CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES
The Holy Bible world’s most beautiful and
powerful book
Gwen Herat
Baby Jesus, born to redeem sinners |
‘Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little
children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’
The coming of Jesus Christ, his life on earth as a mortal, his
sacrifice to redeem his people of their sins and his ascension are the
subjects of the scriptures found in the Bible.
The poignantly beautiful life of Jesus Christ, his journey through
life and his sacrifice to remove man from sin, is the powerful story
found in the New Testament. We, all as Christians, know the impact of
the Holy Bible which is the word of God and how it can change our lives,
especially in the context of today’s mankind who resolve to terrorism
who kill in the name of God and destroy innocent lives. But Jesus heals
the rest who are victims both in mind and body.
Christ had his twelve disciples through whom He was to spread the
word of God. They became the pillars of the Christian faith and spread
the gospel but they were all humble, young men to whom Jesus Christ
reached out. They walked with Him in Palestine and would have astounded
if someone had prophesied to them that they would change the course of
history of the world.
That they would, for thousands of years will remain the most
interesting, high-profile group of men in the books and languages of
nations. They were unaware how near they were to the supreme mystery of
life. However, they forsook Him and fled when He was arrested. It was
only after His death did they realise the divine majesty of Him with
whom they had lived and who loved them. The twelve disciples were:
Mathew, Bartholomew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Peter, James the
Less, Simon, Andrew, Judas and Thaddeus.
What these twelve disciples did not see was the whole truth of their
destiny. They imagined that the end of the world was at hand. They
believed that Christ would appear in the heavens before their generation
had passed away. They remained in Jerusalem waiting for His coming. It
was beyond their imagination to realise that out of their simple lives,
and out of their own simple story that their Master would come the great
revolution of Christianity. How lucky they were; how blessed they were
and how interesting it is to look back on these chosen men.
How incredible it may have been for these twelve to live and share
His life, and hear. His voice day after day. They looked into His eyes
and walked at His side. They sat with Him at meals and touched Him with
their hands. They knew His ways and all His habits. Had they only
realised the long road that Christ’s religion had to travel, would they
not have told the world more about their wondrous master and filled
whole books with their memories of His life on earth. Not one had the
time to pause and think how it would have been when they were dead and
no one was left on earth alive who knew Jesus Christ?
And the holy Bible is alive with their gospels in the New Testament,
filled with truth in the true holy missions of the Master accordingly in
their books with the Gospel according to John being the most
illustrious. It became so that none was more interesting than John whom
Christ loved as His beloved disciple. He was a fisherman’s son and who
was nearest to Jesus Christ. His father was a well-to-do Galilean
fisherman named Zebede and who was able to hire servants and live in
comfort. Zebede’s two sons, James and John probably were educated in
their boyhood and most certainly by their mother, the pious and gentle
Salome. With her guidance, they may have early in life gained the
impulse and desire to live close to God.
James and John: They were strong young men, thoughtful and who
understood the seamanship that earned their living as fishermen.
How incredible it may have been for these twelve to live and share
His life, and hear. His voice day after day. They looked into His eyes
and walked at His side. They sat with Him at meals and touched Him with
their hands |
They were conscious of God and the mysteries of life. John was very
reflective to the feel that his priests were far from the mysteries of
the human heart. So, it appeared that early in his life, he went to hear
the extraordinary preachings of the hermit of Jordan who cried aloud for
repentance. He baptised his converts into a new and deeper form of life.
It is naturally easy to imagine how John and James would have discussed
the mysteries of life in their ship and its impact on the nation. The
preaching of John the Baptist whose reality and passion along with its
splendid vigour, appealed to the brothers.
Jesus calls John: Jesus found John when he was listening to John the
Baptist at Bethany and called this son of Zebede to follow Him. John
sought Baptist rather than the Rabbis. And secondly, he left the
thunders of the Baptist for the love of Jesus. The road was clear before
his eyes and the secret of life was discovered. John thought of love
instead of thinking about sin, wrath and judgement. His heart was at
rest with the Father’s love and son’s yearning. This enabled him to
enter the idea of Jesus who was destined to shake the world and
transform the whole orb of human life. If we care to read the First
Epistle of John in the holy Bible, we shall discover the wonderful
Galilean fisherman who entered the true spirit of Jesus Christ.
One cannot imagine how close and dear a companion John would have
been to his Master when we read the immortal simplicities, tender,
overflowing with solicitude when he wrote them.
It is the spirit of the whole Bibile that has given light, joy and
freedom to the world and it is the spirit of the Gospel according to
John which shows us how intimately and with perfect insight His beloved
disciple understood the heart of His Master.
To cite among the greatest of John’s writing about his adoration to
his Master and His words: ‘I am come a light into the world that
whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness. And if any man
hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not. For I came not to judge
the world but to save the world.’
And when Jesus Christ died on the Cross, it was to John, He entrusted
His weeping mother, Mary as a responsible son would.
Dr. Maria Montessori - the Knight of the Child
Maria Montessori heralded as the century’s leading advocate for early
childhood education, her research and discoveries regarding the child,
helped change the course of education. Her motto was ‘Education as a
help to life’.
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Ancona, Italy and
having pursued a scientific education she was the first woman doctor in
Italy.
In 1907, she gave up a brilliant medical career when she discovered
the potential of normal children. Since then the Montessori Movement has
grown steadily throughout the world. Montessori’s concern with education
for peace intensified and she was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace
prize.
In 1944, at the request of the Colombo Head Mistresses Association,
Dr. Montessori visited Sri Lanka and inaugurated the first Montessori
Teacher Training Course at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena.
The legacy to preserve and continue the Montessori training in Sri
Lanka was entrusted to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The Montessori
training centre at St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7 has completed 64
years of Montessori work in Sri Lanka. This method of pre-school
education has become very popular in Sri Lanka.
The Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo 7 will
commemorate the 138th birth anniversary of their founder Dr. Maria
Montessori on Thursday, September 4 at 3.00 p.m. with a Thanksgiving
Eucharistic Celebration at the Convent Chapel with Rev. Fr. Sanjay
Vincent as the chief celebrant.
Oblate missionary work takes a new turn
E. Weerapperuma
Sri Lanka owes much to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Congregation for laying strong foundation of faith in the soil and their
hard work to spread the Dhamma to this land from the very inception of
the OMI Congregation founded by St. Eugene De Mazenod. The arrival of
the pioneer Oblate Fathers and Brothers in 1847 was an important
milestone in the history of the Oblates in Sri Lanka.
This year the Members of the OMI Congregation celebrate the 160 years
of their presence here. The Oblates who responded to the request of the
then emerging new nation to send the religious to labour in the vineyard
of the Lord, in Sri Lanka, had laid strong foundation, built the church
in the rock like the wise man Christ referred to, in his teaching.
Toiling hard with zeal and commitment they adorned the Sri Lanka
church and planted the seed of good news. They built a large number of
churches and institutions for the welfare of the children, youth and
adults entrusted to their care in the respective dioceses such as
Colombo, Jaffna, Chilaw, Anuradhapura assigned to them. The Sri Lanka
Catholic Church enjoys the fruits of their labour and benefits from
their long drawn plans and schemes initiated.
The times have changed. Today the parishes they nurtured are no more
with them. The Institutions, Shrines and Basilica are no more under
their care and administration. Their presence as Missionaries in many
dioceses is not felt as the indigenous clergy or the diocesan priests
have taken over them and the Oblate Fathers and Brothers move out making
the way for others.
The Oblates are called to face challenges. Their Mission is to move
forward spreading the “Good News” without being tied down to one
particular diocese or land. That is why the Oblates of Sri Lanka today
has moved into other countries within the Asian Region. Apart from the
Missionary work assigned to the Congregation by tradition, the Oblates
in Sri Lanka have to look for new ventures to make their presence felt
and to be of service to the Sri Lankan polity as they still remain the
beacon of hope to many born and bread in this soil.
De Mazenod English Institute initiated by the Oblate Fathers 15 years
ago and went unheard for some years will rise up again like the imagery
bird phoenix this time spreading its wings to embrace all who thirst to
learn a language useful to their future. It is a new venture the Oblates
found as the now generation and the generations to come desire to live
within the human family spread throughout the globe knowing well their
hopes and aspirations. For this they need to communicate using a
language common to all and English has become, for the present and many
more years to come one of most common and spoken language in the world.
De Mazenod English Institute from now on will be in a house of the
Oblates at Katuwapitiya, Negombo. It is the ancestral house of Rev. Fr.
Tissa Balasuriya OMI, who most willingly donated to the OMI
Congregation, his personal property, given to him by his parents. It was
used as the branch office of the Centre for Society and Religion for
sometime.
The Oblates are most grateful to God Almighty, Blessed Virgin Mother,
Mary Immaculate, Saint Eugene De Mazenod for helping the Congregation
that has done much to the Sri Lanka Church, to obtain a plot of land
with a house, a property of their own within the citadels of Colombo and
Chillaw in the heart of Little Rome, Negombo to take forward their new
initiative. The renovated building, which stands in a 138 perches of
land, will house the De Mazenod English Institute. It has the capacity
to provide shelter to 60 students at one time.
Rev. Fr. Dennis Iddamalgoda OMI, MA is the founder of this
prestigious Institute and when he initiated the new move as a Mission of
the Congregation, there were no Church supported institutions to provide
residential English course for those aspiring to undergo such training.
Speaking to the Daily News, Christian Perspectives, Fr. Iddamalgoda
said since his return from United States of America after completing his
Masters Degree in Pastoral Psychology, at the Fordham Jesuit University,
he was encouraged by his colleagues to make his dream a reality.
“I was reading an article in a Magazine found at the University
Library. It was written by Rev. Fr. Don Peter, scholar and historian of
our times.
His article was dealing with the importance of English as an
international language. I was very impressed by the article. I found
that I myself, a rural youth have come to what I am, because I got the
opportunity to learn the English Language. Why not I help the youth who
get no opportunity to study the way I had studied. I decided that once
back in the country I would give a start to my dream with the blessing
of the Congregation.
“Although everything was not rosy at the start, today I am happy that
over 1,500 students have gone through my classes and good number of them
hold recognised positions and some have found greener pastures overseas.
I am very confident and positive that this is one way of serving the
‘now generation’ and the Congregation has taken it as a part of her
mission and that is very encouraging”.
Fr. Iddamalgoda said that the Mazenod English Institute began the
three months residential English and Life Education Programme with
“Scientia Locupletat” - ‘Knowledge Perfects’ as the motto of the
Institute.
“The Congregation did not have a house of its own when I started this
programme in 1993. As a result I had to move from one place to another.
The program took off the ground at the Oblate House at Mattakkuliya.
Then moved to the Diyagala Boys’ Town at Ragama, then to Holy Family
Convent, Wennappuwa and then to Halgashena and finally at the former
College building at Wattala St. Anthony’s College. Thank God now I have
a permanent place to continue my mission. Very Rev. Fr. Clement
Waidyasekera OMI, Provincial of the Colombo Province gave me this house
to turn it to be an institute to help the youth of today who look for an
institute, they could trust in acquiring proficiency in English.
I must say that I am very grateful to my Provincial and the staff who
supported me from the very beginning. They include late Rev. Frs. Sarath
Silva and Joseph Pulle and Rev. Bro. Edwin Ambrose FSC.
I am also indebted to Rev.Frs Mervin Noel Fernando, Merril
Wijesinghe, Angelo Wijewickrama and Sheton Perera who assisted me in
conducting the classes in the past. Ms. Hilda de Silva, Ms. Deepa
Wijerathne and late Mrs Anne Rasaiya were my supportive staff, whose
invaluable services I cannot forget.
The three months immersion programme calls for hard discipline, long
hours of concentrated studies. The course is not mere learning English
to communicate with the outside world but also it is directed towards
character formation, moral and spiritual development and tries to draw
out the best in each one who undergoes immersion course. It will also
give them the strength to face challenges in their future life.
The successful students will receive certificates, Fr. Iddamalgoda
added.
Very Rev. Fr. Clement Waidyasekera, Provincial of the Oblates in
Colombo Province will preside over the ceremony to bless the new
building of the De Mazenod English Institute on Monday, September 8 and
on September 14, the first batch of 60 student will commence the three
months residential English Course.
Centenary celebrations of St. Aloysius’ Church, Rambukkana
Anthony Jayamanne Rambukkana central correspondent
The centenary celebrations of St. Aloysius’ Church, Rambukkana will
take place on September 6 and 7.
The Holy Father’s Apostolic blessing to the parishioners |
Rev. Fr. D.K. Joseph, Parish Priest |
The festive High Mass on Sunday, September 7 will be presided over by
Apostolic Noncio, Most Rev. Dr. Mario Zenari. Vespers will be sung on
Saturday 6 at 7 p.m. presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Cletus Chandrasiri
Perera OSB, Bishop of Ratnapura.
Rev. Fr. K. D. Joseph, Parish Priest and the parishioners of
Rambukkana organise the feast. Aloysius Lougi Gonzaga was the eldest son
of Marquis Ferdinand of Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. Prince of the Holy
Roman Empire. Aloysius was born in 1568 and went for his reward in 1591.
Marquis Ferdinand was hoping that one day his eldest son Aloysius
would be a great, powerful, wealthy world leader and therefore he was
brought up in luxury and unimaginable comfort. But God had different
plans for Aloysius. He felt very uncomfortable and poor in the midst of
wealth and luxury. He felt a deep burning desire to follow Jesus, the
poor king of the universe. Instead of becoming a great king of this
passing world, he longed to be a prince of the kingdom of heaven.
For this he decided to forego the shining wealth and tempting
pleasures of this world and embrace the poverty of Jesus.
Finally in 1585, at the age of 17 in the face of vehement opposition
of his father he entered the Society of Jesus.
St. Aloysius Church, Rambukkana |
Society of Jesus, was founded by great St. Ignatius of Loyala. This
young society was making an immense impact and influence in every strata
of society all over Europe, even outside of her boundaries. God chose
this unique man Ignatius of Loyola not only to dedicate his life
unreservedly for the greater glory of God but also to bring together a
wonderful among of men who would go wherever Jesus wants them to go.
History has proved how this band of dedicated man have taken and were
taking the message of Jesus in word and action almost for 500 years.
Aloysius’ life span was very short. A great famine broke-out in Italy
followed by a pestilence. Jesuits in Rome opened an emergency hospital
and young Bro. Aloysius too volunteered to tend the sick. But in March
1591, he too fell ill, and succumbed after three months of patient
suffering, and that date was June 21, 1591.
The church at Rambukkana is the only church dedicated to St. Aloysius
Gonzaga in Sri Lanka.
We would like to put down, in brief, the history of this church as we
are celebrating 100 years of her existence.
Catholic trades from Pamunugama area who travelled through Rambukkana
felt the need of a little church somewhere along the route for their
religious purposes. So first they put up a hut like church at
Diyasunnatha close to Rambukkana town. But later on, one Mr. Gabriel
Perera Wijeratna, a Notary Public bought a piece of land in the heart of
the town and built the present church one hundred years ago. Gabriel’s
son was Aloysius and he dedicated this church to St. Aloysius Gonzaga on
the 21st of June 1908, then Bishop of Galle Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Van
Reeth blessed the church and handed it over for public worship.
Gradually St. Aloysius Church become a very important central place
of the area. Indigenous missionaries like Rev. Frs. Mark Anthony Perera,
Louis Fernando, Francis Fernando and Cyril Edirisinghe took a great
interest in the people in general even today. There are some old people,
Christian and Buddhist, who remember these missionaries with gratitude.
Immediately after the church feast least year Rev. Fr. Noel Rowel
announced 2007/2008 as the jubilee year. |