Book released on Chilaw Diocese

CHILAW: Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Marcus Fernando, Bishop of Chilaw retired in October 19 and handed over the Diocese officially to his successor Co-ajotor Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis at a ceremony held on Saturday, October 28, at the Chilaw Cathedral, in the presence of a large gathering.

A book "Halawatha Padavi Pannaraya" (Maturity of the Chilaw Diocese) was released to mark the occasion.

It was a compilation of articles by several, under the able guidance of Rev. Fr. Ernest Poruthota, for Catholic Media Institute, St.Anthony's Church, Kirimetiyagara.

The book unfolds 67-year history of the Chialaw Diocese beginning from 1930 and it claims to be the diocese of the Diocesan priests in the country carved out from Colombo and Jaffna.

It is a diocese not founded by any foreign Missionaries nor any Religious Congregation but was an experiment of diocesan priests alone.

The 283 paged book with 20 full page colour photos is sponsored by the Christian Affairs Division of the Religious Affairs Ministry and printed and published by the Catholic Press, Colombo.