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"Your heart will one day be pierced with a sword." (Luke 2-35)

In remembrance of the blessed Mother the faithful of Ja-Ela prepared to celebrate this great occasion with grandeur. Two hundred years ago, the parishioners of Ja-Ela decided with permission of their parish priest to build a church in Ja-Ela. The late Mrs. A. Helena Silva a devout Catholic donated this land for this purpose.

Cornerstone for a permanent building - Having felt the need for a permanent building the foundation stone was laid on November 9, 1801, by the then Muppu, A. Rubarthu Silva the lay leader, in the presence of three Oratorian Fathers namely, Rev. Frs. Joechim Murray, Mariam Saldano and Jaun Vasz.

Consecration of the Church - After fifty years at the invitation of Rev. Fr. Padro Noringno the half built building was blessed by His Grace the Archbishop Most Rev. Caithane Antonio in 1851. This was indeed a memorable day for the Catholics of Ja-Ela. The late A. Anslem de Silva and his family members donated the statues then needed.

Titular feasts - In the early days besides the Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Seven Dolours, other feasts like the feast of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary and the feast of St. Joseph were celebrated with special devotion in this church. Since 1852 only the Patronal Feast was celebrated with due festivity with the preceding Novenas. As the time passed by the feasts of Purification and St. Joseph received less attention. The first Parish Priest of the New Mission was Rev. Fr. R. Mahe omi (1955/1966) who initiated the creation of the new parish.

In the later years this same priest was responsible with his unsturned efforts to commence the work of constructing a new church building in place of the one that existed as that was then old and was in a dilapidated condition.

At the invitation of Rev. Fr. R. Mahe omi, His Grace Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Cooray omi, then Archbishop of Colombo, blessed and laid the foundation stone for the new church. Rev. Fr. Mahe is therefore, mainly responsible in constructing the vestry, sanctuary and side wings together with sanscristian room. We hail his great accomplishments and memorable achievements gained having rendered faithful years of great service specially to the parishioners of Ja-Ela.

We pray for his soul to attain the Kingdom of Heaven.

As second Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. K. William Perera omi (1955/1974) rendered a fruitful service to Ja-Ela church.

The third Parish Priest was Rev. Fr. Hugo Jesudasa Fernando (1974/1985) who rendered great service by celebrating the 175th year jubilee with honour on September 19 1976.

The fourth Parish Priest was Rev. Fr. John Hettiarachchi (1985/1992) who was instrumental in building the front portico. Rev. Fr. Merl Shanthi Perera (1993/1997) was our fifth Parish Priest at Ja-Ela. He rendered yeoman service to this church.

As sixth Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Hugo Palihawadena (1997/1998) was solely responsible for the purchase of lands adjoining the front portion of the Mount Calvary for Rupees thirty seven lakhs. He built four stations of the Way of the Cross with statues similar to the Mount Calvary Shrine.

It was for the first time a Jesuit Priest took over as seventh Parish Priest (1998/2001). He was Rev. Fr. H. D. Peter Christopher SJ. He preached the Bible and made others understand, as how genuine Catholics and actual followers of Christ be always ready to face any difficulty at times when we have to face critics. He too build many stations of the Way of the Cross.

On October 16, 2001, Rev. Fr. Leo Camillus took over the administration of Ja-Ela Mission. Special mention deserves to Fr. Leo Camillus. Even before the completion of one year as the present parish priest, he had to shoulder a great task. It is the jubilee celebrations to be conducted in an appropriate manner, to the satisfaction of the parishioners desire.

Thus a two week retreat was conducted. Then he began the external preparations like giving a face lift to the church and other work pertaining to the jubilee celebrations. The facade was redesigned. In this context, we are grateful to the Archbishop Emiratus Rt. Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando for granting a priest worker with interest. One of the special features of the church is the Calvary and the Novena devotion of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Calvary - Rev. Fr. Peter Noringhe blessed the Calvary shrine in 1848. The first Passion Play was staged by late L. Louis Fernando in 1859. His son L. Thomas Fernando (Annavi) continued this passion play until he reached his old age. Presently it is staged by the active support of Messrs E. Leonard B. Fernando and L. Placidus Indrajith Fernando.

The 150th jubilee of the blessing of the Calvary was held on Good Friday, 1998. Archbishop Emirates Most Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando, graced the occasion. Having realised the lack of space, His Grace paid a sum of Rupees thirty seven lakhs as a loan to buy the adjoining lands to facilitate the expansion of the Calvary. John Anthony Fernando being one party member asked for additional sum of money for the losses that incurred. Finally, he was paid rupees seven and half lakhs from the amount that was lying to the credit of the Church Fund which was saved during the period of Rev. Fr. Merl Shanthi Perera as the Parish Priest, Ja-Ela. A. Madona Sugandi Puniya de Silva donated 3 perch block of land for the expansion of Calvary.

Novena devotion

The inaugural Novena in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows was held on March 9, 1973, (the first Friday in lent) with the permission of the late Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Benjamin Cooray OMI then Archbishop of Colombo. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Edmund J. Fernando, Bishop emeritus graced the inaugural Novena. Lord Bishops of other diocese including the present Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis has graced centenary celebrations. The 1500th Novena was held in June 2002. Rt. Rev. Dr. Marius Peiris the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, graced the occasion. We remember with gratitude, late Rev. Fathers, Ignatius Gamlath, Joseph Aloysius, and Kala Soori Marceline Jayakody and Rev. Fr. Crishanthus Fernando, and late Rev. Bro. Simon Mihindukulasooriya cannot be forgotten.

St. Mary's Maha Vidyalaya has a record of 125 years history. The present principal is E. N. B. Silva. The teachers and pupils would always come forward to help the church when their services are needed. The Parish Priest, Fr. Leo Camillus together with Sunday School teachers devote themselves to bring up these children in the correct path.

This year coincides with the jubilee and is considered a blessing.
Let us celebrate the 200th jubilee year in a fitting manner.

- L S Nelson Fernando

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