Christian Perspectives

Month of June, dedicated to St. Anthony

June is known as the month of St. Anthony of Padua in Sri Lanka.

The following text is based on the book titled Historical Gleanings by Rt. Rev. Dr. Don Peter, one time Church Historian. The Chapter 13 of the text is allocated to Lanka’s favourite Portuguese Saint in his book.

The Chapter describes that when Portuguese built Churches in the Kotte Kingdom they had one Church dedicated to the Portuguese Saint Anthony of Padua, who was a Franciscan.

According to the writer Franciscans were the first Catholic missionaries in Ceylon. There is an Italian name tagged to him because of his service he performed there to chase demons and cure the sick. Saint Anthony was born in 1195 AD and had his education in Coimbra.

According to this text he joined the St. Augustine Cannon service and went on with his missionary work during his young days.

When Portuguese built Churches in Colombo they dedicated one to their Saint, which was the centre of political and religious place that existed during the Kotte period. They had a Church in Kotte for St. Anthony and the gradual spread of shrines dedicated to the Saint increased.

Even the writer Queyroz has mentioned on the devotion to St. Anthony and the Mother of Deliverance at Jawatta during the rule by the Portuguese.

According to Queyroz the Portuguese relinquished their administration in Cota (Kotte) in the month of June to be remembered on the devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua even in their absence. We have a very grey record in the History of the Portuguese period in Ceylon in documents.

It is in this historical background that anyone examining the significance of the worship of their Saint has to be assessed. It is described how the worship of St. Anthony remained unchanged during the Dutch persecutions in Ceylon and even the shrine at Kochchikade had come up during this period.

Under the Dutch rule when the low country Catholics fled to the Hill country during the reign of the Kandyan King Rajasinghe 11 they built a small chapel in honour of the Portuguese Franciscan Saint at Wahakotte and thereafter the shrine that attracted Pilgrims.

Such are the ancient shrines built with the spread of Christianity in the western province and Kandy in the 17th century.

St. Anthony the Portuguese Saint is now no longer an alien Saint, but when the Portuguese introduced Catholism during their time, the worship of their Saint has grown and thrived. Although there is no historical record of evidence to support traces of governance by the Portuguese in Ceylon, the spiritual faith introduced by the alien masters in the devotion to their Franciscan Saint is a landmark in their influence during the 150 years of rule in Sri Lanka.

The monk missionary of the Franciscan order of Portugal whom the Portuguese introduced in their Empire with the worship and devotion, in their colonies remains so. Ceylon was introduced the worship of St. Anthony with their rituals.

Some scholars argue that there existed the Pattini faith in the Kotte Kingdom from the time of Parakramabahu VI which gradually faded with the introduction of the new faith in the coastal belt under the Portuguese.

People sought the intervention of the miraculous help of the Mother of Deliverance worship at Jawatta or St. Anthony of Padua in several locations during their turbulence and sicknesses.

As Wickremasinghe’s Gamperaliya outlines there is the mystic power of the metaphysics which the toiling villager is magnetically attracted when he is grappled with daily problems of family life. Antonian faith of Franciscan missionary achievement is rooted well in locations like Kochchikade, Wahakotte, Wedikanda or Kadalana in the ancient provincial kingdoms.

History also records that during Rajasinghe II there was cordial relationship with Rev. Joseph Vas almost a Bishop in the then Kingdom of Kandy. This relationship which paved the way to have a shrine of St. Anthony at Wahakotte for worship.

It is well known how Rev. Joseph Vas invited Rev. Gonsalvas to enhance an aggressive promotion drive of the Scriptures in the native languages making the Church in our own context.

It is also recorded in Christian canonicals that the King of Kandy directed the use of Kandyan traditions in June Anthonian processions. As a result of cordial relations existed between Rev. Joseph Vas and the Kings of Kandy.

It is well known that Rev. Joseph Vas had a prominent place in the Court of the King Rajasinghe II. Even upto now these Kandyan traditions are preserved with the introduction of the Kandyan drumming and dance rituals in the annual procession of the Wahakotte shrine.

This influence is observed extended in the procession arrangement at Kadalana with leekeli dance the use of Kandyan drums in keeping with the Kandyan mood. It was a step for indigenisation of the Roman Catholic Church that speeded since independence towards a Church in the Sri Lankan context as the writer has explained.

Franciscan monks do preach the scriptures to have space for God with no inner desires for possessions. They got every thing for nothing and gave every thing for nothing to the followers. They do not justifying all methods of earning against human rights, laws on environment, plant and animal.

The Franciscan monks severely prescribed several prohibitions in worldly life to achieve spiritual and metaphysical powers. Thereafter miracles start to flow. Blessings and the ability to cure sickness chase the demons followed.

- Bandula Nonis

Golden jubilee of St. Anthony’s Church, Murutana

The parishioners of Murutana, St. Anthony’s Church celebrated the 150th jubilee of the church recently. It is one of the oldest churches in the Katana electorate.

Rev. Fr. Edwin Fernando, OMI who came as the administrator of Thoppu mission, felt the need of a new church instead of the old one. The then Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Cardinal Cooray gave the approval for the new church.

Parish priests who continued services after Fr. Edwin Fernando completed the construction of the new church with the help of villagers and philanthropists.

Present Parish Priests Rev. Frs. Anton Marsalies and Nilantha Hesan devote for the spiritual progress of the villagers. The golden jubilee celebrations were held on June 15 with the veneration to St. Anthony.

- B. Florence Michael Perera, Kochchikade

Pamunugama celebrates historic feast of the Precious Blood

On first Sunday in July this year (6th July), Pamunugama celebrates the historic feast of the Most Precious Blood for the 140th year in succession since its inauguration in 1868 by Fr. Sylvester Papili OSB of happy memory, an Italian Missionary who took over the then vast parish of Pamunugama, as his first parish in his Missionary life.

He was a great devotee of the Precious Blood, having been brought up in a part of Italy where the devotion to the Most Precious Blood had taken root deeply.

He established the Confraternity of the Precious Blood in his first parish within two years of his taking over the parish and affiliated it through the Vicar Apostolic of the then Southern Diocese of Sri Lanka, to the Arch Confraternity of the Precious Blood, belonging to the Religious Order of the Missionary Fathers of the Most Precious Blood in Rome.

Among the privileges and spiritual concessions granted to this Arch Confraternity by the Holy See was the Papal Concession granted to this Arch Confraternity and its Affiliates the world over to celebrate the feast of the Most Precious Blood as a liturgical feast on first Sunday in July.

Fr. Papili inaugurated this historic feast in Pamunugama in 1868 and ever since it has been celebrated annually on first Sunday in July continuously. In the early years, devotion to the Precious Blood established in Pamunugama spread far and wide as a popular religious devotion and pilgrims from all over gathered in their thousands to celebrate this feast at Pamunugama church.

The membership of the Confraternity of the Precious Blood was not confined to Pamunugama parish and it expanded to other parishes beyond the then vast Pamunugama parish.

In course of time, due to various historical reasons, the devotion to the Precious Blood and the activity of the Confraternity of the Precious Blood became confined to the present small parish of Pamunugama and the Confraternity of the Precious Blood became inactive for quite some time but the annual feast of the Precious Blood was celebrated annually without any break.

The Confraternity of the Precious Blood has since been revived and re-activated, and a good effort is made to revive this ancient devotion to the Precious Blood within the parish and elsewhere, as in the past.

On every First Friday of each month, a Holy Hour in honour of the Most Precious Blood is conducted at St. Joseph’s church, Pamunugama from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. On other Fridays of the month, special Devotional Service is conducted in the church at the same time.

All are welcome to foster personal and family devotion to the Most Precious Blood and become a Member of the Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Pamunugama. The Membership is open to all in the parish and outside. All information could be obtained from the Parish Priest, Pamunugama. (Tel. 2236459).

D. N. B. Kirihetti, Pamunugama Group correspondent

St. Mary’s Church, Mattakkuliya:

Inspiring concert of praise and worship

The English choir of St. Mary’s Church, Mattakkuliya presented an inspiring concert of praise and worship on Sunday, June 8 in the parish hall. It was deftly handled by the vivacious choir leader Dharshi Corea under the baton of Sampath Perera.

The choir which comprised young boys and girls from leading Catholic schools in Colombo and two young mothers captured the hearts and minds of an appreciative audience with their spiritual renditions.

Interspersed with a reading from the Bible and spiritual anecdotes, the talented choristers in striking attire raised their voices in sweet harmony to praise and thank God for His many wonders.

The chief guest on the occasion Rev. Fr. Lalith Peiris who officiates at the English mass on Sundays waxed eloquent on the values of Christianity while the parish priest Rev. Fr. Mark Fernando (TOR) paid a glowing tribute to the choir for an evening’s presentations well done.

A highlight of the occasion was a bouquet of flowers presented to a senior parishioner and ex-teacher of Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo 13 Mrs. Placida Fernando who had been associated with the English Choir since its inception. With a tinge of nostalgia she recalled how Rev. Fr. Ronald de Silva (OMI), a former parish priest was instrumental in organising the English Choir twenty years ago. It had grown from an acorn into a mighty oak.

Ranmalie Fernando concluded the programme with a thought-provoking prayer for the faithful.

The proceeds of the concert will be used to purchase new hymnals.

- Dudley Jansz

English takes us to the global village - Fr. Felician Perera

Learning English is very important for all school children. Though English is the second language of all of us, we need to learn English, as English opens the doors to vast treasure house of knowledge. Entire world is becoming one global village due to adaptation of English.

Therefore never give up learning English, said Rev. Fr. Felician Ranjith Perera, Editor of the Catholic Messenger and the parish priest of All Saint’s Church Borella, at the English Day at St. Joseph’s College, Enderamulla.

Rev. Fr. Felician expressed how he learned English from his childhood to what he is today. Speaking further Rev.Fr. Felcian asked the students to read, listen and to make use of time to improve communication skills in English and become outstanding citizens.

Rev.Dr. Anthony Fernandopulle Principal, St. Joseph’s College, Enderamulla in his welcome speech said, though the students of this school are fluent in reading and writing English and also obtained good results in English he wants to improve communication skills of children, and wishes to have an English environment in school. He thanked Rev.Fr. Felician for gracing the occasion and the encouragement given.

Special thanks was given by Fr. Fernandopulle to all the English teachers who laboured a lot to promote English in school and also conduct series of competitions to make this occasion a success.

The function was englithened by English dramas, poems, speeches and dances. Students and teachers of neighbouring schools and wellwishers also participated in the event.

- Padminie Nanayakkara.