Service of Independence Day :

Pray for those in authority

Ken De Joodt

At the National Day United Prayer for Sri Lanka, hosted at the People’s Church Assembly of God, Narahenpita, hundreds of patriotic citizens and Believers in Christ Jesus, from various Churches, bonded together to Pray and ask God for Blessings from Heaven, for their most loved and beautiful Island of Sri Lanka.

This service was truly a celebration ‘fit for a King’ - well organized and impressive with the big screens, musicians in Sinhala, Tamil and English and Anointed Preachers refreshingly conducted from 9am to 1pm. It was an awe inspiring time of worship, praise and prayer, commencing with the heart-warming solemn singing of the National Anthem.

In the opening session of ‘Praise and Worship’ – the songs were focused on the Goodness of God led by Pastor Dinesh Bulathsinhala, Pastor Kalinga and Pastor Pio Anandappa. This was followed by Prayers of Thanksgiving to our Gracious Lord Jesus for our people and the Nation, in separate segments taken by Pastor Dishan De Silva, Pastor Chrisso Handy and Pastor Jerome Fernando, interceding on behalf of all people Sinhala, Tamil, Muslims, Burghers, Malays and others to join hands under the same Flag now - and in the generations to come.

Pastor Jerome Fernando exposed the Key Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, in 1 Timothy 2 (verses 1 to 4) – which says “First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men. For kings (our President) and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility…that they may have a quiet and undisturbed life (outwardly) – and a Peaceable life (inwardly) – in all Godliness, Reverence and seriousness in every way”. Pastor Jerome Fernando expounded on this Scripture by saying, “Start praying for others, do not be fearful but do not forget to give thanks to God at the end of your Prayers.

He added, “Extend your Love and Loyalty to our President and the Government that is in Power, whoever they may be and call upon our King Jesus who is in the Kingdom of Heaven to specially Bless the President and all in Government authorities, the Armed Forces, the Police, Judiciary and the Opposition with God’s wonderful Wisdom, Love and Forgiveness - to unite and live Peacefully, respecting each other’s beliefs not dividing upon Religion.

A mighty move of the Holy Spirit swept through the precincts, as many other Pastors from different Churches – such as Pastors Vergheese Chandy, David Beling, John Isaac, Naren Dharmanandan, Adrian de Vissier, Palitha Jayasooriya, Dharshan Fernando, Romano Pereira, Dr. Jayanthi, Roger Koelmeyer, to name a few. They all Prayed diligently, uniting in Prayer for all families, youth and the elderly, the Sick and the Poor, for improvements in health, education, agriculture, financial prosperity and a great Revival in the Church and in our Nation.

In conclusion, it is our sincere belief that God is Concerned about Justice and Righteousness. He is the God of Justice and the foundation of His Throne is based on Righteousness and Justice (Psalm 97 verse 2). The Holy Bible refers to what King Jehosaphat said in 2 Chronicles 19 verses 6 & 7, when he appointed Judges, “Be careful of what you do, for you judge not for man but for God and He is with you in the matter of Judgment. Let the reverence and fear of God be upon you, take heed what you do, for there is no injustice with God, or partiality or taking a bribe”.

God is concerned about justice and righteousness, so we as Believers must Pray for those in authority, that the Nation of Sri Lanka will experience Godly Authority and reverence….there is no Authority except from God.

The annual feast of St. Sebastian

Saint Sebastian is honoured as a Christian Martyr, died in (c.288). He was killed during the Roman Emperor Diocletian persecution of Christians. It was believed that he was tied to a tree and shot with arrows. Miraculously, the attempt failed, they could not kill him and he was rescued and was healed by Irene of Rome. Later, the Emperor clubbed him to death. Whilst he was living, he served the Emperor’s army as a soldier, unawares by the Emperor that he was a Christian. He performed many miracles by his prayers healing sicknesses and rescuing prisoners being a soldier of the army. Also he is being worshiped as the Saint of defense against plagues.

The Greatest Day of Moratuwa Folk, immaterial of any religion, this particular feast of the church is celebrated in a sacred grand devour.

The Parish Priest and his Assistant Rev. Fr. Bertrem Ranjith and Rev. Fr. Ranjan Fernando respectively shouldered the responsibility to make the Feast of the year 2013 be a success. On January 10, the Flag Tree was hoisted in the church grounds and on January 19 the Vespass Mass was held by Most Rev. Fr. Anthony Fernandopulle and on January 20 the High Mass was held by Rev. Fr. Ranjith Terry and later the most sacred miraculous Statue was taken around the Moratuwa City. It is believed that this is the longest route a procession would take in the Catholic churches.

The Grey coloured huge church was fully decorated with white and red flags swinging softly to the sea breeze and all trees being tucked with colourful bulbs depicts the festive manner of the church. The route which the statue being taken were illuminated with rods of colourful bulbs with red and white lines of flags being hung horizontally above the roads.

The famous place where all Moratuwa fisher folk live – Murawatte - as a group forgetting their distresses and poverty, decorated their lanes as the Statue was taken through the middle of their area towards sea shore, where the fishing boats are kept fully decorated to get the blessings of the Statue. The proud fisher folk served the procession with buns, milk rice and many kinds of refreshments to the congregation who walked slowly in prayers with the Statue. The ladies of the area beat Rabans in many places to welcome the statue amidst thundering lighting of crackers.

The statue made its way along the sea coastal road towards the Galle Road. Every fork junction and every cross junction, the Moratuwa folk made it a point to light crackers and beautiful fire displays to honour the Statue.

Loudspeakers were fixed all over the city, proclaiming the feast by singing hymns from morning till night, the sight of Moratuwa Town looked liked a carnival.

The Procession was led by the School Band of the Our Lady of Victories, how smart the little children trailed the procession behind them in their college colours. Then the St. Sebastian School Band led the Statue at the Kurusa Handiya before turning towards the South of the Galle Road and performed a magnificent marching display.

The secret of this feast is how much the Moratuwa Catholics are being divided into separate churches, all the parishioners of all churches makes it a point to take part in this holy event to get the rays of blessings from the statue. There are 18 villages in the Moratuwa City, yet, as a Sinhala saying Gahata Gahak Hamuwanathena is this particular feast.

At the Kurusa Handiya there was once a huge white coloured cross and at that time the cross was decorated and even after it was removed the people of Moratuwa make it a point to decorate that particular spot installing temporarily a statue of St .Sebastian, where the miraculous Statue was kept on the floor or stopped for the devotees to offer garlands of flowers and touch the statue and after reciting few prayers and blessing the whole town, taking it back to the church along the route planned.

Until the Statue arrived to the church, the church bells were pealing as if to say, “There our Statue is out for your blessings, our doors are opened to get it back”. Once the Statue was brought near to the main door, the Parish Priest held the statue up and blessed the whole crowd, which ended up with a thundering applause and thousands of fire displays on the skies.

Unlike in any other cities in Sri Lanka, the Christmas Tree which is being put up on the Christmas Eve is repacked into the stores, only after the Feast.

There are myths and stories about the church, that if anyone in the night passes through the church grounds under the influence of alcohol, a soldier on a horseback trots on to him to whip him. Therefore, the people have a very fearful respect to this particular church.

The readers of this article I know mostly might be Christians, will hum the hymn San Sabastian Muniduni, Apa Udesa Yakna Kala Menawa, Dharma Udaye Unthumeni Apatade Jaya Dee Rakinu.

Malathi Perera

Dressing student leaders

Dressing student leaders or School Prefects of Kandana St. Sebastian Maha Vidyalaya took place recently with Re.Fr Ranjith Madurawala, the Director of Education of Colombo Diocese Catholic Schools as chief guest.

Picture below shows the student leaders with School principals Rev. Fr. Sudath Hemantha Fernando and W. Lal Kumara.

The Picture (2) shows Shashika Ishan Sankalpa Perera, the Student Leader proposing the vote of thanks.

Picture by Media unit of the Vidyalaya.

Divine Love

We find God's Love, everywhere

We witness God's love, in the beauty of the dainty flowers that bloom in our garden, in their varied hues.

We see God's love, radiate from the rays of the golden sunbeams, the morning brings.

We hear the music of God's love, through the sweet voices of little birds, when they sing unique tunes shrill.

We're inspired by God's love, when we pray to Him, the Messiah.

God's love emerges from the faces of simple, humble, peasant folk, when they smile genially, at us.

We experience God's love, in the deep silence of the night, as we slumber in the peace of the Great Still.

God's love embraces the whole world & makes it turn, by day and night.

God's infinite love, which gives us warmth like a flame of fire, is available to all of us, if only, we care, to seek it, for, God's love is, eternal and true!

It's obvious God definitely loves us as, would he have created us in His own image, if NOT?

Hallelujah: Thank you, father. God Bless

The prayer of freedom

“O’ Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart,

Hear me I implore and deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being Loved,

From the desire of being Esteemed,

From the desire of being Honoured,

From the desire of being Praised,

From the desire of being Preferred to Others,

From the desire of being Consulted and

From the desire of being Approved!

O’ Jesus, deliver me,

From the fear of being – Humiliated.

From the fear of being – Rebuked.

From the fear of being – Forgotten.

From the fear of being – Wronged.

From the fear of being – Suspected and -

O’ Jesus, grant me the grace, to desire,

That, others may be loved more than I,

That, others may be more esteemed, than I,

In the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I, decrease!

That, Others, may be Chosen and I, set aside,

That, Others, may be Praised and I, unnoticed.

That, Others, may be Preferred to me, in -

Every Way, and That, Others, may be Holier than, I,

Provided, .........

That, I, become as Holy as I should!”

-Amen.

This prayer was written by a person who knew the Lord Jesus Christ intimately and His Sacred Character. If the above prayer, (a-Roman Catholic Litany) is said, sincerely, daily, the Holy Spirit will marvellously change our lives and have the desired effect on us. Jesus was the one that was, Unwanted, Unloved, Un-esteemed, Disapproved and Rejected from Society of that era. Even now by the World.

What God wants to do in our Lives is to produce, Christlikeness, in our Characters. He was the One who was so very humble. He never accepted, honour, the things that ambitious men Crave! He was the One who was finally, despised and Consequently, executed at Golgotha, on Calvary hill. So, our motive should be, hence, Jesus, in us, must ‘increase’, and I, our Ego, or Self, must ‘Decrease'.

Mohan Lal de Mel

Senior Guild (H.E.C. Moratuwa) S.L.

The 62nd Sacred Heart retreat was held at St Joseph's Church Grandpass Colombo 14 under the patronage of the Rev Fr Joseph Sterlin from Tamil Nadu India, recently. Here the chief guest lights the oil lamp to inaugurate the ceremony. Parish Priest, Rev Fr Ananda Fernandopulle and a section of the participants are also seen. Pic A Maduraveeran (Colombo North Gr Corr)