‘Mary, Pray for Peace’

COLOMBO: The Rosary Rally organised by the Colombo Centre Deanery with the Colombo South and North deaneries on the theme ‘Mary, Pray for Peace in our country’ will be held in Colombo on October 7.

The participants at the rally will attend the Holy Eucharist celebration to be held at the All Saints’ Church, Borella at 2.00 p.m. and at 3.15 p.m. They will march in procession reciting Rosary, to reach for Benediction at the St.Joseph’s College grounds, Maradana at 5 p.m. Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis will preside over the ceremony.

Shocked and saddened by the tragic demise

COLOMBO: Caritas Sri Lanka, National Secretariat of the National Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka is shocked and saddened by the untimely and tragic demise of Rev. Fr. Nicholas Pillai Packiaranjith. We strongly condemn all acts of violence that inflict pain to innocent civilians and loss of lives.

Rev. Fr. Nicholas Pillai Packiaranjith was killed in a claymore blast in the Mallavi area on September 26 when he was carrying food and humanitarian supplies to a refugee camp and orphanage at Vidathalvu.

Rev. Fr. Nicholas Pillai Packiaranjith (40) who had been serving as a priest for the past 10 years, was also the District Coordinator of Mannar for the Jesuit Refugee Service.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies to the Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Rajappu Joseph, the clergy, people of Mannar diocese. The Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), and to the bereaved family members of Rev. Fr. Nicholas Pillai Packiaranjith.

We also pray for the speedy recovery of. Mr. Eugine, who was also seriously injured in this incident. Over the past several years there has been an increase in the number of acts of violence against innocent civilians.

This incident and other incidents of this nature is a reminder to us of the gravity of the situation in the country and of the need to establish lasting peace in our country.

All religions practice peace, and therefore, we call upon all Sri Lankans to condemn these acts of violence and unite to bring about a lasting solution for peace in the country.

We also call both parties to return to the negotiating table and work out a political solution to the conflict in order to end violence and killings in Sri Lanka.

We fervently pray that God will grant eternal rest to Rev. Fr. Nicholas Pillai Packiaranjith and spiritual consolation to those who mourn his death.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera. Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando Chairman National Director Justice and Peace Commission Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

Rt.Rev.Dr.Frank Marcus Fernando - reminiscence

E.Weerapperuma

I knew Chilaw Bishop emeritus Rt.Rev.Dr.Frank Marcus Fernando vaguely from my school days. His Lordship was then the Editor of Gnanartha Pradeepaya.

I was a student in Grade six at St. Anne Kumara Pasala which was situated close to the Wattala Petrol Shed (which is no more) and my elder brother was beginning to contribute articles to newspapers and magazines.

Rev. Fr. Ignatius Gamlath was the editor when the Pradeepaya published my brother’s first essay titled “Amma”.

It was a big day for me I remember going round the houses close by taking the weekly with a broad smile on my face. A small poem composed by me appeared in the 1958 Christmas issue and I cannot remember who edited the weekly then.

I continued to send stories to the children’s page. But nothing appeared. I also used to send letters to the editor. Although nothing appeared in the weekly, one day I got a letter from the Editor of the Gnanartha Pradeepaya.

The letter along with the story or letter, I sent, came back to me with an advice. It was from Rev.Fr.Franck Marcus Fernando. When we shifted to the Hendala Housing Scheme, I used to see him coming to offer Holy Mass on Sundays at St.Francis Xavier’s Church at the Leprosy hospital.

Although I do not have that letter with me now I remember his advise. The letter in Sinhala said, “Cultivate your own style of writing. Promote and preserve your own identity”. Fr. Marcus would have seen my talent in what I had written. Thanks to his advise, I am where I am today.

What I said above is just a preamble to introduce something valuable, which need our recognition and appreciation.

The professional photographer Percy Fernando from Chilaw has come out with a laudable piece of work in the form of a compact diskette (CD). The CD named “Collection”, was released recently at a function held in Chilaw to bid adieu to retired Chilaw Bishop Rt.Rev.Dr. Franck Marcus Fernando.

The “Collection” contains still photographs taken during the past two decades, covering important events in the life of His Lordship while serving the Chilaw diocese as its chief shearperd.

It also has a few photographs of His Lordship young seminary days and days serving the Colombo diocese as a priest, and the early pictures of elevation as an auxiliary Bishop to the then Archbishop Thomas Cardinal Cooray OMI.

But it is pity there were no photographs of His Lordship serving as the Editor of the weekly or as Rector of St.Aloysius Seminary, Borella.

As Percy claims it might be the first time we come across, a collection of Photographs pact into a CD, one form of long preservation. All pictures put into “Collection” were displayed at an Exhibition in 2006, but due to some reason (Heavy rain?) many could not attend the exhibition.

But now if you have a computer at home you can see all pictures Percy had included in the “Collection” and listen to what the present Chilaw Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis has to say and the words of appreciation of the Bishop Emeritus on Percy’s work.

We congratulate the efforts of Percy, which also opens new vistas to budding photographers.

People of diverse faith can live in harmony

R. P. Jayasuriya

HARMONY: Whatever religion we believe in, if its manifestation within us rings true, and is not a modification to suit our convenience and ulterior motives: it will reap just rewards within ourselves and without.

People of diverse faiths can live side by side, enjoying each others diversity if only humanity had the wisdom to understand its everlasting benefits.

Life has to be shared, hands to be outstretched to care and to help, hearts to love one another and minds to understand each others differences and to accept them as equals. The goal should not be to compete to be greater but to do our utmost for the ‘highest’.

Christians know that God gives rain and sunshine to all His creations: to the just and the unjust. But, God will deal eventually, in His time, with the unjust, the evil and the sinners whether they are Christians or not.

“All things work together for the good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose...” A good example is the life of John Newton who wrote ‘Amazing Grace’:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I’m found

Was blind but now I see.

Newton, to begin with, was a slave-trader and a thug of sorts. (In those days slave-trading was acceptable by man but in God’s eyes it was obviously not).

‘Amazing Grace’ came out of a sinful man who had transformed and repented: and the amazing good that came out of this evil slavery, and the American civil war was the integration of the blacks into society; into positions of worth and respect.

“All things had worked together for the good...” In fact, today, one of the candidates for American presidency is a coloured man and equal rights for all are being upheld: everything is certainly not perfect but the utmost efforts are being made for the highest causes.

The Bible says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. In other words, we are all sinners, although we ‘proudly’ value ourselves as good and better than others. Pride itself is a sin that God abhors. Only God knows and sees the depth of our sinful, selfish hearts.

We can fool the world but cannot fool Almighty God. To our holy God even a passing jealous or covetous thought is a sin and He wants to help us cleanse ourselves to be worthy of heaven. It is a God-given free-will to choose the broadway or the narrow.

What about the agnostics and the atheists? The God-believers should not reject them as God loves them. The simplicity of God’s command is to love one another - even to love our enemies! But, He also admonishes us to ask for wisdom more than anything else... and to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves in our daily interactions.

If we professed in pride to understand everything about God’s word and man’s world, we would have to be God Himself! Therefore, let us humbly not try to do so.

It was Einstein who humbly stated, on being awarded the Nobel Prize, that his knowledge is equal to a grain of sand in the ocean-bed. He was a Jewish believer who believed in an awesome God.

We have come to a point of time in history when we have been given chance after chance to learn from past mistakes and sins that humanity has committed.

It is time that we used all advancements for the upliftment of mankind in thought, word and deed and not for evil or selfish ambition. This is possible only if religion is given a priority status.

God says, “The love of money is the beginning of evil.” The beginning and advancement of evil has begun in today’s world - and true to God’s word, it is because of the love of money! If we loved our religion, worldly matters will take 2nd and 3rd place in our lives. We can then and then only enjoy the world without being its slave.

God says that if we lead children astray (child abuse is a major factor today) it is better to tie a millstone around our necks and be thrown into the sea. If there are agencies that protect children from abuse, let us encourage them without criticising their religious sponsorship or inspiration.

If Christian organisations and churches clothe the poor and feed the hungry, it must be understood that it is God’s will that we share and care; and the saying goes that God has given the world enough for its need but not enough for its greed!

‘Conversion’ is God’s business. No human being or church or NGO can convert the heart of another - only God Himself, by His unmerited favour, can do that.

However, a Christian’s primary task is to go into the entire world and preach and make known the word of God, in order to lead mankind to heaven. This is done as an act of love and not as an act of competition with other religions.

A Christian, therefore, cannot even attempt the proud act of conversion, but, a true Christian will have the love of God at heart and this is the driving force and passion to save all humanity from hell; and therefore, we cannot but tell...

Christians have been thrown in jail, persecuted and martyred for less, and this is why there is no hostile retaliation to hostility... “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness” sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Nearest, Dearest and The Best

Go tell it to the people - my people scattered like Sheep,

Over the hills and valleys, without a Shepherd wander,

Tell them of a loving Father who is watching over yonder

But still is closer then the nearest, dearest and the best.

Tell them I am with you in the morning, noon and night -

As you wander in the Garden just listen to the wind -

The rustling leaves will make you wonder of the Spirit within

That moves in rhythmic motion the new blooms in the Spring.

At noontide rest I’m with you, if you listen while you rest,

And peace will overflow you as you lean upon my breast,

As you leave your burdens with me, you will feel the cooling breeze,

Cast all your cares upon Me and know that I care more than these.

The worldly ones may tell you that they care more for you -

But child, my child, my Spirit lives within you -

And will guide and slow your way in ways you do not know

So keep close to me in Spirit in whatever way you choose to go.

Lord, I thank you for your love and guidance in my life

help me to help others know

you also as the nearest, dearest and the best Friend and Guide.

Indrani Goonetilleke

Humour

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?

A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?

A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

A. Pharaoh’s daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David’s Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q.. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?

A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?

A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?

A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?

A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?

A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn’t they play cards on the Ark?

A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...)

PS. Did you know it’s a sin for a woman to make coffee? Yup, it’s in the Bible. It says....”He-brews”

KEEP SMILING!!!! GOD LOVES YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!!!! Friends are God’s way of taking care of us. ...Faith, Hope & Love—but the greatest of these is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Fr. Muller Hospital performs rare surgery

MANGALORE, Karnataka: As the world celebrated the World Heart Day,September 30, Fr.Muller’s Medical College Hospital here, showed it in action with a team of doctors performing a rare scalpel-less operation on a two-month-old child to set right a congenital heart defect.

The child from Kannur in Kerala was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition. It had one major and two minor holes in the heart and was suffering from breathing and feeding complications.

A team of doctors comprising cardiologists, anaesthesiologist and a

paediatrician employed the interventional procedure by which instead of a direct surgery, the heart is accessed by multiple coils passed through a major blood artery in the thigh of the infant, thereby closing the holes.

This unique procedure lasted 45 minutes, said Father Dennis D’Sa, the administrator of the hospital run by the Mangalore Diocese.

Since the child’s parents were poor, the hospital waived the cost of the treatment, he added.

Courtesy: SAR NEWS

October events

October 4: The feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Veyangoda: The Church dedicated to Michael, the Archangel will celebrate the 137th feast of the Church on October 7 with a festive Holy Mass at 8.00 a.m.The Vespers will be sung on Saturday by Very Rev. Fr. Marcus Ferdinandez, the Vicar General, Colombo East. On October 5, a Special Healing Service will be held at the church.

Galle: The Galle Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Holy Rosary will celebrate 133rd feast on Sunday October 7, with a festive High Mass offered at 8.00 a.m. by Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera, the Bishop of Galle. His Lordship will preside at the vespers on Saturday, and procession will be followed by the evening service of the same day.

Badalgama: The Church dedicated to Our Lady of Holy Rosary will mark the Golden Jubilee of the Church on October 7. On Saturday October 6, Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis will preside over the vespers at 7.00 p.m. The festive High Mass will be offered at 8.00 am by Colombo North Region Very Rev. Fr. Susil Silva.

Rawathawatta: Katubedda Church will celebrate the feast of the Holy Angels on the same day with a festive High Mass at 8.00 a.m. offered by Rev Fr. Ranjith Madurawela. Vespers on Saturday at 6.00 p.m. will be sung by Rv. Fr. Gehan Gunathilaka.

Bandirippuwa: The Church dedicated to Our Lady of Holy Rosary, Bandirippuwa will celebrate the feast on October 7 with a festive Holy Mass offered by Rev. Fr. Sunil Rupasinghe of the Blessed Sacrament community.

Vespers will be sung by Chilaw Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis. Hoisting of the flags will be on September 28, 5.00 p.m. and Novenas will be conducted by Rev. Fr. Pradeep Roshantha.

Kelaniya: The Church dedicated to St. Teresa will celebrate the feast on October 7 with a festive High Mass offered at 8.00 am. Vespers will be sung on Saturday 7.00 pm

Bandarawatta: The Catholics of Bandarawatta will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Holy Rosary on October 7 with a festive High Mass at 7.30 pm. Vespers will be sung on Saturday at 7.00 pm.