St. Joseph's college OBU holds pre AGM Mass after two years

An unprecedented gathering of Old Boys' Union members of St. Joseph's College turned up at the eucharistic sacrifice offered prior to the Annual General Meeting held on sunday the June 26 at the Josephian Chapel at Darley Road, Maradana.

The Celebrant Rev. Fr. Anslem Croos very appropriately preaching with profound understanding and feeling referred to the Holy Mass as the High point in Christian living. It was most relevant as this traditional offering of the Masse which had been a practice for over 65 years was discontinued by the OBU President Rev. Fr. Victor Silva and its Council of Management of the year 2002/03 and done away with at two subsequent AGM's in years 2003 and 2004.

This and the constitution requirement to hold the AGM on last Sunday in June was the cause of a petition in the District Court of Colombo in the year 2004 by two Senior life member Old Boys T. Don Augustine and Dushyantha Fonseka, which received wide coverage in Sri Lanka and abroad.

This matter was amicably resolved outside court by the two petitioners signing an agreement whereby Rev. Fr. Victor Assured that future AGMs will be held on Sunday and preceded by the age old tradition of offering the Holy Scarified of the Mass much to the relief of the Old Boys' of St. Joseph's and the Catholic Hierarchy of Sri Lanka as the Court case was withdrawn in a spirit of goodwill and reconciliation initiated by Rev. Fr. BOB Rodrigo of Fatima Church, Maradana and Manik Pereira, Chairman Asha Agency.

Consequently, the Petition filed in Court Action was dismissed.