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The Russian Orthodox Church has selected 62-year-old Metropolitan Kirill as its new patriarch, an outspoken figure who analysts say could prove a headache for the Kremlin.

A seasoned operator after long service as head of the church’s foreign relations section, Kirill was elected on Tuesday by an overwhelming majority in a ballot of church leaders in Moscow’s ornate cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, received 508 votes in a secret ballot of the Church Council in Moscow while his challenger Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk won 169 votes.

“I accept and thank the Church Council for my election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,” Kirill said solemnly after the results were announced, before leading the congregation in an Orthodox liturgy.

Addressing the incense-filled gathering earlier, Kirill had made a strident call for church unity and urged the faithful to resist Protestant and Catholic proselytizing, dampening hopes of a transformation in poisonous ties with Rome.

About 700 bearded and robed bishops and laity from both Russia and diocese abroad had the right to participate in the first such vote of the post-Soviet era, following the death of Alexy II last month.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin both congratulated Kirill, news agencies reported.

“Medvedev voiced hope for further strengthening of the dialogue between church and state in developing the country and boosting spiritual values,” Medvedev’s spokeswoman Natalya Timakova was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Putin, who is himself an Orthodox believer, telephoned Kirill to offer his congratulations, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov added.

Kirill’s comments echoed the tough approach of his predecessor, who resisted attempts by late Polish pope John Paul II to reach out to Catholics in ex-Soviet lands and who refused to countenance a papal visit to Russia.

In the post-Soviet era “the most active proselytizing was by missionaries of all manner of Protestant denominations but we also noticed with bitterness representatives of the Catholic hierarchy,” Kirill said.

“We must attentively follow developments and where necessary quickly and decisively react to threats,” added Kirill, who after Alexy’s death was appointed “Guardian of the Throne” temporarily in charge of the church.

Russia’s politicians “can’t tell what he’s going to do. If (the economy) all goes pear shaped they don’t know what Patriarch Kirill would do. They’d prefer someone they had control over,” said religious affairs analyst and journalist for the Forum 18 religious news agency Geraldine Fagan earlier.

Kirill, whose crushing victory had been widely predicted, takes over a church that went from strength to strength under Alexy after being repressed in the Soviet era.

Prime Minister Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev both attend church on feast days, as do other Slavic leaders such as Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko.

The church’s relatively rapid election of Kirill, without resorting to a run-off, and the withdrawal of a third candidate just before voting began were indicative of its desire to make a show of unity at a crucial moment.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a symbol of the church’s resurgence. Dynamited under Stalin, it was then replaced by an open air swimming pool before an exact replica was rebuilt in the 1990s.

In an interview with the Trud newspaper published Monday, Kirill said the church was thriving but could still play a greater role in daily life, including education.

Infant Jesus’ Church, Imbulgoda needs new building

The Church of Infant Jesus at Imbulgoda - one and only church in this village or in this area is in a dilapidated condition.

The desire of the Parish Priest Rev, Fr. Ravin Perera and the parishioners, is to erect a new church. This church is 24 kilometres from Colombo - Kandy Road between Balummahara and Kirillawala along Yagoda Station road.

Church of Infant Jesus at Imbulgoda

It comprises a few Catholic families, majority of them belong to the less fortunate category and it’s in a remote predominantly Buddhist area. The former Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Gamini Perera S.J, a true and a faithful servant of God did his best for the uplift of this parish during his period of service.

However the present Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Ravin having taken the initiative, strong in faith, decided to proceed with the work, to build a new church. On the 18th of October, 2008, Rev. Fr. Marcus Ferdinandez Archdiocesan Episcopal Vicar, laid the foundation stone for the new building.

The estimated cost of the new church is Rs. 60 lakhs but Rev. Fr. Ravin, trusting and depending on Almighty God and His promises started the work with only Rs. 12 lakhs in hand.

This collection is since he assumed duties in this parish, he requested the parishioners to contribute (Tithes Malachi 3:10) one tenth of their monthly income for this purpose and he received some donations too. Now he needs Rs. 48 lakhs to complete the work.

This target can be achieved only with the help of generous benefactors. Therefore parishioners pray and hope that the Lord will open the eyes of some generous benefactors to be of some assistance for this worthy cause.

Donations can be sent to Rev. Fr. Ravin Perera, Parish Priest, St. Sebestian’s Church, Moragoda. Tel: 033 2222933, 077 7149891. E-mail - [email protected].

Feast of Our Lady of Lanka, Pottuwillu

A Holy Mass for the annual feast of Our Lady of Lanka Church, Pottuwillu is scheduled to be held on February 4 at 8 a.m. by Fr. Dhanushka, a teacher of St. Anthony’s Higher Education Centre.

A special prayer will be performed to invoke blessings on people and the Government said Parish Priest of the Church Fr. Edward Karunanayaka to the Daily News. Former North Western Provincial Council member Sumal Thisera and Minister of Human Skill Development Dayasiri Thisera will also participate at the annual feast.

Catholics in the presence of God

The sufferings of Jesus began in his soul, and not in his body, at the sight of our human sufferings. This is what we see happening in the gospels from time to time.

God in Christ is being drawn in to somebodies suffering and makes the suffering his own. The passion of Jesus begins not on the cross but in the worlds passion and suffering. Catholics can be aware of Gods presence in their life by talking to God all catholics should take plainly to God from their hearts. God values their sincerity not their vocabulary.

While God may be the creator of the universe God welcomes them as their friend. They dont need to wait until they are troubled by some crisis to talk to God in his presence.

God is every where listening to them. Catholics can speak to God about anything no matter how trivial it may seen. If it matters to us it matters to God. God hears their simple prayers as well as those of a cardinal or theologian. God doesn’t require Catholics to follow any complicated formula or rules, rather all they need is a heart dedicated entirely and solely to Christ out of love for him above all others.

In God’s presence catholics should recall the sufferings of Christ who is God himself. Christs passion starts when he looks upon us in our suffering and is moved in the very depths of his being.

If we understand this truth we come to know that we can never suffer alone. Our pain is always the pain of God. Our suffering is shared by God because he is a suffering God, who suffers with us and for us.

This is because there is no true love without sacrificial suffering. Since God is love he makes the greatest sacrifice of all. God is our end when we stop to think about it. Spending time in Gods presence brings great comfort and reassurance.

Catholics have to learn that if they search diligently for God they will find comfort in God and in nothing else. God is worthy of our confidence and we should be worthy to be in his presence. the love of God to us in his presence is an extraordinary love.

The heart of God is able to hold within itself the suffering of all time, a love open to every pain, disappointment and loss the world has ever known. What Jesus tells us about God is that he is intimately sensitive to every sorrow of the world.

God does not stand apart from our sufferings but joins us in our sufferings. God is always moved by our pour because God is one with us in that pain. We have a God supreme in sympathy a god with a suffering heart, a god who risks everything to enter in to our pain.

In the presence of God, the Catholic church is a communion and fellowship. Without this church of communion and fellowship it would not be a full church. The Catholic church can teach about the communion dimension without putting in to practice the hall marks of christian/catholic fellowship in their Practical details.

The basis for this is the Trinity in its fullness. The Catholic church is for the realisation of the kingdom of God. All catholics in the presence of God feels an unbelievable love that can make up for every loss, a love that can ease every pain, a love that can full every emptiness.

It is a love that absorbs all the sadness of life and embraces all our pain. Therefore as all Catholics bear witness in the presence of God everything is possible.

Roman Catholic traditionalists welcome Vatican decree

Bernard Fellay, one of the Roman Catholic traditionalist bishops whose excommunication was lifted by the Vatican, thanked Pope Benedict XVI for his decree on Saturday and accepted dialogue.

Fellay’s Swiss-based Priestly Society of Saint Pius X said in statements released on the Internet that it welcomed the prospect of direct “interviews” with the Vatican.

In June last year, Fellay had rejected overtures from Rome for a reconciliation.

“We express our brotherly gratitude to the Holy Father for this act, which, beyond the fraternity, will be beneficial for the whole Church,” the statement signed by Fellay on Saturday said.

He added in a separate letter to followers that the Pope’s gesture had removed a stigma for traditionalists. “Roman Catholic Tradition is no longer excommunicated. Although that was never the case as such, it was cruelly and often so in fact,” he wrote.

The Vatican on Saturday published the decree ordering the cancellation of the excommunication of four bishops ordained in 1998 by the controversial French bishop Marcel Lefebvre.

Fellay succeded Lefebvre, who died in 1991. Fellay and his community said they were “happy” that the decree dated January 21 suggested that “interviews” with the Holy See would be necessary and welcomed the possibility of discussing doctrine.

“In this new climate we have the firm hope that we will soon be able to achieve recognition for the rights of Catholic Tradition,” the statement added.

Lefebvre was excommunicated in 1988 by then pope Jean Paul II for having ordained the bishops in defiance of the Vatican’s authority.

The Swiss based bishop of Econe led a schism from the Church over the more ecumenical approach reflected in the Vatican II reforms (1962-65) and in particular the abandonment of the traditional Latin mass.

New place of worship for St. Sebastian’s College

The coastal belt commencing from the central capital and extending towards Galle has several schools most of which are schools run by Christian congregations.

St. Sebastian’s College in Moratuwa is also one of the leading academic bodies on the boarders of the metropolis which is sought after by many due to the prestigious name it bears and values it upholds.

Thrice a day we as a whole family pray for God for our advancement. Many years of our praying was heard, everything needed was granted, we have commenced constructing a new chapel and administrative complex amidst the prayers of the inmates and blessing of the Almighty.

The Arch Bishop, His Grace the most. Reverend Dr. Oswald Gomis said that this is a contribution towards many a generation of the future in our great task of moulding the student fraternity at the foundaiton laying.

He further added that religion should not only be taught in schools but also to be practised. Subject knowledge, extra-curricular activities, sports and games, social welfare among which the most needed spiritual well-being are the things prerequisite for an individual trained for life.

If not for God’s guidance, blessing and assistance none of us could have reached position that we are striving for. It is in this context that we discern that the new chapel would provide all assistance we need for the future spiritual advancement.

Rector of the school Rev. Fr. Bonnie Fernandopulle said that we had started a great thing for which a very many donors gave their fullest support both in deed and word.

Especially at Mass we prayed together to God to give us courage, patience and guidance in order to complete successfully the task we have undertaken. Addressing, the first general assembly for the New Year the principal expressed his sentiments regarding the results of GCE Advanced Level examination of the bygone year.

It is expected that 20-25 students would enter the university to pursue their tertiary education in their respective streams. Comparatively the results of 2009 A/L exam are better than many of the other government and non-governmental educational institutes.

Thus St. Sebastian’s College owns a glorious history. It is due to this that we are certain that we would have better future in order to serve very many generations.

More than proliferating high achievers we are glad to release good citizens to the community. So, we believe that Our Father in Heaven would further guide us, assist us, and stand by us in all our efforts in the forthcoming days especially in completing successfully the most sacred Chapel.

Alawwa celebrates St. Sebastian’s feast

The annual church feast of St. Sebastian’s Church, Alawwa will be held on February 01.

This church was established in 1900. At that time Alawwa belonged to the Veyangoda Parish. Parish Priest Rev. Fr. H.S.C. Perera is constructing a new church building at present and he has organised the festive celebration with the help of Negombo Catholic Society, and the Buddhist, Muslim and the Tamil residents of the area.

The procession will move through Alawwa town blessing them and finally return to the church.

Pope wishes Lunar New Year ‘joy’ to Asians

Pope Benedict XVI wished “joy” to hundreds of millions of Asians on Sunday as they prepared to usher in the Lunar New Year.

“The peoples of different Asian countries are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year. I hope they can celebrate it with joy,” the pope said in Saint Peter’s Square following his regular Angelus blessing.

“Joy is the expression of harmony with one-self: it can only come from harmony with God. Let joy always live in the hearts of these nations, which are so dear to me,” said the 81-year-old pontiff.

Several Asian countries, including China, Mongolia, the Koreas, and Vietnam celebrate Lunar New Year.

Foundation stone was laid for a ‘Sunday school’ at St. Theresa’s Church Premises, Kelaniya by Most. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop of Colombo recently. Rev. Fr. Gihan Ridley Perera, Parish Priest, Kelaniya and parishioners are also seen here. This building with an auditorium will cost Rs. 8 million.
Picture by: Edward Weerasinghe, Kelaniya Group Correspondent

Christian Perspectives