Christian Perspectives

History in the making - Bishop Emmanuel Fernando’s consecration

Francis D'Almeida

Engineer Xavier Bastian Fernando and his beloved wife, with a flamboyant name, Gnanasourubi, did beget eight children of whom four they gave to be consecrated to God's service.

Thus, Joe of the Diocese of Jaffna and Emmanuel of the Colombo Archiocese became priests whilst the girls in between joined the Apostolic Carmalite Congregation. More was in store for the Fernando family who made Kotahena their cherished abode. Years later, on February 11, 2012 Emmanuel will be called to reach the fullness of priesthood – Sacerdotal Plenitude. Henceforth, he will be known as His Lordship Most Rev Dr Emmanuel Fernando and will don the Royal Purple. One wonders how this humble servant of God will bear the weight of this grave title. Undoutedly, the new Bishop will dedicate himself to serve God's people with renewed vigour and a burning passion.

The Fernandos hailing from the parish of Vembar tucked in a corner of South East India, belonged to the Diocese of Tuticorin. Their community known as Bharathas were the converts of the Jesuits in the 16th century whose faith was enkindled by St Francis Xavier. Through thick and thin, they cherished their faith even as they spread their wings to distant shores, to reach Mannar, Negombo, Colombo and beyond. They were astute business people who dominated petrol outlets, liquor business and the textile trade in Ceylon, as the country was then known.

The Jesuits in South India with their incomparable educational institutions drew many Bharatha lads to pursue academic careers as well as excel in sports. Hockey and soccer became the trademark of the Bharatha youth.

In our country they chose St Benedict's College, Kotahena as their prime educational institution as many Bharatha educationists had already become La Sallion Brothers (then known as Christian Brothers). The Bharatha community helped the Catholic Church in various dioceses in Sri Lanka with immeasurable generosity and at a time facing backlashes from anti-Catholic elements of the ruling regime who after the school take-over crisis – took over the lucrative dry fish trade then dominated by them.

Amidst this background there were also members of the community who became professionals in diverse fields. The senior Fernando was one of them though coming from a different educational background in Jaffna – St Patrick's College and Guindy Engineering College, Madras, India.

Boys of St Benedict's College

The Fernando boys Joe, John and Emmanuel studied at St Benedict's College and the girls Assumpta and Micheline at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. The Cathedral parish was their spiritual nursery that helped them mature to consecrated life.

Young Emmanuel (born in Jaffna) was a Colombo boy through and through and a Benedictine to the core. Guided by the noble La Sallians of the calibre of Brother Francis and Paul he matured spiritually well enough to join St John Berchman's Society of Altar Servers of the Cathedral Church. The Burmese friar known as ‘Brother James’, a legend in his time was the moderator. He groomed the Altar Servers not only in Latin and the rubrics of the complex liturgical services but also drilled them in rigorous discipline.

In many ways, Brother James’ training surpassed even what was provided in a minor seminary, so much so, there was hardly any substantial difference between ‘this and that'. As the teenage Emmanuel entered St Aloysius Seminary post Ordinary Level, another product of the La Sallian Brothers – Malcolm Ranjith who recently became Sri Lanka's second Cardinal, too joined the institution. After a short stint in the Borella Seminary under the guidance of the great visionary Fr Frank Marcus, who subsequently became the Bishop of Chilaw, Emmanuel joined the Ampitiya Major Seminary. In those tumultuous days of 1966, the seminary was in the hands of some brilliant OMI (Oblates) priests led by Very Rev Fr Dalston Forbes, a multi-talented formator.

Propagand Fide – Rome

The late Cardinal Thomas Cooray had the keen sense of spotting seminarians just right to be sent to Propogand Fide Seminary in Rome. Incidentally, Cardinal Cooray also had the knack of spotting water deep underground by a magnetic sensation he felt by the dangling metal clock on a chain.

Years swiftly passed from the time Bro Emmanuel became a priest ordained in Rome by Pope Paul VI. He soon gained experience in the parish apostolate and later taught at the National Seminary, Ampitiya. He continued his studies at the prestigious Catholic University of America for the Doctorate in Moral Theology. A few years after resuming his teaching post in the Ampitiya Seminary, he took charge the institution as its Rector.

Rectors of Seminaries, it now seems, are earmarked to become Bishops. The list includes the late Bishop Frank Marcus, Emeritus Archbishop Nicholas Marcus, Bishops Marius Peiris, Valence Mendis and now Mgr Emmanuel Fernando.

What was special over and above all other high attributes, this hard-working priest Fr Emmanuel who currently holds the ecclesiastical office of Episcopal Vicar, was assigned to minister to the spiritual needs of Tamil Catholic community in the Archdiocese.

Although there was much expectation about the appointment of Auxiliary Bishops to assist the heavily burdened Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Fr Emmanuel seemed to lead the list. The confirmation did come on November 28, 2011 when the appointment came with the titular title ‘Bishop of Orta'.

Seventh from the community

Thus His Lordship Bishop Emmanuel Fernando became the seventh Bishop from the Bharatha community who they consider themselves to be the children of St Francis Xavier. Incidentally, the first Latin rite Bishop of India was the Bharatha Bishop Tiburtious Roche who too was a Benedictine. Bishop Thomas Fernando succeeding him as the head of the Tuticorin Diocese was the second. His family also produced two priests and a Bishop. The other Bishops are His Grace Peter Fernando, Bishop Leon Dharmaraj, Bishop Thomas Aquinas, Bishop Anthony Devotta. Bishop Emmanuel is the first Bishop of the Bharatha community in Sri Lanka.

The list of La Sallian Bishops in Sri Lanka includes, the late Bishops Roche (Tuticorin) Beckmeyer, Emalianus Pillai, Archbishop Emiritus Oswald Gomis, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Bishops Marius Peiris, Winston Fernando and Valence Mendis. Indeed the vision of St John Baptist De La Salle continues to become brighter at a time and place far from his own era and society.

Te Deum Laudamus

On the morning of February 11, as the chimes of the bells of St Lucia's Cathedral resound to announce that one of its sons has been elevated to the office of Sacerdos Magnus we shall pray together with the vastly expanded Fernando family with glowing hearts Te Deum Laundamus - ‘We thank you O’ Lord'. Indeed, the Lord of history has his own strange ways to choose his leaders to take the church forward, in an exceedingly complex world.

150th jubilee of Nayakakanda church

The annual feast of the church of our Lady of Purification in Nayakakanda, Hendala, for the 150th time was celebrated and the festive high mass was presided over by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo. The vespers on 04th was presided over by Very Rev. Maxweld Silva, who is to be, conferred the title of Bishop.

In an occasion like this, it is worth to mention about the short history of the church. It had been started as a Sunday school, in an temporary hut made with cadjan around 1860 and later been used as a church to conduct the Holy Eucharistic Service.

Since it had been completely burnt down overnight due to a certain reason, the construction of a new church building had been inaugurated by Italian priest. Rev. fr. Dominique Pulkano (O.M.I), the Parish Priest of Wattala in 1862. His successor, another Italian Priest Rev Fr Mario Cardano (OMI) was able to complete the construction.

It has been recorded that in 1915 Rev. Fr. Charles Croctain (OMI) had build a permanent Mission House and put up another church, dedicated to St Joseph, at Kerawelapitiya several kilometers away.

”Nayakakanda” was made an independent parish in 1934 and Parish Priest Rev. Fr Joseph Alovisious (OMI), a native of Nayakakanda parish, has stated work in 1952, to replace the old church with the present one.

His successor, a French National, Rev. Fr. J.L. Mique (OMI) had completed the construction and the centenary feast had been held in 1962, presided over by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray.

Around 1982, Rev. Fr. H.D. Anthony the Parish Priest by then, has started a Sunday school in a temporary building for the children in Balagala area. The premises were later being used to hold the novenas of Our Lady of Perpetual Help creating an atmosphere of necessity for a permanent building for a church. His successor Rev Fr Siswaan De Croos took the initiative and in 1992, Rev Fr Benedict Jayathilake, who was appointed the Parish Priest for the second term had completed the construction work. It had been dedicated to our Lady of Perpetual help. In the same era Nayakkanda church also had been consecrated by His Eminence Nicholas Marcus, Archbishop of Colombo.

Due to natural causes, the Mission House, which was build over 100 years ago, got destroyed around the year 2003. The Parish Preist Rev. Fr Gregory Jayantha initiated and constructed a new Mission House with all the facilities.

In 2010, Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunathilake, Parish Priest at present, declared the 2012, as the “150th Jubilee Year” and launched various programmes and projects indulging in developing the infrastructure facilities of the church, apart from his pastoral care of his parish.

Recently there had been a Retreat, successfully completed during a period of about one month, organized and conducted by the Rev priests of the Franciscan Order.

It has been considered the largest Parish in Colombo Diocese with an equally mixed, Catholic community, comprising Sinhalese, Tamils and Burghers etc, living in peace and harmony.

Joseph Satnislaus Pius