Christian Perspectives

Our Blessed Mother came over waves unchaperoned

Centenary celebration of the Church of Our Lady of Matara:

The Church dedicated to St.Mary, Our Lady of Matara Shrine will celebrate with splendour on Sunday, September 9. The Matara Church became famous due to the miraculous statue of Our Mother enshrined in the Church.

The Church facing the southern seas of Matara is attracted due to many miracles attributed to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Child. The Shrine formally known as the `Church of Our Lady of Victory’ enshrined the miraculous statue of `Our Lady of Matara’ for well over one hundred years.

The statue is 18 inches in height and cut out of one piece of Ashwood- and is of the Madonna and the Child. Mother Mary is seen in standing position with the Child Jesus upon a pedestal featuring three ocean waves.

The statue lost in the sea thrice returned to her Sea Board Shrine at Matara.The last time it was a result of the three waves of the cruel tsunami, December 26,2004, and the statue was found three days later.

Our Lady comes on the waves - the first time

The statue resembles Portuguese type of sculpture of the early 17th century and according to legend, a huge wooden crate pulled up by fishermen off the coast of Weligama, near Matara three centuries ago had found the statue inside, untouched by the sea water. The fishermen handed over the statue to the then Parish Priest of Matara Church. This was the first time that the Statue returned from the sea.

Cholera Epidemic

When the cholera epidemic swept through the entire southern district claiming over hundreds of lives, the people of all faiths rallied around and took in a solemn procession through the streets of Matara pleading intercession of Matara Matha for an end to the epidemic.

The health authorities declared the area was safe and no fresh cases and no further deaths were reported.The Miracle has happened.

Our Lady comes over the waves - the second time

Since then the people have viewed the statue as Miraculous. In the early 1900s, the First Bishop of Galle, Rt.Rev.Dr.Joseph Van Reith, a Belgian national, sent the statue to Europe to be restored by a famous sculptor Zeus of Gehent. After restoration, the sculptor placed statue on the ship ‘Beachy’ to reach Colombo.

The ship had caught in a storm in the North Sea, nearly wrecked and most of the cargo was destroyed or thrown overboard. The ship made its way to Middlesborough before continuing on to Colombo, and another rough patch at sea threw overboard part of the remaining cargo.

Finally the ship arrived in Colombo without the statue. The Bishop of Galle wrote to friends in Belgium to seeking their help to retrieve the priceless item. The news reached to say a person in Middesborough was in possession of the statue and was demanding money in exchange.

When the sum was refused, he damaged the face of the statue and threw it away. The statue recovered and was returned once again to Zeus for repair. The sculptor did his best to retain its original beauty.

The Bishop of Galle who was visiting Belgium undertook to return the statue to Matara. Sailing on the “Princess Alice” and reaching Colombo Bishop found the statue missing when he went to take possession of it.

Three days later, the statue arrived aboard another vessel. FOR THE SECOND TIME OUR LADY OF MATARA RETURNED FROM THE SEA.

This is the story of the sea voyage on the 26th of December - Holy Family Sunday, 2004 at 9.10 a.m.The congregation was less than usual perhaps due to the Christmas holidays on this fateful day.

Our Lady comes over the waves - the third time

While the devotees awaiting to receive Holy Communion, the Church,its environment and the whole area suddenly was going under water.

Having noticed the gushing waters engulfing Rev.Fr.Charles Hewawasam, the Administrator and celebrant of Holy Mass shouted at the people to run for safety.

It was the stubborn waves of tsunami and even Fr.Charles who was forced to run went to take the Blessed Sacrament and the Miraculous Statue of Our Lady to a safe place. But it was too late.Everything has been devoured by the stubborn cruel waters.

He also noted that one other stubborn and disastrous wave was fast approaching causing damage to the Church building, St.Servatious College and the entire area. He promptly took refuge in the new building and saw even the vehicles being carried away by cruel gushing waters.

The break between the first wave and the second wave was about 20 minutes. The valuable jewellery presented to the Blessed Mother in 1918 was missing.

When the water receded Fr.Charles with a few parishioners and relatives walking towards the Main Road saw a man carrying a bucket, similar to the one used for church collections. The man was asked to show what he was carrying and they found to their utter surprise he was taking away the jewellery.

Solemn surprise

The Parish priest and the Congregation was in constant prayer awaiting the return of the Miraculous statue. Around 6.00 in the morning of December 29, 2004, Fr.Charles had a visitor by name Milton Hakmanage.

He accompanied by Ravi Rathnasingham, one of our parishioners. They informed that the statue has been washed ashore 400 metres away from the land that Sister of Charity of St. Mary’s Convent was hoping to buy. Fr.Charles cried embracing the statue praising God.

They noted that the Infant Jesus carved on the Statue of Our Lady of Matara had not lost His crown during the sea voyage. It is so tiny, but had survived. They also recovered the gold chain which was on the Infant Jesus carved on the Statue of Our Lady’s body. The Miracle happened for the third time.

This miraculous statue draws thousands of devotees to her. After the tsunami as the statue needed restoration Milan University initiated the project and sent down the 4th generation sculptor Liciano Griti and no paint but cleaned properly. It remained with its original vibrant colours.

M. Felix V. Cooray, a devotee who had visited the Shrine for 45 years.

Feast of the Blessed Mother Teresa, servant of the poor

The Universal Church awaits the elevation of Blessed Mother Teresa to Sainthood, four years after her beatification by late Pope John Paul II. Today, the day of her 10th death anniversary, we recall her to our minds and pray to the Divine intervention to elevate her a saint of the whole church.

The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints awaits a second miracle to propose her canonization. The devotees pray that Mother Teresa be declared a Saint of the Universal Church during the rain of the present Pope Benedict XVI.

Mother Teresa, one of the greatest Missionaries of the 20th century whose work among the poor and sick earned her the pet name “Saint of the Gutters”.

She the winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize for Peace, was beatified by the late Pope John Paul ll on World Mission Sunday, October 19, 2003, at a ceremony witnessed by over 300,000 pilgrims from around the World gathered at St.Peter’s Square,Vatican.

It was six years after her death.The Pope set a record by beatifying 1,315 persons including Mother Teresa, during His 26 year Pontificate.

“Mother Teresa whom I have always felt close to me was one of the most important figures of our time, one of the greatest missionaries of the 20th century.” The Holy Father established September 5 as Mother Teresa’s feast day - “the day in of her birth heaven.”

Process of her beatification though claimed to be the fastest in the Church history, the present Pope Benedict XVI has created history by allowing to open a dossier for his predecessor late Pope John Paul II on June 28, 2005, just 61 days after his demise.

Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997.The College of Cardinals advised the late Pope not to hurry the process of beatifying the Founder of the Missionaries of Charity.But the late Pope responding to the pleas from her home Diocese of Kolkata waived the usual five year waiting period after the death and issued a special dispensation to open the dossier and expedite the process.

The closing session of the diocesan inquiry was held on August 15, 2001. The Acts of the Diocesan Inquiry consisted of 80 volumes, each approximately 450 pages.

This material was duly submitted to the Congregation for the Saints in Rome. Although an exemption was made for the period of waiting, no exemption was made to move away from the formal process itself or from any of its steps.

The dossier closed included the cure of Monica Basra of Kolkata who suffered from stomach tumour was attributed to the intercession of Mother Teresa, which cure the doctors could not explain.

Blessed Mother Teresa was an inspirational figure to millions.

Many called her a Saint of our times while she was still alive. Pope John Paul ll at the beatification ceremony on October 19, 2003, said: “Even in our days God inspires new models of Sainthood.In her we perceive the urgency to put oneself in a state of service, especially for the poorest and most forgotten, the last of the last”.

Mother Teresa, the luminous messenger of God’s love was born to Albanese parents, Nikola and Drane Bojaxhiu, on August 27,1910 in Skopje,Macedonia.

She was the youngest of the three children and was baptised Gonxha Agnes. She received her First Holy Communion at the age of five and a half and was confirmed in November 1916 at the age of six.

Desiring to be a missionary, a member of the Sisters of Loreto,in Ireland, known for their missionary work in India, Gonxha left her home at the age of 18 and joined the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in September 1928.

Done in religious garb she took the name Sister Mary Teresa honouring St. Therese of Lisieux. In December,1928, she left for India, and reached Kolkata (Calcutta) on January 6, 1929.

After making her First Profession of Vows in May 1931, Sister Teresa went to the Loreto Entally community in Calcutta to teach at St. Mary’s School for girls after taking her final vows on May 24, 1937 she came to be addressed as Mother Teresa and she was promoted Principal of the school in 1944.

After studying nursing,she moved to the slums of Calcutta (Kolkata) and in 1948 founded her order Missionaries of Charity, to serve the blind, the aged, the disabled, and the dying.In 1950 she set up her headquarters in the Indian City which guides 751 Centres covering around 90 countries with nuns and lay workers.

In 1963 the Indian government awarded her the Padmashri (“Lord of the Lotus”) for her services to the people of India, and in 1971 Pope Paul VI awarded her the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize.

In 1979 she received the Nobel Prize for Peace. Sister Nirmala Joshi Ranchi, born to a Brahmin family of Nepal,converted to Christianity at the age of 24, one of the earliest disciples succeeded Mother Teresa’s as Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity six month before her death and had added 166 new Centres said: “ The past ten years has been a period of grace and growth. Formally volunteers came from European countries in addition to India and now volunteers also come from countries in the Asian Region Japan, Korea and Taiwan”.

“There is a fire everywhere,the interest in the Mother, wanting to know her message, wanting to know more about her”, she added.

E.Weerapperuma

Two Salesians to be ordained priests

Two deacons of the Salesian of Don Bosco congregation will be ordained priests of God by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Harald Anthony Perera the Bishop of Galle at Salesian Provincial House, Dungalpitiya on Thursday September 06th 2007 at 5.00 p.m.

Br. Roshantha Ranatunga son of K.A. Nihal Ranatunga and Mrs. Anserita Ranatunga of Nuwara Eliya, completed his primary education at Nuwara Eliya Gamini College.

He entered Don Bosco Seminary Dankotuwa and completed his Philosophical disciplines in Don Bosco Kotadeniyawa and Theology in Philippines Don Bosco Center of Studies. He will celebrate his first Holy Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church Nuwara-Eliya on Sunday September 9th, 2007 at 9.30 a.m.

Br. Melinda Wickramasinghe son of late W.M.D. Marshal Wickramasinghe and Mrs. Anaslin Rita of Uswetakeiyawa completed his primary education at Uswetakeiyawa St. Mary’s College and St. Sebastian College Kadana.

He entered Don Bosco Seminary Dankotuwa and completed his Philosophical disciplines in Don Bosco Kotadeniyawa and Theology in Rome Salesian Pontifical University.

He will celebrate his first Holy Mass at St. Mary Immaculate Church Uswetakeiyawa on Sunday, September 9th, 2007 at 8.00 a.m.

September Events

A lecture on “Towards a Mine Free Sri Lanka” by Dr.Gamini Goonetileke FRCS, Consultant Surgeon of Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital today at 5.00 pm at the Archbishop’s Jubilee Hall, Borella It is organized by the Christian Alliance for Social Action to mark the 10th death anniversary of Blessed Mother Teresa.

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‘Lama Dharmadutha’ rally at Kandana on Sept. 8

‘Lama Dharmadutha’ rally of Kandana Region will be held on September 8 at Kandana St. Sebastian’s Church premises with the participation of Rev. Fr. Reginald Saparamadu, National Director of the Missions.

The theme of the Rally will be “Let us Proclaim the Story of Jesus”. The Rally will follow the Holy Mass offered by former National Director of the Missions Rev. Fr. Tony Martin. The Childrens rally is organised by Director Kandana - Region Rev. Fr. Shayam Dassanayake and District President Piyal Jayakody.

Children, the young members of the Missionary society representing Kandana, Hapugoda, Batagama, Weligampitiya, Nagoda, Wewala, Kalaeliya, Bollatha, Polgahahena, Uswetakeiyawa and Kapuwagara will participate at the rally.

The day’s ceremony include felicitation of well known vocalist Ivor Dennis, a workshop on health, musical fiesta, presentation of awards and a concert organised by the members of the Missionary Society.

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125th Jubilee at St. Mary’s Church, Peliyagoda

Peliyagoda St. Mary’s Church will celebrate the 125th Jubilee on September 9 with a festive High Mass offered at 8.00 am by Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Rt.Rev. Dr.Marius Peiris. Colombo Archbishop Rt.Rev.Dr.Oswald Gomis will preside over the vespers at 7.00pm.

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Celebration of the Birth Day of Our Lady

The Feast of the Birth of Our Lady will be celebrated at the Church of Risen Lord at Kadolkelle on September 8 with a festive High Mass at 8.00 am. There will be Holy Masses at 6.00 am, 12.00 noon and at 7.00pm followed by the candle procession.

Vespers will be sung on Friday September 6, at 7.00 pm.

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Kahatawila Church feast of St.Vinefreda

Feast of St Vinefreda will be celebrated at Kahatawila Church on September 9, with a festive High Mass at 8.00 am. Rev.Fr.Sarto Nonis, the Diocesan Chaplain for the Lay Apostolate will be the chief celebrant. Vespers will be sung on Saturday, September 8 at 7.00pm and the Chilaw Diocese Vicar General Very Rev.Fr.Patrick Wijesinghe will preside.

There will be Holy Masses at 6.00 am, 11.00 am, 5 pm and 7.00 pm. The evening Mass at 7.00 will be offered by Chilaw Bishop Rt.Rev.Dr.Valence Mendis followed by a procession.

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Tarala Holy Cross Church

Feast: September 16, 8.30 am Holy Mass. Rev.Fr.Bonne Fernandopulle, Rector St. Sebastian College, Moratuwa. Vespers 7.30 pm presided by Fr.Patrick Perera, Rector St.Aloysius seminary, Borella.

Then procession. Fr Lag on Thursday Sept 6 at 4.30 pm Novenas and masses daily at 6.30 till 14th Friday. After flag hoisting mass at the cemetery followed by `Way Prasansa’ organized by Daham Pahana.

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Our Lady of Good Health

The feast of Our Lady of Good Health (Annai Veilankanni Feast) at Chekku Street,Colombo, will be celebrated on Sunday, September 9 with a Solemn High Mass in Tamil at 7.30 am.

There will be a Holy Mass at 5.30 am in Tamil and a Holy Mass in English at 10.00 am. The 12.00 noon Holy Mass will be in Tamil and at 4.00 pm a Holy Mass in Sinhala which will be followed by a Holy Mass in Tamil at 5.00 pm.

After the evening Holy Mass in Tamil the chariot procession will commence at 6.00 pm. On Saturday September 8 there will be Holy Masses to celebrate the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary at intervals as on the feast day.

After the 5.00 pm Holy Mass in Tamil, Vespers will be sung at 6.30 pm. There are also Holy Masses offered daily at 12.00 noon during this period for the sick.