Perera O.M.I was The celebration commenced with the hoisting of our forth Parish Priest served from 1986 to 1992. He the Flag staff on Thursday 29th July and continue the was a devoted God fearing humble priest with a devotion and novenas to St Lawrence for nine days. knowledge of youth and vocational education During On Saturday 7th August evening a colourful proces- his pastorate our church celebrated the Golden sion will take place with St Lawrence statue being Jubilee in 1988. He introduced the Infant Jesus placed on a beautifully decorated motor chariot and Novena which attracted church full of devotees on taken around along Galle Road and through the cross every Thursday evening .He built the Belfry and erect- roads. On its return to the church the final solemn ed a life size statue of St Lawrence opposite the porch vesper will be conducted and after the Benediction the inside the church compound. Late Fr. Cyril Perera Saumya with Chandani at Wasantha Obeysekera’s Aganthukaya Blessing by the relic of St Lawrence will be imparted. OMI with intense negotiation with the Government On Sunday 8th August the feast will culminate with a obtained a place at Myura Place and established St ward winning silver screen and theatre Hemasiri Liyanage’s career in acting have on Con-celebrated Tri-linguistic solemn festive Anthony’s Church and conducted novea and Holy actor Saumya Liyanage last week left Sri you? Eucharistic service at 8.00 a.m. The St Lawrence Mass. ALanka for three years to study for his PhD A: I got the chance to associate with a lot of Youth League is organizing a Carnival for three days Our fifth Parish Priest Rev.Fr. Cyril.S. Perera who abroad. Before his departure and amidst a very artists because of my father. But as a kid I want- on 6th, 7th and 8th a family get together with stalls, served our parish from 1992 to 1997 was a hardworking busy schedule Liyanage gave The Island his last ed to become a writer. It was mainly after I fin- music, games, Merry-go-round, and many other enter- dedicated and loving Pastor. He encouraged our youth interview and revealed a lot about the forthcom- ished my Advanced Level (A/L) examination that tainments for young and old and soliciting the to involve in parish activities and enrolled them in ing cinematic ventures Vidhu and Alone In A I became interested in the cinema and theatre. I parishioners to patronize In keeping with the Parish different associations .He shifted the life size statue of Valley. Following are excerpts. started going for film festivals representing vari- tradition the Cottage leaders are organizing to dis- St Lawrence to the road side facing Galle road and ous couriers thus naturally a keen interest grew tribute dry ration packets to the marginalized parish- built seven feet high fence right round the churchyard Q: Would you like to tell us something in me regarding cinema. And after I entered uni- ioners imitating St Lawrence distributing the wealth protecting from theft. about your role in the film Vidhu which is to versity I started acting in plays though I was not of the church to the needy poor widows and sick. Rev. Fr. Joseph Benedict Fernando a Scholar in be released soon? a student of theatre. However I must say that I . It was on the Education came to our A: This is the last film I have done for this didn’t become an actor for the stardom linked feast of Epiphany on parish to gain more year. Already I have done about three films of with that profession, but because I wanted to January 6th 1938 late knowledge in parish Asoka Handagama. I personally like his way of explore the nature of acting. Rt. Rev Dr. Masson St.Lawrence’s work served our parish thinking and the way he visualizes his images. Q: Speaking on theatre what will happen Archbishop of as the sixth Parish The film Vidhu is not just a children’s film, to the plays such as Colombo Colombo direct- Colombo inaugurated Priest from 1997 to 2006. Handagama through this creation has been very ed by Indika Ferdinando the new Parish of Church Wellawatte During his tenure cele- critical about the present society under- and Apahau Harenna Wellawtte and named it brated the church Diamond Jubilee in1998. neath the surface of this Baa directed by Rajitha St Lawrence Thereafter Fr.Joe Ben realizing the film. In Vidhu Disanayake where you St Lawrence was pro- celebrates difficulties of the dis- I play the role play leading roles after claimed as the Patron placed who were living of a politician, your departure from Sri Saint of Parish of in cramped unhealthy who is also the Lanka? Wellawatte .Originally 72nd Annual Feast Award winning a small church was rooms, built concrete illicit father of A: For Apahau built in honour of St benches in the church this child. The Harenna Baa I think they Lawrence at Villa compound and permit- story is basical- are going to train anoth- Pleasant,Wellawatte ted them to come and ly about a child actor Saumya er actor from our cast to later renamed as St relax and read News finding his iden- play the main role but I Lawrence Road and papers which were tity, about what don’t know about Rev Fr. Robert made available at the his value is. Liyanage talks Colombo Colombo. As Fernando O.M.I was Community Hall. Q: The other the character I had to appointed as the first During his tenure on film that you play in that drama had Parish Priest. Finding his recommendation have worked on, to perform five differ- the accommodation in four Eucharistic Alone in a Valley of actors and ent roles. And whoev- the small Church was Ministers were commis- (Nimnayaka er becomes this char- inadequate for the sioned by His Grace Hudakalawa) acter in the future will growing faithful he Rt.Rev.Dr. Oswald directed by Boodi caricaturs have to possess a good purchased a spacious Gomes Archbishop of Keerthisena, when knowledge on music and land at 375 Galle Road Colombo to distribute is that film going also possess music skills, Wellawatte, and the Holly Communion for to be released? especially concerning the foundation was laid for the sick and serve the A: I would also like guitar and he should be the new church by Parish. To add more to know when that film able to play the guitar Archbishop of beauty to the is going to be out. But while acting and also be Colombo Rt. Rev. Dr. Tabernacle altar he unfortunately only Boodi able to play the guitar Thomas Cooray on 17th installed two beautiful is the person who would in different methods January 1954. - Fr life size angels adoring know when and if that too. Robert Fernando on either side of the film will be out. Q: Which do you laboured vigorously for Tabernacle holding Q: Would you like to prefer the most, the thirty long years from burning lamps in their tell us a bit about Alone theatre or the cine- 1938 to 1968 to build the hands. in a Valley and about ma? present magnificent Rev. Fr. Bob Rodrigo your performance in that A: The value I red colour hexagon appointed as the sev- film? give to both cinema shaped church with enth Parish Priest on A: I think my perform- and theatre are alike.