Archives

by M. Felix V. Cooray

The Jubilee of 90 long years of the Guild of Mary Immaculate was celebrated on Dec. 8. The Guild of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was inaugurated ninety years ago in very quiet fashion. It was not heralded into existence with a flourish of trumpets.

Very Rev. Fr. E. Nicolas, O.M.I., the Rector, initiated the movement in 1913, and when the Guild was founded by him in the same year it started with a modest enrolment of thirty five members, who were all boys on the registers of the College. The only record extant which perpetuates these pioneers in detail is a photograph.

It is a good to know the objects of the Guild. The aims of the association are two fold: to promote the personal sanctification of its members and to work for the salvation of souls by praying, in union with the Blessed Virgin, for the conversion of sinners. The criterion is a devotion to Our Lady.

For this reason the Guild has been formally aggregated the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary established in the Church of our Lady of Victories, Paris. By virtue of this aggregation every member of the Guild is at the same time a member of this Archconfraternity, sharing in its privileges and indulgences as well as in the prayers and good works of its millions of members.

Rev. Fr. A. Varnat, O.M.I. was the first Director of the Guild, but before a year had elapsed he was succeeded by Rev. Fr. J. M. Cajetan, O.M.I., who laboured willingly and lovingly for the Guild right up to the day of his death. It was he who organized the Retreats for the Old Boys under the auspices of the Guild.

The memory of the first Retreat in 1916, centers round the preacher, the Rev. Fr. J. B. Martin, O.M.I., long since deceased, a saint and scholar, whose genial and affectionate disposition endeared him to one an all. These Old Boys' Retreats, and except for the year 1944, when the attendance was rather poor owing to distressing circumstances, each year has seen a large gathering of Old Boys rallying to keep troth and to pledge devotion to their heavenly Mother.

Fr. Cajetan, who served the Guild for a decade (1914-1924) cannot be passed by in a word. It behoves us to recall an extract from "A Souvenir of the Silver Jubilee" of the Guild: "To talk of Fr. Cajetan is to talk of the Guild, so closely was he identified with her life. For ten years he nurtured and fostered the infant society, guiding her path aright and infusing into her that spirit of love and piety which is the distinctive characteristic of the Guild.

He has been a source of great spiritual comfort to Guildsmen in grief and yet a stern reprover in wrong." It was during his time that the First Saturday devotions were introduced. It was he who launched a scheme of a Catholic library for the Guild which possesses today a magnificent collection of Catholic literature.

The Very Rev. Fr. D. J. Anthony, O.M.I., assumed control of the Guild in May, 1924, and served as Director till December, 1940, when he had to relinquish his office on being appointed General Manager of Schools.

During his long tenure of office he emulated the zeal of his predecessor and maintained the best traditions of the Guild. It was chiefly due to the unflagging efforts of Fr. Anthony in enlisting recruits to Our Lady's banner that the membership had overtopped the 1,000 mark when the Guild celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1938.

During his long period of service in College, Fr. Anthony held different posts of authority, but at all times, the welfare of the Guild was uppermost in his mind. His annual notices to members for the Guild Retreat couched in words of tender love and solicitude revealed his feelings. His services were ever unstinted.

His Directorship added new stores of religious inspiration. The first Saturday Mass at the grotto, the Vespers of Our Lady, a torchlight procession of Lourdes, lectures of present pupil members at meetings, were the fruits of his labour of love. For him, too, a marble altar in recognition of his directorship. It is well.

To the late Very Rev. Fr. M. J. LeGoc O.M.I., the Guild owes a debt that can never be liquidated. Speak of him in hushed tones, for the dead yet lives among us. Fair son of France, the Virgin's own anointed, he rests in the bosom of his heavenly Mother, for whom he yearned on earth. If it was question of the Guild, for him no task was too hard, no expense too lavish. As long as St. Joseph's lasts, his name is writ large in the grotto, a testimony of his love and devotion to Our Lady.

The next Director of the Guild was the Very Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai, O.M.I., who took charge of the Guild when he became the Rector of the College 1941. That was only to be expected as the memory of Fr. Cajetan, his brother, could not permit him to do otherwise. In this same year the Retreat was preached by the Rector himself and in his first notice to the members we find "the Guild has a glorious history behind it but we must intensify its action and make it a still more powerful instrument for good." Essentially, a man of Catholic action, his indomitable spirit helped to overcome all obstacles during the years of our exile.

In 1942 in spite of the black-out and transport difficulties the Retreat was preached at St. Aloysius' Seminary by Rev. Fr. J. Edamarran, S. J. and was followed with eager interest by a larger number of Guild members. The traditional procession to the grotto was not omitted. In 1943 and 1944, the Retreats were conducted at the College premises in Borella. It was gratifying to note the willingness with which the members responded to the clarion call of the Director in spite of apparently insurmountable difficulties. With such a doughty champion of Christendom to lead it, all augurs well for the future of the Guild.

The former Rectors Rev. Fr. Don Peter, Fr. Stanley Abeysekera, Fr. Emanual, and the present Rector Rev. Fr. Victor Silva, has assisted the Guild in numerous ways.

Thereafter Guild was carried on under the Directorships of late Frs. Justin Perera, Joe Nethasingha, Noel Perera and many other priests. Today the Guild administration is carried out by Rev. Fr. Anselm Croos, Director, the Secretary Mr. Desmond Fernando and other long standing Guildsman.

First Saturday devotion to our 'Divine Mother are being carried out every month at the College Grotto and in the Chapel. It is a solemn promise given by Our blessed Mother that she will assist everyone at the last moment who follow the first Saturday devotions."

It is Our sincere Prayer that our Guild will go from strength to strength with the blessings of Our heavenly Mother for generations and generations in the years to come.

STONE 'N' STRING

www.ppilk.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager