Christian Perspectives

Juse Vaz, a cinematic tribute

Why not on silver screen?:

In line with the tercentenary celebrations of the heavenly birth of Blessed Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka, National Secretariat of Joseph Vaz has produced a commendable film called Juse Vaz in order to bring the revisit visually and the heroic dedication of our Apostle to revive and propagate the Good News through hard times in the island.

This is a cinematic tribute to Blessed Joseph Vaz who took a bold step to reach our land in disguise and in the midst of all the death threats and plagues; he let God Almighty act in him. Gradually he became an instrument of God.

We, the faithful of Wennappuwa, had the golden opportunity to view this master piece production of ‘Juse Vaz’ on February 06, at Sir Albert F. Peiris Indoor Stadium, Wennappuwa along with the priests, nuns and especially Director Sanjaya Nirmal, Saranga Disasekara, Neeta Fernando, Rex Kodippili and Dananjaya Siriwardena.

Sanjaya Nirmal, the versatile young director show cases his maturity in his field through this masterpiece Juse Vaz. “Realizing a dream of bringing a heroic character like Fr. Joseph Vaz closer to the viewers with a limited number of resources especially within ten days is a great achievement”, declared Sanjaya Nirmal. “It is God Almighty who acted in me and led us to such a great success.”

Sanjaya Nirmal has cleverly used certain subtle techniques like colour comparisons between three stages of life of Fr. Joseph Vaz, light and dark natural visuals, sound effect and soothing effect of music in bringing this cinematic creation to a greater triumph. His choice of locations, dialogues and especially channeling the talents of the artists in putting across the spirituality of this creation is excellent. We are naturally reminded of the certain glimpses of the passion of Jesus at Calvary.

Saranga Disasekara, one of the most popular promising actors in Sri Lanka, plays the main role of Fr. Joseph Vaz and his superb breath taking performance grabs the audience. “I always like to accept challenges,” Saranga contributed energetically. “At the outset, playing the heroic role of Fr Joseph Vaz was naturally a challenge for a Buddhist like me but my director Sanjaya Nirmal enlightened me that Fr. Joseph Vaz was an average man who was like you and I but his thoughts, words and deeds elevated him to heroic vision.”

Further he added this film (if it is shown in the theatre) will be an eye opener to the public on how inter-religious reconciliation enriched Sinhala Literature and tradition. “For me Fr. Joseph Vaz is not only a religious hero who propagated Catholicism but also a virtuous man who reconciled with the kings and even with the Buddhist monks and maintained a healthy rapport with them.”

Viewers were taken as far back as 1685 and the acts were unfolded on how Fr. Joseph Vaz was called to his mission, how he landed in Mannar, how he faced with death threats and plagues and finally how he succeeded. There is a spiritual thread woven around this cinematic creation that blends with music flowing smoothly towards the end.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Very Rev. Fr. Alex Dassanayake, Secretary of National Joseph Vaz Committee, who is the live wire behind this successful venture. In spite of his ill health conditions he took all the troubles to make this collective effort a tremendous success. During this Herculean task Fr. Dassanayake (80 years) retired at the ICU (General Hospital) due to his terrible health conditions but God brought him back to the proper location. Thank God.

Highly taken up viewers questioned each other ‘Why such a wonderful film like this is not shown in the public theatre?’ No proper answer was heard. As for me and the other viewers this film was inspiring, educative and excellent production.

Therefore can this question remain unanswered? Why is this inspiring creation not release to the public? I believe this is a fine opportunity to show case our inter-religious harmony through such a magnificent creation.

Ajith Perera –Wennappuwa

Vocational training for youth

W Wilfred Silva - Ja-Ela Group Correspondent

What St Don Bosco, the pathfinder and teacher of youth and children practised since 1841 in Italy that youth should be given vocational training while adhering to religious and spiritual principles is applicable today also, said Rev Fr Nihal Liyanage, Provincial Superior of Don Bosco Salesians Vice-Province-Sri Lanka.

He said this while meeting a group of journalists at their headquarters in Dungalpitiya, Negombo, after Fr Liyanage becoming second Provincial Superior of the Sri Lanka Salesian Don Bosco.

Sufficient training

He said that their way of molding the youth by providing them with sufficient training in various jobs in a religious and spiritual perspective have been accepted by the authorities in principle.

Tracing the beginnings of this great organization, Fr Liyanage said that at that time specially in cities of Italy, there was large unemployment and youth and children who were largely uneducated were hanging around streets, begging, and sleeping on the roads.

Phenomenon

He said that St Don Bosco at that time found that this phenomenon, was widespread and getting into an uncontrollable situation.

He said that even those youth who obtained jobs at that time was very poorly paid and were exploited by the society. Realizing the gravity of the problem St Don Bosco set up youth vocational training Centres with the outside assistance.

He said that now Don Bosco Salesian Order is spread in 128 countries and there are 16,692 Don Bosco Salesian Priests serving these countries. He said that their female wing-Salesian Don Bosco Sisters numbering to 14,000 is the largest Catholic female religious group in the world.

He said that in Sri Lanka too they are widespread and very active in the formation of youth and children and in youth vocational training. He said that in the formation of youth and children they precisely follow the teachings and guidelines of their founder St Don Bosco. They are always based on sympathy love and kindness - involving music, dancing and communication media.

He said that they provide technical education and information Technology training and serving the Sri Lankan job market vigorously. Their trainess also find successful employment in other countries based on the unique training and also some of these youth after training, set up their own industries and shops.

Differences

Fr Liyanage said that their sect do not have any kind of differences when providing training and they have also set up vocational training and youth formation centres in the North and the East and also a large number of them in the South. In North and East they also undertake the rehabilitation of ex-LTTE combatants as well as those traumatized by the war while they are also offered with vocational training.

Misbehaviour

When asked how to contain the increasing crimes and misbehaviour of some youth, Rev Fr Liyanage said that they have as system of feed-back of the activities of those who obtain training and leave their institutions. Their modus operandi is to prevent the negative behaviours of youth before they commit them as they always go with the norm of ‘prevention is better than cure’.

He said that their work is well respected and recognized by the public and they run their massive organizations on charity from abroad and locally. He said that the monthly expenditure of one of their vocational training institution runs up to a staggering Rs 60 lakhs and they are running several of such institutions,

He succeeds the first Provincial Superior Rev Fr Anthony H Pinto and Rev Fr Liyanage’s tenure of office is for six years. He also elaborated their future plans.

Catholic Music in Sri Lanka

Continued from last week

W T A Leslie Fernando

At the beginning of the 20th century composing the hymns following the Western music was the order of the day. However there were some hymns set to Western music too that appealed to the Catholics. A clear example is the ever popular hymn ‘

‘Maa Mavuni Athi Pramaneeya’ by Fr Seabastian Fernando set to the music in a French melody.

In 1940 after Rev Fr Edmund Pieris became a Bishop, long before the Vatican Council II (1962-65) he set up a new trend in the Church.

At his episcopal ordination on April 25, 1940 Bishop Edmund Peiris said “This county is ours. God gave us a history and a language. We ought to know it and make the church a thing of the soil.” He insisted that Catholic rituals should be performed in our own languages, in our own cultural background. With above end in view Bishop Edmund Peiris edited and revived many works of Fr Jacome Gonsalves that contained prayers in the chanting style of Sinhala and Tamil prose.

Traditional Passion, plays group recital of ‘pasan’ traditional Nadagams like ‘Raja Thunkattuwa’ were all revived under his inspiration, guidance and patronage. He also introduced group choral singing in ‘Thevaram and style instead of Latin Choral signing at funerals. Nevertheless Bishop Edmund Peiris believed in adopting Sinhala words to Western music and he himself presented hymns to that effect.

Fr Marcelline Jayakody was the first priest to present hymns set to his own music in the recent times. At the beginning Fr Marcelline Jayakody presented some hymns set to Western melodies. In 1920’s he presented hymns specially carols set to Western tunes. However he presented the hymn ‘Sapri Sama – Asiri – Soma in 1927 set to his own music. This was followed by the Carol ‘Raya Tharu Babalanawai’ set his own music. These became instant hits and are still sung in churches. Since then Fr Marcelline Jayakody never looked back and began to compose hymns set to his own music.

In 1940’s specially around Independence there was a national resurgence in Sri Lanka. This renaissance had it effect on the Catholic Church as well. Fr Marcelline Jayakody too began to present hymns with a national fervour.

At this time Fr Marcelline Jayakody too began to present his hymns which were outstanding like ‘Ronata Vadina Bingu Obay’, ‘Nelum Pipeepela Pethi Visireela’ and ‘Suvanda Jale Pipe Kumidiniye’ with a national fervour. These magnificent hymns with their superb lyrics, sweet music and local setting captivated the hearts of all.

These hymns of Fr Marcelline Jayakody are simple and close to people. They are appreciated by even non-Catholics and they are ever popular in churches. They contain Christian aspects and national sentiments in due proportion. They are an example of cultural adaptation in its true perspectives. Soon others like Fr Adrian Joseph, Fr D J Anthony and laymen like Sunil Santha and J K S Perera too began to present hymns with a national fervour.

In 1960’s Vatican Council II (1962-65) directed that Catholic rituals should be performed in national languages with a cultural background of each society. The Catholic church in Sri Lanka was already geared to the situation and the changes could be effected without much ado.

Today Holy Mass and Benediction are all performed in national languages. Oriental arts and architecture, decorations and designs are given their due place in the Church.

Jayamangala Gathas and Tamil Bhajan singing are given a Christian outlook and are performed inside churches.

It is a pity that under the present Pope there is a tendency to go back to Latin and all the good work done by the Catholic missionaries and outstanding personalities in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka would come to nought.

(The writer is a former High Court Judge and Vice-President of the Newman Society Alumni Association).

Nayakakanda church celebrates - 150th Jubilee

Continued from last week

E Weerapperuma

He was carrying a burning hulu-atta as a torch. It was pitched dark and the hulu-atta was fighting against the wind to keep it burning. The Wedarala having reached the spot where the church was pressed hard the hulu-attha against the thinking that it was a fence. The wall caught fire reducing the church into ashes. It was too late when he realised that he had pressed hard on the church wall.

This incident brought both Catholics and the Buddhists along with others to reconstruct the church with their labour and it sealed a sign of unity, co-existence, amity which is still found among the polity living in harmony to this day.

Subsequently a foundation stone for a permanent Church at Nayakakanda was laid in 1862 on a property donated by the devout Catholics of the area and more land was purchased by the then Vicar General of Colombo Archdiocese Rev Fr Mathew Cajitan OMI in 1861, on request made by Rev Fr Dominic Pulicano OMI, (1861-1862).

Efforts

The pioneering efforts of Fr Pulicano saw to beginning of construction work of that church building of the emerging young church community and the completion of the work fell on the shoulders of Rev Fr Carlo Mario Cardano who served as the administrator from 1878 to 1881. Fr Cardano with Italian Royal blood spent his own personal money and donations from the devotees in building not only the church but also deep-well in the church premises for the benefit of the devotees. This water-well proved a great solace to the people of the area in 1897 when the country suffered from a terrible drought as that water-well never got dried during that period of severe drought.

Festive Mass

The first Festive Mass was celebrated in 1862 in the new church. This church had served Catholic communities that lived in greater Wattala area well over a century. The Nayakakanda Girls School, the Church at Kelawarapitiya and the old Mission House were constructed during the times of Rev Fr Charles Croctain OMI, (Year 1915-1930) and in 1934, Nayakakanda was carved out as a separate Parish which had been until then a part of Wattala and Wellapalliya (Palliyawatta) Church. It was during the times of Rev Fr F Bugeral OMI(Year 1934-1935).

It was during the times of Rev Fr C M Cardano as Parish Priest, Pedurubas of Pamunugama, the elder brother of Uthuwankande Saradiel carved out the statue of Our Lady of Purification from a Mahogani tree. Pedurubas was also said to be the sculptor of statues of St Sebastian and St Anthony found in the church.

The building that had served the Catholic community needed renovation with the passage of time and the burden fell on the shoulders of Rev Fr Joseph Aloysius OMI as the Parish Priest (Year 1952 May-1961 May) to initiate action to construct a new Church building and in the year 1952 his efforts along with ready assistance of the devout Catholics both in the Nayakakanda Parish and country helped him realised his dream of a new church building.

Fr Aloysius was also remembered with reverence for taking the initiative to construct a new wing to the Hendala Boys School, a playground, a Meeting hall and constructed the Mission House at Kelawarapitiya.

The first sod of soil for the present edifice was cut by Rev Fr Benedict Haturusighe OMI, son of the Nayakakanda Parish and Colombo Archbishop Rt Rev Dr Thomas Benjamin Cooray OMI, laid the foundation stone.

Mission

Rev Fr J L Mique OMI who took over the Mission (Year 1961, May - 1965 May) from his predecessor in 1961 completed the work and the centenary of this Church was celebrated in 1962, under aegis of the then Archbishop of Colombo Rt Rev Dr Thomas Benjamin Cooray OMI, who brought honour to land of his birth by becoming the first Prince, a Cardinal of the Catholic Church in 1965, and His Lordship Rt Rev Dr Anthony de Saram, the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo.

In the year 1989 during the times of Rev Fr Mervyn Jayakody the Nayakakanda Church celebrated 125th year Jubilee with the participation of Colombo Archbishop Rt Rev Dr Nicholas Marcus Fernando.

The new Mission House was declared open on October 17, 2004 by Colombo Archbishop Rt Rev Dr Oswald Gomis with the participation of Colombo Auxiliary Bishop Rt Rev Dr Marius Peiris and Archbishop Emeritus RT Rev Dr Nicholas Marcus Fernando.

Strong winds

The need to construct a new Mission House arose with the complete devastation of the old Mission by strong winds that swept the area on the night of May 13, 2003. A huge Mahogani tree close to the Mission House had fallen destroying the bed room, of Rev Fr Gregory Jayantha Fernando, Parish Priest, and the century old entire Mission House was bits and pieces. Fortunately that night he was away from the Mission House.

Foundation stone was laid August 24, 2003 Rev Fr Joe Wickemesinghe, the Episcopal Vicar, Colombo North.

Construction

While the construction work of the new Mission House was in progress, on June 3rd, 2004, in the rubble, a remnant of the statue of Blessed Mother holding baby Jesus was discovered to the amazement of those involved in the work.

That much revered statue was displayed with the words claimed have found with the statue: “ Fear not, come to me, I will lead you to my Son, the Saviour of the World”.