a strong economy begins with a strong

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh,... (Jonah 3:1-2)

Sunday January 24, 2021 Vol 152 No 03 16 Pages Rs: 50.00 Registered as a newspaper

“ R E G I S T E R E D I N T H E D E PA RT M E N T O F P O S T S O F S R I L A N K A” U N D E R N O. Q D / 1 0 / N E W S / 2 0 2 1“ R E G I S T E R E D I N T H E D E PA RT M E N T O F P O S T S O F S R I L A N K A” U N D E R N O. Q D / 1 0 / N E W S / 2 0 2 1

THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY OF SRI LANKA

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receive their �irst doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Vatican.

Pope Francis and the Pope Emeritus receive

Covid-19 vaccine

Vatican News : The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the Vatican which began on Wednesday continues with both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receiving their �irst doses of the vaccine.

➢ CONTD ON PG. 12

Higher education institutions have a responsibility to enable students receive quality education at an affordable price - President Gotabaya

A strong economy begins with a strong well-educated workforce. Since we cannot depend only on state run

universities, other higher education institu-tions have a bigger responsibility in provid-ing quality education at an affordable price in order to strengthen our workforce, said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The President was making these remarks speaking at an event held at BCI Campus (Benedict XVI Catholic Institute), Negombo. President Rajapaksa visited the Campus

➢ CONTD ON PG. 12

Blessing and opening of Avila Niwasa Monastery

“Avila Niwasa”, Monastery with the Chapel of Discalced Carmelite Friars was opened and blessed by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo last week.

“Avila Niwasa” located at Polpithimukalana, Kan-dana is the �irst Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Sri Lanka. It belongs to St. Joseph’s Province of Tamil Nadu, India. At the request of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Carmelite Fathers came to Sri Lanka to ex-pand their Religious Order with the permission of their Superior General Very Rev. Fr. Saverio Cannistra OCD, Rome for the pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Colombo while assisting the spiritual needs of the great Carmel Sisters.

It was the long felt need of the Carmelite Fathers to have a Monastery to regularize the religious community life. It was initiated by Rev. Fr. Peter Soosairaj OCD and accomplished by Rev. Fr. Louis Arockiaraj OCD through his tireless hard work. The blessing of the Monastery was delayed by ➢ CONTD ON PG. 12

Island-wide excellent O/L results from St.Thomas' International College

St. Thomas' International College recorded out-standing performance at the Cambridge Ordinary Level examination. 66 students of the �irst batch ex-celled in the Exam.

Rev. Fr. John Hettiarachchi: 54 years of committed service

in God's vineyard

Pic by Roshan Pradeep and Sugath Pallewela

Rev. Fr. John Hettiarachchi served with commitment and dedication for over 54 years in the Vineyard of

the Lord. He served as Parish Priest in a number of im-portant parishes in the Colombo Archdiocese. His valu-able service to the people of God will be in our memo-ries forever. ➢ CONTD ON PG. 12

Rev. Fr. Ponweera: Committed to serve God

Pic by T. Sunil Fernando and Malan David

During the 38-year long priestly life, Rev. Fr. Nimal Ponweera committed his life to serving in God's

vineyard to the best of his ability. He was an ardent devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary and coincidently most parishes he served were dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

This was the observation made by Very Rev. Fr. Ber-tram Ranjith, Episcopal Vicar for Social Apostolate, Works of Charity, ➢ CONTD ON PG. 12

Archdiocese spent over 15 million rupees as

pandemic relief The Archdiocese of Colombo has spent over 15 million rupees as relief for the people affected by the �irst and second waves of COVID 19.

As instructed by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo relief programmes were carried out throughout the Archdiocese. Widowed mothers with school going children, parents with children with special needs and low income families were selected for the programme.

- His Eminence

Giving value to human life must come through a social change

by T. Sunil Fernando and Roshan Pradeep

Today we are hesitant to do the right thing or speak up for justice. Remember, we should not be afraid to give value to human life and it needs to

be done only through a social change, said His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo at the Vespers Service of St. Sebastian’s Shrine, Kandana on 19th January.

“That social change should start with us. Each of us has to take the initiative to do our part without waiting for the others to do everything,” His Eminence pointed out.

Delivering his homily the Archbishop further added “Living a Christ like life is not easy. It is tough and re-quires many sacri�ices. Most importantly we should be ready to embrace the cross.” ➢ CONTD ON PG. 12

2 The Messenger January 24, 20212 Messenger January 24, 2021

...and announce to it the message that I will tell you. So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,... (Johah 3:2-3)

Week of Prayer for Christian UnityThe National Ecumenism Prayer Service in connec-tion with week of prayer for Christian unity was conduct-ed at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour -Anglican Cathedral on Monday (18).

The event was held under the patronage of His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Norbert Andradi OMI, Chairman of Catholic National Commission for Ecumenism, His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Silva, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev.

Dushantha Rodrigo Anglican Bishop of the Church of Ceylon, Rev. Ebenezir Joseph, President of Methodist Church, Rev. Heshan De Silva, President of Sri Lanka Baptist Church, Rev. Shirley Faber, President Christian Reformed Church and Rev. Chrysov Handy, President of Assembly of God Church. Priests, pastors, religious nuns and lay representatives from each Church also participated.

We need to continuously pray for the intercession of Mother Mary for those affected by the Corona pandemic and Easter Sunday victims, said His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Norbert Andradi OMI, Bishop of Anuradhapura.

His Lordship was the Chief Celebrant of the Festive High Mass at the 44th Annual Feast of the Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Polonnaruwa held recently. “We are celebrating this feast at a time when many people are grieving due to a global pandemic. Meantime, we cannot forget the Easter victims who are yet to receive justice. Therefore let us offer our prayers for all of them at this special time,”

he said.Delivering the homily His

Lordship re lected on the servicecarried out by St. Joseph Vaz taking care of the smallpox victims. “St. Joseph Vaz had immense faith in God. We should take him as an example duringthesedif iculttimes.”

Rev. Fr. Paaris Jayamaha, Parish Priest, together with Rev. Fr. Lakshman Krishnakumara, Assistant Parish Priest organized the feast celebrations adhering to government health guidelines.

This year novena services were conducted by Rev. Fr. Sam Perera, Parish Priest, Diyathalawa and Rev. Fr. Lakshman Krishnakumara.

B. Ranjith Mendis

Let us continue to pray for those affected by Corona pandemic and Easter Sunday victims

- Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI

St. Jude’s Church, Indigolla recently organized a special service for the protection and healing through the intercession of St. Jude. The miraculous relic of St. Jude was taken to 24 places within the Indigolla Parish giving the rare opportunity for the devotees to venerate the relic of the saint.

During the service Rev. Fr. Patrick Perera, Parish Priest along with the assistant priests blessed the devotees with St. Jude’s relic.

The special blessing carried out was appreciated by parishioners as well as non Catholics in the area.

Special blessing with St. Jude relic

Optometrist K. K. Michael Jagath was awarded the title “Deshamanya” by the Cultural and Environmental Protection Organization in recognition of his valuable serviceinthe ieldofoptometry.Hehasconductedfreeeye clinics from 1983-1993 and in partnership with Senior Eye Specialist Dr. Ananda Raja during 1996-2011. Mr. Micheal Jagath was also appointed as the Senior Consultant by the same organization.

Receives Deshamanya title Three Holy Cross sisters profess vows

Three Holy Cross Sisters of St. Theresa’s Church, Peradeniya professed their irst vows during a HolyMass presided over by Rev. Fr. Justin Chawkan sss.

Rev. Sisters Maria Ethansy, Champika Dilrukshy and Mary Sisilia professed their vows.

The Holy Mass organized by Rev. Sister Christa Bennet, Provincial of Sisters of the Holy Cross was attended by Rev Fr. Leslie Perera, Parish Priest, St. Theresa’s Church, Peradeniya, priests, parents and family members of the three sisters.

Text Asika Priyadarshana - Pic . James Mathew

Avoid TV programmes that destroy Christian values

Certain television programmes are a threat to Christian morals and destroy important values such as chastity and purity. Therefore it is best that parents and espe-cially children avoid watching such programmes, said Rev. Fr. Samantha Fernando CSsR at St. Mary’s Church, Kegalle.

He made these remarks at the annual penetential Novena services conducted by the Church. “Today can parents and children sit together and watch the televi-sion? Today television programmes talk openly about many socially tabooed topics. Whether its marriage, love affairs, youth or children what is shown in televi-sion is against our values and morals,” he said.

He also pointed out that parents have a responsibil-ity about the behaviour of their children, whom they associate and how they dress. “Parents should set a good example to their children. Setting a good example for your children is possibly the most simple and effec-tive way.

Joe A. Zacharias

Pope Francis introduces the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by encouraging the faithful to pray that Jesus’ de-sire for the unity of all might be accomplished.

Vatican News- Pope Francis explained that this year the theme highlights “Jesus’ request that we abide in His love so that we might bear much fruit”. He went on to note that the week will conclude on 25 January with the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside-the-Walls in Rome, “together with the repre-sentative of the other Churches and Christian commu-nities in Rome”.

In these days, concluded the Pope “let us pray to-gether so that Jesus’ desire might be accomplished – that all might be one: unity, which is always higher than con lict”.

Pope Francis also noted that, in Italy, the “XXXII Day for Deepening and Developing the Dialogue between Catholics and our Jewish Brothers and Sisters” is being observed.

Pope:Unityisalwayshigherthancon lict

Vaticanmodi iesdistributionofashesforAshWednesdayThe Congregation for Divine Worship releases a note laying out the procedures priests around the world

are to follow for the distribution of ashes at the start of Lent.

VATICAN NEWS: The health situation caused by Co-vid-19 continues to force changes on daily life, which arealsore lectedintheChurch’ssphere.

Ahead of the beginning of Lent, on Wednesday, 17 February, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has published a note de-tailing how Catholic priests are to distribute ashes.

After blessing the ashes and sprinkling them with holy water in silence, the priest addresses those pres-

ent, reciting once the formula found in the Roman Mis-sal: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.

At that point, the note continues, the priest “cleans-es his hands, puts on a face mask, and distributes ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places.”He then sprinkles the ashes on each person’s head “without saying anything.”

3 January 24, 2021 Messenger

EDITORIAL

Email:[email protected]:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com Telephone: 011 2695984 Fax: 2692586 / 2670100

January 24, 2021

SINCE FEBRUARY 1869

...according to the Lord’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. (Jonah 3:3)

As we startedtheNewYearstrugglingwithdif icultiescaused by the Covid - 19 pandemic there is the

temptation of hedonistic trends slowly coming into our world. With this Covid - 19 pandemic spreading rapidly in our country too the temptation is to “take care only of one’s own interests, for example, to focus only on theeconomicpro ileandto livehedonistically, that is,trying only to satisfy one’s own pleasure.” We hear of people who have attempted to escape their local lockdowns by taking holidays, not taking into account the economic and other problems of so many hit by the virus. As Catholics we know that things will get better to the extent that with God’s help, we work together for the common good, always putting the weakest and most disadvantaged to the centre. We do not know what 2021 has in store for us, but what each of us and all of us can do is to commit ourselves a little more in taking care of each other and of the creation, our common home. The painful events that have marked humanity’s journey in the past year, specially due to the pandemic, teach us how necessary it is to take an interest in the problems of others and share their concerns. Of all the many changes made in response to Covid - 19 in worship, the disappearance of the distribution of communion “under both kinds” is noteworthy. Although it was not common in our country, I have seen the faithful partake in one cup after

Greatest man in history named Jesus, Had no servants, yet they called Him master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they call Him Healer. He had no army or security yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles yet He conquered the world. Hecommittednocrimeyettheycruci iedHim.He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today and everyday.

Hedonism at time of Pandemic Greatest in the Human History

The power of unityOn January 18 we began the celebration of Chris-

tian unity week and we need to remember that unity is strength while there is more strength or power when there is unity in diversity. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus has told us about unity. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (St.Matthew 5:43-48)

St. Luke goes still deeper on how God’s power will manifest when he posits acts of unity. “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of

the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good mea-sure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teach-er, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself failtoseetheplankinyourowneye?Youhypocrite, irsttake the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do notpick igs fromthornbushes,orgrapes frombriers.A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foun-dationonrock.Whena loodcame, the torrentstruckthat house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”(Luke 6: 27-49)

In verse 31 St. Luke gives Christianity’s golden rule “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. Essen-tially, the golden rule is unity. In other words it means a growing desire to seek and do God’s will and to ob-serve the inal commandment that the Lord Jesus leftfor us, “Love one another as I love you”(John 13:34, John 15:12). Catholic Bible scholars believe this was the last sermon Jesus gave to his disciples before the last supper

and He twice gives the commandment of unity, “Love one another as I love you”.

Essentially the Risen Christ is Christianity and Christianity is the Risen Christ. As St. Paul says in the First Letter to the Corinthians, “If Christ had not been raised from the dead then your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). So a Christian is a person who has a deep and growing relationship with the Risen Christ because St. Paul tells us your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels the Lord Jesus also tells us to do God’s will at all times and in everything and to obey the last commandment He left for us, “Love one another as I love you”. Other commandments are taken by the Lord Jesus and summed up to this one commandment.

So as we mark Christian unity week let us re-member that the Lord is present in unity and every Christian has the power to make the Lord present by positing an act of unity. Deeper the unity, the more powerful the manifestation of the Lord.

We also need to remember an inspiring story from the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He and other brothers lived at a monastery in the jungle where there were three notorious bandits. One day the bandits had no food and one of them came to the monastery asking for food. A brother opened the door and slammed it on him because he knew these bandits. When the brother apparently proudly told St. Francis he had chased a bandit away, the brother was shocked at St. Francis’ reply. He said, “Go and call the bandit back. Givehimdinner irst.Laterwewillhaveourdinner”.The brother was apparently shocked and thought St. Francis was going out of his mind. Anyway, he obeyed, opened the door and invited the bandit for dinner. The next morning the bandit came to see St. Francis and asked him why he did what he did. St. Francis told him it was through the love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The bandit then told St. Francis he would like to come to know the Lord Jesus. St. Francis invited him to join the monastery and he eventually rose to a high rank in the Franciscan order. Such is the power of unity of making ourselves available to God and obey-ingthe inalcommandmenttheLordgivestous,“Loveone another as I love you.”

receiving the Sacred Body. The sharing of the cup by the whole c o n g r e g a t i o n was a little miracle, in the context of our individualistic, p r i v a t i z e d culture and hedonism. The drinking from a shared cup really stood out against our contemporary expectation of personal hygiene and sanitized world. This contemporary understanding of how viruses spread and the fear of contagion has lowedfrom the pandemic. However this new way of receiving Communion should not in any way disturb our attitude towards the Holy Mass. We are all called to realise it every day specially during this time of pandemic that Holy Communion should lead us to sharing, that is to extending our hand to our brother who needs a word of comfort, a gesture of tenderness. And this for us is a task given by God.

Rev. Fr. Camillus FernandoEditor

Who invented the three basic Covid rules to protect us?

1. Distance 2. Hand hygiene 3. Using the Mask These laws were given to the nation of Israel 3500 years ago. Did you know? So look it up in the Bible.

1. Exodus 30: 18-21 - Wash your hands2. Leviticus 13: 4, 5, 46 - If you have symptoms, keep your distance, cover your mouth and avoid contact.3. Leviticus 13: 4-5 - Who is infected must remain in quarantine for 7 -14 days. And there are still those who doubt that the Bible is a Book of Wisdom.

3 The Messenger January 24, 2021 3 January 24, 2021 Messenger

EDITORIAL

Email:[email protected]:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com Telephone: 011 2695984 Fax: 2692586 / 2670100

January 24, 2021

SINCE FEBRUARY 1869

...according to the Lord’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. (Jonah 3:3)

As we startedtheNewYearstrugglingwithdif icultiescaused by the Covid - 19 pandemic there is the

temptation of hedonistic trends slowly coming into our world. With this Covid - 19 pandemic spreading rapidly in our country too the temptation is to “take care only of one’s own interests, for example, to focus only on theeconomicpro ileandto livehedonistically, that is,trying only to satisfy one’s own pleasure.” We hear of people who have attempted to escape their local lockdowns by taking holidays, not taking into account the economic and other problems of so many hit by the virus. As Catholics we know that things will get better to the extent that with God’s help, we work together for the common good, always putting the weakest and most disadvantaged to the centre. We do not know what 2021 has in store for us, but what each of us and all of us can do is to commit ourselves a little more in taking care of each other and of the creation, our common home. The painful events that have marked humanity’s journey in the past year, specially due to the pandemic, teach us how necessary it is to take an interest in the problems of others and share their concerns. Of all the many changes made in response to Covid - 19 in worship, the disappearance of the distribution of communion “under both kinds” is noteworthy. Although it was not common in our country, I have seen the faithful partake in one cup after

Greatest man in history named Jesus, Had no servants, yet they called Him master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they call Him Healer. He had no army or security yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles yet He conquered the world. Hecommittednocrimeyettheycruci iedHim.He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today and everyday.

Hedonism at time of Pandemic Greatest in the Human History

The power of unityOn January 18 we began the celebration of Chris-

tian unity week and we need to remember that unity is strength while there is more strength or power when there is unity in diversity. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus has told us about unity. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (St.Matthew 5:43-48)

St. Luke goes still deeper on how God’s power will manifest when he posits acts of unity. “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of

the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good mea-sure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teach-er, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself failtoseetheplankinyourowneye?Youhypocrite, irsttake the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do notpick igs fromthornbushes,orgrapes frombriers.A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foun-dationonrock.Whena loodcame, the torrentstruckthat house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”(Luke 6: 27-49)

In verse 31 St. Luke gives Christianity’s golden rule “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. Essen-tially, the golden rule is unity. In other words it means a growing desire to seek and do God’s will and to ob-serve the inal commandment that the Lord Jesus leftfor us, “Love one another as I love you”(John 13:34, John 15:12). Catholic Bible scholars believe this was the last sermon Jesus gave to his disciples before the last supper

and He twice gives the commandment of unity, “Love one another as I love you”.

Essentially the Risen Christ is Christianity and Christianity is the Risen Christ. As St. Paul says in the First Letter to the Corinthians, “If Christ had not been raised from the dead then your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). So a Christian is a person who has a deep and growing relationship with the Risen Christ because St. Paul tells us your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels the Lord Jesus also tells us to do God’s will at all times and in everything and to obey the last commandment He left for us, “Love one another as I love you”. Other commandments are taken by the Lord Jesus and summed up to this one commandment.

So as we mark Christian unity week let us re-member that the Lord is present in unity and every Christian has the power to make the Lord present by positing an act of unity. Deeper the unity, the more powerful the manifestation of the Lord.

We also need to remember an inspiring story from the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He and other brothers lived at a monastery in the jungle where there were three notorious bandits. One day the bandits had no food and one of them came to the monastery asking for food. A brother opened the door and slammed it on him because he knew these bandits. When the brother apparently proudly told St. Francis he had chased a bandit away, the brother was shocked at St. Francis’ reply. He said, “Go and call the bandit back. Givehimdinner irst.Laterwewillhaveourdinner”.The brother was apparently shocked and thought St. Francis was going out of his mind. Anyway, he obeyed, opened the door and invited the bandit for dinner. The next morning the bandit came to see St. Francis and asked him why he did what he did. St. Francis told him it was through the love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The bandit then told St. Francis he would like to come to know the Lord Jesus. St. Francis invited him to join the monastery and he eventually rose to a high rank in the Franciscan order. Such is the power of unity of making ourselves available to God and obey-ingthe inalcommandmenttheLordgivestous,“Loveone another as I love you.”

receiving the Sacred Body. The sharing of the cup by the whole c o n g r e g a t i o n was a little miracle, in the context of our individualistic, p r i v a t i z e d culture and hedonism. The drinking from a shared cup really stood out against our contemporary expectation of personal hygiene and sanitized world. This contemporary understanding of how viruses spread and the fear of contagion has lowedfrom the pandemic. However this new way of receiving Communion should not in any way disturb our attitude towards the Holy Mass. We are all called to realise it every day specially during this time of pandemic that Holy Communion should lead us to sharing, that is to extending our hand to our brother who needs a word of comfort, a gesture of tenderness. And this for us is a task given by God.

Rev. Fr. Camillus FernandoEditor

Who invented the three basic Covid rules to protect us?

1. Distance 2. Hand hygiene 3. Using the Mask These laws were given to the nation of Israel 3500 years ago. Did you know? So look it up in the Bible.

1. Exodus 30: 18-21 - Wash your hands2. Leviticus 13: 4, 5, 46 - If you have symptoms, keep your distance, cover your mouth and avoid contact.3. Leviticus 13: 4-5 - Who is infected must remain in quarantine for 7 -14 days. And there are still those who doubt that the Bible is a Book of Wisdom.


Pope says pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in many health care systems

...”Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast... (Jonah 3:4-5)

Sun: 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Pro-Life Sunday, “The Word of God” Sunday 1 Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7: 29-31; Mk. 1: 14-20Mon: Feast of The Conversion of St. Paul, The Apostle Acts 22: 3-16 or 9: 1-22; Mk. 16: 15-18 Tue: Memorials of Ss. Timothy & Titus, Bishops 2 Tim. 1: 1-8 or Tit 1: 1-5; Lk. 10: 1-9

Liturgical Calendar Year B - 24th Jan.- 31th Jan. 2021

Wed: Memorial of St. Angela Merici, Virgin Hebr. 10: 11-18; Mk. 4: 1-20Thu: Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor Hebr. 10: 19-25; Mk. 4: 21-25Fri: Hebr. 10: 32-39; Mk. 4: 26-34Sat: Hebr. 11: 1-2, 8-19; Mk. 4: 35-41Sun: 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time Deut. 18: 15-20; 1 Cor. 7: 32-35; Mk. 1: 21b-28

By Very Rev. Fr. Ciswan De Croos

First Reading: Jonah. 3: 1-5,10The Prophet Jonah is sent

by God to Nineveh to preach the message of repentance. The people accepted God and repented. God in His kindness spared the people.

Second Reading: 1Corinthians 7:29-31

For Paul the coming of the Lord is to happen at any moment. Therefore he wants the people to be prepared. They should not be attached to any worldly things or affairs.

Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20After the arrest of John the

Baptist, Jesus preaches the Good News of repentance. He calls the irstDisciples.

Re lectionWhether, it is our Baptismal

vocation or a special direct call from God for a special mission, our prime mission is to proclaim the Good News of salvation. It requires detachment from the world and most of all from sin. Before the birth of Jesus as in the First Reading, during the time of Jesus as in the Gospel and after the time of Jesus, that is in the time of the Apostles as in the Second Reading and for that matter even today, the good news for the people has been the same. “DETACH YOUR SELF FROM THE WORLD AND SIN, REPENT AND BELIEVE.”

From the time man sinned against God; God’s redemptive love has been at work. From time to time through many people God tried to save mankind. Finally, He saved mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour.

The people of Nineveh were living in sin and so they were condemned and were to be destroyed. But God out of love sent Prophet Jonah with a message of repentance. The people accepted his message, repented and were saved.

John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord preached a message of repentance. After he was arrested, Jesus came to the region, to Galilee not to condemn or ight for the freedom of John,but to proclaim the message of repentance. He even chose many Apostles to help Him and to continue His work after Him.

In the Second Reading we see the Apostles, especially St. Paul carrying the same message, to repent and to believe.

So as we in this New Year prepare ourselves in various ways to serve the Lord, let us keep in mind that even today, for the kind of society that we live in, the urgent message is a message

of repentance. Let us therefore, in all humility and courage proclaim the

message of repentance lest the whole world be destroyed by sin.

Because of the urgency of the need to save the world from suffering and sin, we might think of condemning and ighting ourway through, but it will only add to the burden and will bring in more and more suffering and sin.

There is no weapon like love. There is nothing like voluntary repentance and conversion. Let us therefore imitate the Lord. Let us proclaim with love, a message of repentance.

Blessed is he who is able to make people repent and convert them from their sins, they are the most fruitful people and living gods on the earth.

Aid Story 1St. Vincent de Paul dearly

loved a young man who had grown up like a wild lower. Aviolent ray of passion entered the youngman’s soul and the lowerwithered and fell, the young man became so licentious that the saint wept bitterly. “Well” St. Vincent said to him one day. “I cannot persuade you any longer to give up your bad ways because I see that my words are of no help. However, there is one thing I would like you to do.” “What is it?” asked the young man. “Take this pictureoftheCruci ixandlookatit every night before retiring.” The unusual request seemed easy to the young man that he promised to comply. That night he glanced at the picture for the irst time,and he was so moved that it took him a while to fall asleep. Christ’s sorrowful face kept staring at him and reached the depth of his soul. The following night he was afraid to look at the picture.

The patient Christ kept looking at him all night and he could not sleep. The next morning the young man went to St. Vincent; “Father” he said, “I give up. Your attempt has won me over to Christ.”

Aid Story 2A grandfather asked his little

grandson if he said his prayers every night.

“Oh, yes!” replied the boy.“And every morning?” His

grandfather asked.“Why should I?” asked the

child. “I’m not scared in the daytime.”

So many of us think of God – as if a doctor; when something goes wrong. Yet we call Him, “Our Father,” when we pray.

SAYING. Salvi ic Mission isimportant for Jesus than social work. John is arrested and instead of saving him, Jesus goes the other way to save mankind.

Third Sunday in Odinary TimePro - Life Sunday

“The Word of God SundayPope Francis has

named Father Dominique Mathieu, a member of the Con-ventual Franciscans (or Grey Friars) as the Head of the Latin Rite Archdiocese of Teheran-Ispahan in Iran. His Holiness appointed the 57-year-old Belgian to the post on January 8.

The Archdiocese has been without a spiri-tual leader since 2014 when Archbishop Ig-nazio Bedini, an Italian Salesian, retired at age 75.

Up till the new appointment, the Archdio-cese was being administered by Father Jack Youssef, a 49-year-old Iran native and mem-ber of the Congregation of the Mission (or Vincentians).

Archbishop-elect Mathieu is the sixth

Conventual Franciscan that Pope Francis has appointed to head an archdiocese. The Pope has also named or promoted nine Grey Friars to Episcopal Posts and He recently created Mauro Gambetti, an Italian member of the or-der, a cardinal.

The Belgian born new Archbishop takes over the sole Latin Rite diocese in Iran. The mostly Muslim country also has four dioceses for Chaldean Catholics and one for those of the Armenian tradition in communion with Rome.

Originally named “Isfahan of the Latins”, the archdiocese is now called “Tehran-Isfah-an of the Latins”. Our Lady of Consolation Ca-thedral is located in the Iranian capital.

The Archdiocese has six parishes, and in-cludes all 2,000 Latin Rite Catholics who live in Iran. Most of them are foreigners.

An experienced cleric Father Mathieu has heldmanyof iceswithinhisFranciscanOrderof Friars Minor Conventual (OFM, Conv.)

Belgian Franciscan is the new head of Latin Rite Catholics in Iran

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has changed the Catholic Church law to make explicit that laywomen can act as readers and altar servers in liturgical celebrations, effectively removing a previous option for individual bishops to restrict those ministries only to men.

In an unexpected apostolic letter published Jan. 11, the Pontiff says he is making the change to recognize a “doctrinal development” that has occurred in recent years.

That change, the Pope says, “shines a light on how some ministries instituted by the Church have as their foundation that common condition of baptism and the royal priesthood received in the Sacrament of Baptism.”

Francis’ new letter, titled Spiritus Domini and issued motu proprio (on his own initiative), changes the Code of Canon Law to explicitly allow women to be installed in the Catholic Church as lectors and acolytes.

Lectors are ministers who proclaim readings at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Acolytes are ministers who typically assist priests in preparing the altar during the Mass or in distributing

Communion. Acolytes are often known as altar servers or Eucharistic ministers in common parlance.

Laypeople who serve in those ministries are not ordained but can be formally instituted into the roles during a church ceremony.

Although women in many U.S. Catholic dioceses already serve as readers and altar servers, the Church’s canon law had technically only allowed for their service on a temporary basis and according to the whim of the local bishop.

The Pope’s change, which replaces “laymen” as the category of those who can formally serve in the ministries with “laypersons,” would appear to require all global Catholic bishops to accept women into those roles.

Francis has struggled throughout his nearly eight-year papacy to better include women in the Catholic Church’s leadership structure and ministries, and has repeatedly reaf irmed Pope John Paul II’s ban onwomen’s ordination to the priesthood. (NCR)

Women explicitly allowed as lectors, altar servers

In a message for the 2021 World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis deplores the fact that “elderly, weak and vulnerable people” are not always guaranteed healthcare.

Pope Francis emphasized that access to care depends on political choices, on the way resources are administered and on the commitment of those in positions of responsibility. Pope Frances has called on

political leaders to invest in health systems. This is just one of the main points the

Pope makes in his message for the Catholic Church’s next World Day of the Sick, which is observed annually on the February 11th the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

This year the event takes on particular resonance in the context of the global health crisis. (La Croix International)

concentration was on Roman monarchy free of outside invasions. In this context systematic evangelization of Christianity fascinating the people evolved to be a religion that spoke to their hearts. Peoples appreciation of Christianity created jealousy in the hearts of the enemies of Christianity and they paved the way for religious chaos, disturbing Roman rule. It was then the Roman Rulers became more and more conscious of the impending danger of religious freedom enjoyed by the citizens of the empire. Different religious practices became botheration to them and determined to solve the problem introducing the Emperor Cult. Emperor cult primarily originated in Greece during the time of Alexander the Great in the form of Hero worship. When the kingdom of Greece was subdued by the Romans the cult of hero worship of the Greek took the shape of Emperor Worship in Graeco-Roman Empire. Roman administration decided that the one and the only method of uniting divided Romans was introducing emperor cult or emperor worship. Forming their own cult, and erecting their own statues in temples Roman Emperors requested the Roman citizens to consider them as semi gods. This was totally denied by Christians while it was welcomed by non-Christians. Disloyalty of Christians antagonized the Roman Rulers as well as the non-Christians. This urged them to turn against the Christians creating numerous accusations with the slogan ‘Christians should not exist’.

...Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing,... (Jonah 3:4)

LET US REFRESH OUR MIND WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL SKETCHES ABOUT THE CHURCH

By Fr. Reginald Lucian OMI

Series No: 3

This new church while experiencing sturdy growth also had practices of its own. Right from the beginning, it was comprised of different categories of people like Apostles, Deacons, Prophets, and Laity. Universality or Catholica was another aspect of this Church which was appreciated and attracted by all levels of people. whether it is Breaking of Bread or administering of Sacraments, performed everywhere in a uniform pattern. It was strongly rooted in the virtue of charity since the time of inception.

The af�luent churches always cared for the impoverished churches spiritually as well as materially. In this regard, the Roman Church takes the precedent and the clear example was the interference of Clement of Rome the 4th Pontiff of the Church when the Church at Corinth was experiencing internal problems. The Pope does not interfere in the internal administration of the Corinthian church but aids and abets to solve their problems advising them to respect every member of the church. It is a clear instance of the primacy role played by the Roman church towards the daughter church. Right from the beginning, the Bishop appointed to the Sea of Rome was considered the Pope of the Universal Church.

Thus, the church that was implanted by Christ with a tiny group of 12 Apostles like a mustard seed, as time went on having its slow and steady growth rooted like a giant tree to which so many were attracted to come under its shade. No barriers or interruptions could hinder the growth of this church because of the promise of Christ to His Apostles that is to be with them until the end of time.

(Contd from last week)

FIRM FAITH OF OUR CHRISTIAN ANCESTORS AMIDST CHALLENGES From the time of inception, criticism, misunderstanding, intimidation, torture, suspicion, reproach, massacre, were part and parcel of Christian life. They were targeted for many embarrassments for the crimes not committed. This happened not only during initial period of Christian life, even today wherever Christians are found they are endangered to various inconveniences. The Easter massacre of innocent Christians, by unidenti�ied people in our motherland, 2019 April, is a vibrant example of this. These coercions then and now rather than frightening the Christians made them to be more and more enthusiastic and energetic in their Christian way of living. In spite of these disturbances, speedy growth of Christianity was observed not only in Western Christendom but even in the Eastern territory of India, before the termination of the Apostolic era. Cause of this success was the systematic administrative technique followed by the early Church. Practice of monarchical episcopate of local churches, creating close link between the shepherd and the sheep, made the sheep to understand the voice of the shepherd easily and follow him without any misperception and distraction. Added to this the universal pattern of practice maintained in the Church attracted everybody. This made literate as well as illiterate to admire the activities of the Church. There was no ambiguity or differences in the activities of local churches whether it is praise and worship, or administering of Sacraments, or administration, they were performed in similar pattern everywhere. Thus, the Church was highly organized right from the beginning and this systematic way of doing things made people to comprehend it well. At initial stage, well organized religion of Christianity appropriately suited the Roman environment

for the Roman citizens were highly thrilled with various forms of multireligious practices of the empire. Neither the rulers were alarmed by the presence of this new religion for their sole

Catholics world over will celebrate on January 31st,

the Feast of St. John Bosco, the Apostle of Youth and the Found-er of the Salesian Society, named in honour of St. Francis de Sales and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

St. John Bosco is also known as Don Bosco or Giovanni Melchior. St. Bosco, the Founder of the Salesian Society was born on 16th August 1815, to a poor peasant fam-ily in a little cabin at Becchi not far from Turin near the Castelnuovo de Asti of Piedmont Region of Northern Italy. His father Francisco died before he reached two years of age and his Mother Margherita a saintly woman gave him a healthy, religious upbringing. She played a strong role in Bosco’s formation of personality and was an early supporter of her son’s ideals.

At the age of nine little John Bosco had a prophetic dream. He saw himself in the midst of a crowd of boys who were misbehaving. He saw himself throwing him-self at them shouting, hitting and kicking. Then he saw a man of majestic bearing appearing before him and heard him say; “Not with blows, but with kindness and with love you must win over these your friends. I shall give you a teacher who will guide you to become wise”. Then there appeared a lady and John recog-nized that the man was Jesus and the lady was the Vir-gin Mary. This he kept in mind his entire life. He endured many hardships in searching for education and growth in the Christian life. John Bosco showed great admirable initiative and creativity at a very early age and had an incredible memory and per-severance. Bosco’s formative years were spent training

St. John Bosco: The Apostle of Youth and the Founder of Salesian Family as a shepherd and he received his �irst guidance at the hands of Fr. Joseph Colosso his Parish Priest whom he met in 1830. Despite being forced to leave home at the age of twelve John persevered with his studies. He possessed a ready wit, a retentive memory and as years passed by his appetite to study grew stronger. Poverty at home prevented any serious attempt at schooling. He was often obliged to turn from his books to the �ield but the desire of what he had to give up never left him.

On a day in February 1827, John Bosco left his home and went to look for work as a farm servant. Af-ter begging unsuccessfully for work Bosco ended up at the vine farm Louis Moglia and worked for three years. He returned home and resumed his schooling �irst at Castelnuovo and then at Chieri. He learnt different trades, took part time jobs and learnt skills including carpentry, tailoring and cobbling to pay for his school-ing. He later used those skills to train his own students. At the age of 20, John Bosco took the most important decision of his life and entered the Seminary of Chieri in 1835. After 6 years of intense studies, on June 5th 1841, he was ordained a priest on the eve of Trinity Sunday by Archbishop Franzoni of Turin.

John Bosco was 26 years of age when he became a priest and according to revelations received from time to time he knew that God wanted him to be ‘ a priest for the young people’. The initial experience came with a surprise encounter that brought John Bosco face to face with a frightened street toddler in a church sacristy on 8.12.1841. This encounter gradually began to multiply. The boys were varied orphans from broken families or boys who have been abused or misguided. In Fr. John Bosco they found food, a bed and above all a father and a mother. On them, he spent his money, his time and his most extraordinary talents. For them and with the help of some John Bosco founded the Salesian Family com-posed of priests and laypeople.

John Bosco the Catholic priest was an educator and writer of the 19th century who put in to practice

a method that is known as the preventive system. His method of study knew nothing of punishment. He said that a teacher should be a father, adviser and a friend. Wishing to extend his apostolate to include young girls he collaborated with St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello and founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, the Help of Christians. Today the Salesian Family is a �lourishing group spread through the entire world in the service of young people.

In the midst of dif�iculty, John Bosco’s oratories grew in quick time, and by the year 1868 more than 1000 boys came under his care.

He popularized Catholic teaching and answered the objections of anti-Catholics and secularists and as a result, several attempts were made on his life. Miracles reported by numerous eyewitnesses accompanied his work including the multiplication of food, raising the dead, healing the blind etc. to mention a few.

He was also known to receive supernatural guidance from God in the form of vivid dreams which he often shared with his companions.

Don John Bosco collapsed in health in 1887 and died on 31st January 1888.

“Love each other as brothers, do good to all and evil to none... tell my boys that I wait for them in para-dise”, those were his last words whispered to the Sale-sian, who kept vigil around his bed.

John Don Bosco was beati�ied on 2nd June 1929 and was canonized on Easter Sunday 1st April 1934 and he was given the title ‘Father and Teacher of Youth’.

With the arrival of Fr. Remery a French Sale-sian Missionary the Salesian Apostolate in Sri Lanka began in Colombo in 1956.

(To be continued)

Miran Perera


Pope says pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in many health care systems

...”Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast... (Jonah 3:4-5)

Sun: 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Pro-Life Sunday, “The Word of God” Sunday 1 Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7: 29-31; Mk. 1: 14-20Mon: Feast of The Conversion of St. Paul, The Apostle Acts 22: 3-16 or 9: 1-22; Mk. 16: 15-18 Tue: Memorials of Ss. Timothy & Titus, Bishops 2 Tim. 1: 1-8 or Tit 1: 1-5; Lk. 10: 1-9

Liturgical Calendar Year B - 24th Jan.- 31th Jan. 2021

Wed: Memorial of St. Angela Merici, Virgin Hebr. 10: 11-18; Mk. 4: 1-20Thu: Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor Hebr. 10: 19-25; Mk. 4: 21-25Fri: Hebr. 10: 32-39; Mk. 4: 26-34Sat: Hebr. 11: 1-2, 8-19; Mk. 4: 35-41Sun: 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time Deut. 18: 15-20; 1 Cor. 7: 32-35; Mk. 1: 21b-28

By Very Rev. Fr. Ciswan De Croos

First Reading: Jonah. 3: 1-5,10The Prophet Jonah is sent

by God to Nineveh to preach the message of repentance. The people accepted God and repented. God in His kindness spared the people.

Second Reading: 1Corinthians 7:29-31

For Paul the coming of the Lord is to happen at any moment. Therefore he wants the people to be prepared. They should not be attached to any worldly things or affairs.

Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20After the arrest of John the

Baptist, Jesus preaches the Good News of repentance. He calls the irstDisciples.

Re lectionWhether, it is our Baptismal

vocation or a special direct call from God for a special mission, our prime mission is to proclaim the Good News of salvation. It requires detachment from the world and most of all from sin. Before the birth of Jesus as in the First Reading, during the time of Jesus as in the Gospel and after the time of Jesus, that is in the time of the Apostles as in the Second Reading and for that matter even today, the good news for the people has been the same. “DETACH YOUR SELF FROM THE WORLD AND SIN, REPENT AND BELIEVE.”

From the time man sinned against God; God’s redemptive love has been at work. From time to time through many people God tried to save mankind. Finally, He saved mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour.

The people of Nineveh were living in sin and so they were condemned and were to be destroyed. But God out of love sent Prophet Jonah with a message of repentance. The people accepted his message, repented and were saved.

John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord preached a message of repentance. After he was arrested, Jesus came to the region, to Galilee not to condemn or ight for the freedom of John,but to proclaim the message of repentance. He even chose many Apostles to help Him and to continue His work after Him.

In the Second Reading we see the Apostles, especially St. Paul carrying the same message, to repent and to believe.

So as we in this New Year prepare ourselves in various ways to serve the Lord, let us keep in mind that even today, for the kind of society that we live in, the urgent message is a message

of repentance. Let us therefore, in all humility and courage proclaim the

message of repentance lest the whole world be destroyed by sin.

Because of the urgency of the need to save the world from suffering and sin, we might think of condemning and ighting ourway through, but it will only add to the burden and will bring in more and more suffering and sin.

There is no weapon like love. There is nothing like voluntary repentance and conversion. Let us therefore imitate the Lord. Let us proclaim with love, a message of repentance.

Blessed is he who is able to make people repent and convert them from their sins, they are the most fruitful people and living gods on the earth.

Aid Story 1St. Vincent de Paul dearly

loved a young man who had grown up like a wild lower. Aviolent ray of passion entered the youngman’s soul and the lowerwithered and fell, the young man became so licentious that the saint wept bitterly. “Well” St. Vincent said to him one day. “I cannot persuade you any longer to give up your bad ways because I see that my words are of no help. However, there is one thing I would like you to do.” “What is it?” asked the young man. “Take this pictureoftheCruci ixandlookatit every night before retiring.” The unusual request seemed easy to the young man that he promised to comply. That night he glanced at the picture for the irst time,and he was so moved that it took him a while to fall asleep. Christ’s sorrowful face kept staring at him and reached the depth of his soul. The following night he was afraid to look at the picture.

The patient Christ kept looking at him all night and he could not sleep. The next morning the young man went to St. Vincent; “Father” he said, “I give up. Your attempt has won me over to Christ.”

Aid Story 2A grandfather asked his little

grandson if he said his prayers every night.

“Oh, yes!” replied the boy.“And every morning?” His

grandfather asked.“Why should I?” asked the

child. “I’m not scared in the daytime.”

So many of us think of God – as if a doctor; when something goes wrong. Yet we call Him, “Our Father,” when we pray.

SAYING. Salvi ic Mission isimportant for Jesus than social work. John is arrested and instead of saving him, Jesus goes the other way to save mankind.

Third Sunday in Odinary TimePro - Life Sunday

“The Word of God SundayPope Francis has

named Father Dominique Mathieu, a member of the Con-ventual Franciscans (or Grey Friars) as the Head of the Latin Rite Archdiocese of Teheran-Ispahan in Iran. His Holiness appointed the 57-year-old Belgian to the post on January 8.

The Archdiocese has been without a spiri-tual leader since 2014 when Archbishop Ig-nazio Bedini, an Italian Salesian, retired at age 75.

Up till the new appointment, the Archdio-cese was being administered by Father Jack Youssef, a 49-year-old Iran native and mem-ber of the Congregation of the Mission (or Vincentians).

Archbishop-elect Mathieu is the sixth

Conventual Franciscan that Pope Francis has appointed to head an archdiocese. The Pope has also named or promoted nine Grey Friars to Episcopal Posts and He recently created Mauro Gambetti, an Italian member of the or-der, a cardinal.

The Belgian born new Archbishop takes over the sole Latin Rite diocese in Iran. The mostly Muslim country also has four dioceses for Chaldean Catholics and one for those of the Armenian tradition in communion with Rome.

Originally named “Isfahan of the Latins”, the archdiocese is now called “Tehran-Isfah-an of the Latins”. Our Lady of Consolation Ca-thedral is located in the Iranian capital.

The Archdiocese has six parishes, and in-cludes all 2,000 Latin Rite Catholics who live in Iran. Most of them are foreigners.

An experienced cleric Father Mathieu has heldmanyof iceswithinhisFranciscanOrderof Friars Minor Conventual (OFM, Conv.)

Belgian Franciscan is the new head of Latin Rite Catholics in Iran

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has changed the Catholic Church law to make explicit that laywomen can act as readers and altar servers in liturgical celebrations, effectively removing a previous option for individual bishops to restrict those ministries only to men.

In an unexpected apostolic letter published Jan. 11, the Pontiff says he is making the change to recognize a “doctrinal development” that has occurred in recent years.

That change, the Pope says, “shines a light on how some ministries instituted by the Church have as their foundation that common condition of baptism and the royal priesthood received in the Sacrament of Baptism.”

Francis’ new letter, titled Spiritus Domini and issued motu proprio (on his own initiative), changes the Code of Canon Law to explicitly allow women to be installed in the Catholic Church as lectors and acolytes.

Lectors are ministers who proclaim readings at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Acolytes are ministers who typically assist priests in preparing the altar during the Mass or in distributing

Communion. Acolytes are often known as altar servers or Eucharistic ministers in common parlance.

Laypeople who serve in those ministries are not ordained but can be formally instituted into the roles during a church ceremony.

Although women in many U.S. Catholic dioceses already serve as readers and altar servers, the Church’s canon law had technically only allowed for their service on a temporary basis and according to the whim of the local bishop.

The Pope’s change, which replaces “laymen” as the category of those who can formally serve in the ministries with “laypersons,” would appear to require all global Catholic bishops to accept women into those roles.

Francis has struggled throughout his nearly eight-year papacy to better include women in the Catholic Church’s leadership structure and ministries, and has repeatedly reaf irmed Pope John Paul II’s ban onwomen’s ordination to the priesthood. (NCR)

Women explicitly allowed as lectors, altar servers

In a message for the 2021 World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis deplores the fact that “elderly, weak and vulnerable people” are not always guaranteed healthcare.

Pope Francis emphasized that access to care depends on political choices, on the way resources are administered and on the commitment of those in positions of responsibility. Pope Frances has called on

political leaders to invest in health systems. This is just one of the main points the

Pope makes in his message for the Catholic Church’s next World Day of the Sick, which is observed annually on the February 11th the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

This year the event takes on particular resonance in the context of the global health crisis. (La Croix International)

6 The Messenger January 24, 2021

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: (Mark 1:14)

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Meditation (Mark 1:14-20) – Year B

Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day During Pandemic

Rev. Fr. Nilindra Gunesekera

Today’s Gospel narrates of Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom and the call of the �irst disciples. In our meditation we place ourselves at the scene

of the Gospel, to re-live it, and to be nourished and chal-lenged by it, today.

Picture in your mind that we are in Galilee. News reaches us that Herod Antipater also called Antipas (who had divorced his �irst wife Phasaelis, the daughter of King Aretas IV of Nabatea, in favour of Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip I) had arrested John the Baptist. John had opposed his illicit union with Herodias.

As today’s Gospel narrates, when John the Baptist was handed over, Jesus enters Galilee proclaiming, ‘The time is ful�illed, and the kingdom of God is at hand; re-pent, and believe in the gospel’ (Mark 1:14-15).

The �irst part of the Gospel has ended, but we con-tinue our meditation. Picture in your mind, some of his relatives saying to Jesus, ‘The arrest of our kinsman John, bodes evil for you. This isn’t the time for mission’.

Jesus answers, ‘The Kingdom having drawn near means God has drawn near. God’s rule begins, and the immediacy of its effect makes repentance and belief ur-gent. The herald of the ˋMightier Oneˊ has been handed over to be put to death, just as I myself will be handed over to be put to death. The time is ful�illed with the result that God’s rule has drawn near; repent with the result of believing in the Gospel. Believe the good news that God will carry His plan further forward; do not disbelieve because of the portents of death, but believe because of the ful�illed time and the nearness of God’s rule. Belief includes trust, commitment and assent

because my ministry, especially the miracles will reveal the arrival of the Kingdom’.

After saying this, Jesus walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This shore which is heavily populated also served as a boundary between the Hellenized Greek-speaking eastern side of the Decapolis or Ten Cities and the mainly Jewish western cities. Jesus fre-quently travelled from side to side, signaling His mis-sion to both Jew and Gentile. Then, as the second part of today’s Gospel narrates, Jesus sees Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea. He says to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you become �ishers of men’ (Mark 1:16-17).

The second part of the Gospel has ended, but we continue our meditation. Picture in your mind that as we watch, both brothers respond immediately. Their renunciation is total. It is for the purpose of following Jesus. Else would their renunciation be meaningful?

Jesus keeps walking ahead followed by Simon and Andrew. We walk parallel to them, but within earshot. Picture in your mind that as Jesus walks ahead followed by the two brothers, we overhear Andrew asking Jesus, ‘Rabbi, where are we headed?’ Jesus says, ‘To the King-dom of God’. Andrew asks, ‘Where is it?’ Jesus replies, ‘Where I am, there the Kingdom is, too. So, be close to me’. Andrew says, ‘I shall always remain by your side’. Jesus says, ‘The time will come when the Bridegroom is taken away. Then you must fast and pray, if you wish to remain by his side’ (Mark 2:20).

Then as the third part of today’s Gospel narrates, walking a little farther, Jesus sees James and John in their boat mending the nets (Mark 1:19). Jesus calls them, too; and leaving their father still in the boat

with the hired workers, they part and begin follow him (Mark 1:20).

Today’s Gospel has ended, but we continue our meditation. Picture in your mind that that as we walk on, our friend Moshe says in wonderment, ‘Once again, the renunciation was immediate and total. It is in con-trast to Elijah’s call of Elisha, who asked to return to kiss his father and mother goodbye’ (1 Kings 19:20). I say, ‘Their father was greatly dismayed’. Moshe agrees, saying, ‘Yes; such an abrupt departure from one’s family is shocking to the cultural values of our time’ (Exodus 20:12).

As we walk on behind Jesus and the two sets of brothers, a man dressed in �lowing robes with tassels on its fringes and a phylactery on his forehead rushes forward shouting indigently, “It is written, ˋWhoever forsakes his father is like a blasphemerˊ” (Sirach 3:16). Jesus walks on unperturbed, and we hear Him say to His �irst four disciples, “Do not fear; only believe (Mark 5:36). You are following the ˋOne Sent by the Fatherˊ. You have responded to my call. You have left every-thing to be with me. I will care for you. Be sure to spend time with me; for I shall also send you forth. But the demands of mission must not keep you apart from me. Remain in union with me, and you will be fruitful when you are sent forth. Being with me is not being passive or lethargic. For, I have called you to form a community that is centred round me. Indeed, all your relationships must be centred round me, and inspired by me. Guard, against anyone who seeks to take you away from me. You have left everything for me. If then, you do not re-main close to me, your renunciation would be in vain. Be close to me in virtue and in prayer”.

“You shall keep the Sabbath” In the Book of Exodus, God tells Moses with refer-

ence to the Third Commandment: “You shall keep the Sabbath because it is holy for you; everyone who pro-fanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people.” The Lord goes on further to say that the Sabbath obligation will remain forever: “Therefore the Israelites shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their gen-erations, as a perpetual covenant.”

“The fact that the violation of the Sabbath was pun-ishable by death,” observes Fr. Flader, “means that it was a serious matter. Fortunately, the Church does not apply the death penalty for those who miss Mass on Sundays! But she still regards the Sunday observance as a serious obligation.”

The Sabbath obligation had two aspects: to observe a day of rest in the honour of God, who worked for six days and rested on the seventh, and to offer sacri�ice as on the other days of the week (cf. Exodus 29:38 ff.). In the later centuries of the pre-Christian era, the Jews built synagogues in many towns and cities where they would go to worship God on the Sabbath, as they still do today.

Nonetheless, because these precepts are stated in a positive way -as distinct from negative, as in the case of “You shall not commit adultery”, “You shall not steal”, etc.- they admit of exceptions and can give way to more important obligations. Thus, as Jesus says that the priests have to perform their duties on the Sabbath and they do not thereby break the law (Matthew 12:5). By the same token, Jesus teaches that it is lawful to eat on the Sabbath (cf. Matthew 12:1-4) and to heal hu-man beings and rescue animals (cf. Matthew 12:9-14). These acts of justice and charity take precedence over the duty to rest.

It is clear, therefore, that the aspect of rest is not pre-

scribed for the sake of resting. The Sabbath rest aims to facilitate man’s ful�illment of his primordial duty to his Creator: special divine worship. Observance and exceptions

How do we observe the Sabbath? In the Church, we “keep holy the Lord’s day” by observing both aspects of the Sabbath obligation, attending the sacri�ice of the Mass and abstaining from unnecessary work, but both aspects can give way to more important obligations.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear on both the serious obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and the possible exceptions: “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and con�irmation of all Christian prac-tice. For this reason, the faithful are obliged to par-ticipate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin”(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2181).

Presently, the coronavirus pandemic is raging and plaguing all countries. Some are hitting record daily infections in these past weeks. We have not yet expe-rienced the worst, as statistics of infections and death rates clearly show. Figures are still peaking, not dipping down.

Fortunately, several vaccines are now in large scale phase-3 clinical trials and more than two million peo-ple have received jabs of either the mild version of the virus (Aztra Zeneca, Novavax, and Janssen), or the non-replicating vector mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid, like P�izer-BioNTech and Moderna) vaccine type.

Worldwide trends indicate that Covid-19 hits cer-tain people much harder than others. People younger than sixty years old are much less likely to die because of the disease, though they can still catch and spread it. They may even have it but not feel sick and yet spread

it to others. In fact, a recent study suggests that more than eighty percent of current cases were spread by people who did not know they had the virus.

On the other hand, people older than sixty are much more likely to die, and the risk increases with each de-cade of age. People with other underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovas-cular disease also have an increased risk of dying. It is important that as good citizens and members of the Church we follow the guidelines given by civil as well as religious authorities.

Suspension of public MassesIn light of the serious health risks to vulnerable

populations and mindful of the instructions of medi-cal professionals, governments of different countries and bishops of dioceses suspended public Masses in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

This is in keeping with the teaching of the Church, which has always exempted those with serious medi-cal issues which would prohibit them from attending Mass, as well as for all people in times of general emer-gencies, such as what we are presently experiencing nowadays.

Covid-19 pandemic, however, has produced many questions and controversies, including how it is im-pacting people’s ability to attend Mass and receive the sacraments in areas under lockdown.

It might sound as repetitive as the response of a responsorial psalm but we often hear the lament over and over again, “I’m suffering nowadays since there are no Sunday Masses.” Strictly speaking, Masses are never suspended. Priests make it a point to celebrate daily Masses, though privately as in these times. The atten-dance of the faithful is what may be restricted, not the celebration of the Eucharist as such.

Contd on Pg 12


“This is the time of ful�illment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

Apostolic Letter 'Patris Corde' of the Holy Father Francis On the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of

Saint Joseph As Patron of the Universal Church

With a Father’s Heart:

[5]Now, one hundred and �ifty years after his proc-lamation as Patron of the Catholic Church by Blessed Pius IX (8 December 1870), I would like to share some personal re�lections on this extraordinary �igure, so close to our own human experience. For, as Jesus says, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt 12:34).

My desire to do so increased during these months of the pandemic, when we experienced, amid the crisis, how “our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people, people often overlooked. People who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines,

or on the latest television show, yet in these very days are surely shaping the decisive events of our history.

Doctors, nurses, storekeepers, and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men, and women working to provide es-sential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men, and women religious, and so very many others. They understood that no one is saved alone…

How many people daily exercise patience and of-fer hope, taking care to spread not panic but shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grand-parents, and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday ways, how to accept and deal with a crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead and encouraging the practice of prayer.

How many are praying, making sacri�ices and in-terceding for the good of all”.

[6] Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet, and hidden presence – an intercessor, support, and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all.

1. A beloved father: The greatness of Saint Joseph is that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus. In this way, he placed himself, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, “at the service of the entire plan of salvation”.

[7] Saint Paul VI pointed out that Joseph concrete-ly expressed his fatherhood “by making his life a sacri�icial service to the mystery of the incarnation and its redemptive purpose. He employed his legal authority over the Holy Family to devote himself completely to them in his life and work. He turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhu-man oblation of himself, his heart, and all his abili-ties, a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home”.

[8] Thanks to his role in salvation history, Saint Joseph has always been venerated as a father by the Christian people.

This is shown by the countless churches dedi-cated to him worldwide, the numerous religious institutes, confraternities, and ecclesial groups in-spired by his spirituality and bearing his name, and

the many traditional expressions of piety in his hon-our. Innumerable holy men and women were pas-sionately devoted to him. Among them was Teresa of Avila, who chose him as her advocate and inter-cessor had frequent recourse to him, and received whatever graces she asked of him. Encouraged by her own experience, Teresa, persuaded others to cultivate devotion to Joseph.

[9] Every prayer book contains prayers to Saint Joseph.

Special prayers are offered to him each Wednesday and especially during the month of March, which is traditionally dedicated to him.

[10] Popular trust in Saint Joseph is seen in the expression “Go to Joseph”, which evokes the famine in Egypt, when the Egyptians begged Pharaoh for bread. He, in turn, replied: “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do” (Gen 41:55).

Pharaoh was referring to Joseph the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers (cf. Gen 37:11-28) and who – according to the biblical account – subsequently became viceroy of Egypt (cf. Gen 41:41-44). As a descendant of Da-vid (cf. Mt 1:16-20), from whose stock Jesus was to spring according to the promise made to David by the prophet Nathan (cf. 2 Sam 7) and as the spouse of Mary of Nazareth, Saint Joseph stands at the crossroads between the Old and New Testaments.

2. A tender and loving father Joseph saw Jesus grows daily “in wisdom and in years and in divine and hu-man favour” (Lk 2:52). As the Lord had done with Israel, so Joseph did with Jesus: “he taught him to walk, taking him by the hand; he was for him like a father who raises an infant to his cheeks, bending down to him and feeding him” (cf. Hos 11:3-4). In Joseph, Jesus saw the tender love of God: “As a fa-ther has compassion for his children so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him” (Ps 103:13). 3 In the synagogue, during the praying of the Psalms, Joseph would surely have heard again and again that the God of Israel is a God of tender love,[11] who is good to all, whose “compassion is over all that he has made” (Ps 145:9).

To be Continued

Continues from last week ……………..

by Sirohmi Gunesekera

Angel

“Happy New Year although this month is almost over! Have you started on anything new?” asked Pauline.

“Well, I made a New Year Resolution to cut down on eating sweets. I don’t want to get diabetes. I munched Vanilla Fudge and Milk Toffee over Christ-mas and decided to stop it” confessed Hiran.

“So you have a sweet tooth. What about choco-late? I know that there are sugar free chocolates available in the markets. They have been made for diabetics so you can indulge provided you have the cash!”shared Pauline.

“Well, I can buy two for a month and go to town. I love chocolates. How about you?” chimed in Davina.

“I like pastries both sweet and sour. I love coffee éclairs. I have to tell my Guardian Angel to stop me from buying a dozen of them” said Hiran.

“So you believe in Angels. I also think that there is a Good Angel and a Bad Angel watching over each one of us. That is God’s way of telling us that He cares and the Devil too is waiting for us to fall into sin.” commented Davina.

“We need to trust in the Lord and put our faith in Him. He just gives us strength for the day and we have to let go and let the Holy Spirit tell us where to go and what to do” said Pauline.

“I know. Jesus said that every hair on our heads

has been counted so we need not worry. He said that every spar-row is cared for by God and human beings are worth more than spar-rows!” remarked Hiran.

“So let our Guardian Angel watch over you and me” conclud-ed Davina.


In this volume with eyes already set on times beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, Pro Dialogo 2020 irstissuewishestopresentsomeperspectiveson

pandemic and human suffering.Seven experts representing Islam, Hinduism,

Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism and Sikhism treat the topic from their own respective religious points of view. The central part of the Bulletin contains the precious contribution of the representatives of the Holy See, besides that of other organizations and institutions such as Religions for Peace and Arigatou International, which have been generously involved, at a global level, in responding to the challenges of the pandemic.

A writer each from the Caritas International, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and Focolare Movement as well as a Catholic nun-doctor who was engaged earlier in the rescue of migrants and later on in services in an hospital in Bergamo and several alumni of Nostra Aetate Foundation share with the readers about their own lived experiences of ‘love of neighbour’ during the pandemic.

As if reproducing an ideal embrace between Christians and followers of other religious traditions, the volume openswith an enlightening re lection byPope Francis, who in this time of the pandemic has been a beacon for humanity: Who can forget his solitary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square on 27 March 2020! - and closes with a warm invitation jointly addressed fromthePonti icalCouncilforInterreligiousDialogueand the World Council of Churches to Christians and believers of other religious and philosophical traditions as well as to all those of good will to live ‘interreligious solidarity’ for serving a wounded world which is in need of healing.

The pandemic continues to cause deep wounds, exposing our vulnerability. On every continent there are many who have died, many who are ill. Many people and many families are living a time of uncertainty because of socio-economic problems which especially affect the poorest. Thus, wemustkeepourgaze irmly ixedon Jesus (see Hebrews 12:2): in the midst of this pandemic, our eyes on Jesus; and with this faith embrace the hope of the Kingdom of God that Jesus Himself brings us (see Mark 1:5; Matthew 4:17; CCC 2816).

A Kingdom of healing and of salvation that is already present in our midst (see Luke 10:11). A Kingdom of justice and of peace that is manifested through works of charity, which in their turn increase hope and strengthen faith (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Within the Christian tradition, faith, hope and charity are much more than feelings or attitudes. They are virtues infused in us through the grace of the Holy Spirit (see CCC, 1812, 1813): gifts that heal us and that make us healers, gifts that open us to new horizons, even while wearenavigatingthedif icultwatersofourtime.

Renewed contact with the Gospel of faith, of hope and of love invites us to assume a creative and renewed spirit. In this way, we will be able to transform the roots ofourphysical,spiritualandsocialin irmitiesandthedestructive practices that separate us from each other, threatening the human family and our planet. Jesus’ ministry offers many examples of healing: when He heals those affected by fever (see Mark 1:29-34), by leprosy (see Mark 1:40-45), by paralysis (see Mark 2:1-12); when He restores sight (see Mark 8:22-26; John 9:1-7), speech or hearing (see Mark 7:31-37). In reality, He heals not only the physical evil – which is true, physical evil – but He heals the entire person. In that way, He restores the person back to the community also, healed; He liberates the person from isolation because He has healed him or her.

Let us think of the beautiful account of the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum (see Mark 2:1-12) While Jesus is preaching at the entrance to the house, four men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Not being able to

enter because there was such a great crowd there, they make a hole in the roof and let the stretcher down in front of Him. Jesus who was preaching sees this stretcher coming down in front of Him.

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven’ ” (v. 5). And then, as a visible sign, He adds: “Rise, pick up your mat, and go home” (v. 11). What a wonderful example of healing! Christ’s action is a direct response to the faith of those people, to the hope they put in Him, to the love they show that they have for each other. And so, Jesus heals, but He does not simply heal the paralysis. Jesus heals everyone, He forgives sins, He renews the life of the paralyzed man and his friend. He makes him born again. It is a physical and spiritual healing, all together, the fruit of personal and social contact.

Let us imagine how this friendship, and the faith of all those present in that house, would have grown thanks to Jesus’ action, that healing encounter with Jesus! And so we can ask ourselves: today, in what way can we help heal our world? As disciples of the Lord Jesus, who is the physician of our souls and bodies, we are called to continue “His work, work of healing and

salvation” (CCC, 1421) in a physical, social and spiritual sense.

Although the Church administers Christ’s healing grace through the Sacraments, and although she provides healthcare services in the remotest corners of the planet, she is not an expert in the prevention or the cure of the pandemic. She helps with the sick, butsheisnotanexpert.Neitherdoesshegivespeci icsocio-political pointers (see St. Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Octogesima adveniens, 14 May 1971, no. 4).

This is the job of political and social leaders. Nevertheless, over the centuries, and by the light of the Gospel, the Church has developed several social principles which are fundamental (see The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church,160-208), principles that can help us move forward in preparing the future that we need. I cite the main ones which are closely connected: the principle of the dignity of the person, the principle of the common good, the principle of the preferential option for the poor, the principle of the universal destination of goods, the principle of the solidarity, of subsidiarity, the principle of the care for our common home. These principles help the leaders, those responsible for society, to foster growth and also, as in the case of the pandemic, the healing of the personal and social fabric.

All of these principles express in different ways the virtues of faith, hope and love. In the next few weeks, I invite you to tackle together the pressing questions that the pandemic has brought to the fore, social ills above all. And we will do it in the light of the Gospel, of the theological virtues and of the principles of the Church’s social doctrine. (to be continued)

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;... (Mark 1:16)

New Papal Encyclical “Fratelli Tutti”Pope Francis highlights global fraternity and social friendships

Rev. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera OMI

Writing the third encyclical of his eight-year

ponti icate, entitled “AllBrothers”, Pope Francis has taken on topics and themes that profoundly touch human beings, their society and world, focusing on the universal fraternity of mankind on a global scale and the acute need the modern world has of intensifying authentic social relationships that cut across all barriers whether socio-cultural and religious or even political and historical. There is a repeated insistence of modernity having to acknowledge the urgent need of caring and loving the poor, the most abandoned in society and the marginalized. It is an echo not only of the great spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi but a resounding of the greatest lines ever written on Love by no greater writer than St. Paul of Tarsus when headdressedhimself inhis irst letter to theneophyteChristian community of the cosmopolitan city of Corinth (1 Corinthians 13). This social encyclical was signed at the tomb of St. Francis in the cathedral of Assisi, on October 3rd, the vigil of his feast 2020. To a post- modernworld plagued as it is withmultiple con licts,forms of social alienation and international tensions, the papal plea freshly launched for a social sense of global fraternity of mankind and the urgent need to work of social friendships, is indeed a timely intervention of a universal religious leader. The Pope’s voice continues in the strains of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint of fraternal love, who so well expressed the essence of fraternal openness that allows us to acknowledge, appreciate and love each person, regardless of physical proximity, regardless of where he or she was born or lives. There is no doubt, that those who browse through these eight chapters of a very simple text with its 286 paragraphs and 288 references, will indeed be inspired and prone to respond graciously to the challenges emerging from its contents.

Human fraternity a cherished dream

The Pope makes his aim clear in presenting this encyclical when he says that he is offering it: “as a modestcontributiontocontinuedre lection,inthehopethat in the face of present-day attempts to eliminate or ignore others, we may prove capable of responding with a new vision of fraternity and social friendship that will not remain at the level of words”. Pope Francis has repeatedly and almost ad nauseam come upon this theme in his earlier encyclicals such as “Laudato Si” on the love and care of the environment which creates a common home for all mankind on this planet and in many other talks, speeches, interventions, and in- lightpressconferences while on many international travels. He is calling on all to realize that reality is born of common dreams and wishes to ensure our common commitment to fraternity as a time of rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity undertaken as a world community of fellow-travellers. The great themes that are re lected uponshow a logically connected sequence of inter-related re lectionsbeginningwithasocialanalysisoftheworld’spresentconditionswherethePopeina irstlongchapterof nearly over 45 paragraphs gives us a litany of what he calls are “dark clouds over a closed world”. The following are highlighted: 1) Shattered dreams about unity of nations that are now being threatened by new forms of alienation such as extreme forms of nationalism and

economic systems that continue to leave poor nations behind. Even openness to the world so often advocated by the progressive trends seems to be in favour of the rich and powerful who tend to dominate and control international politics and economies We must watch also new forms of cultural colonialism that drives a wedge in society 2) The throw-away culture which includes the lack of care and love for the elderly, the disabled and loss of the birth rate with its burden of the aging population 3) Con licts and fears are mentioned as the enemiesof fraternity 4) Globalization and progress that lacks a road-map makes of the advances in science, technology, medicine, industryandwelfare theprivilegeandpro itof only some countries with working together seemingly appearing as a utopia 5) The risk of falling into consumerism and other forms of self-preservation once the corona-crisis passes away 6) The absence of human dignity on the borders in the way immigrants are unfairly treated 7) The illusion of modern communication and information without wisdom 8) Imposing of cultural and economic models on others thus preventing indigenous models of growth resurging 9) Human rights that are unequally interpreted. Against these phenomena of dark clouds that eclipses others, the Pope envisages the hope of the world’s ability to work for better times and a springtime that can be achieved in a spirit of fraternity.

The ever-relevant parable of the Good Samaritan

In a whole second chapter there is an elaborate interpretation of the Bible Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). This parable eloquently presents the basic decision we need to make in order to rebuild our wounded world in the face of so much pain and suffering, The Pope comments that: “The story of the Good Samaritan is constantly being repeated. We can see this clearly as social and political inertia is turning many parts of our world into a desolate by-way, even as domestic and international disputes and the robbing of opportunities

are leaving great numbers of the marginalized stranded on the roadside”. In the context of today, the robbers, the passers-by, the lonely road and the injured man are strikingly identi ied on the one hand with those whoenact that kind of behaviour as well as the lot of those who are way-laid and are helpless needing the succor of others who can melt with compassion along the dangerous and lonely roads of our world.

The healing has to be done in cooperation with others like the inn-keeper where a place of healing is made possible. The Pope is gently leading the readers to accept “neighbours without borders” for the parable is an answer to the question “Who is my neighbour”. The victim

was a Jew while the one who cared was a Samaritan. This Samaritan forgot all about the bitter enmity his clan had for the Jews. He became a neighbour making a brother out of his enemy!. It is also strange that those who turned a blind eye to the situation were all religious men! What a contradiction! This teaching corroborates well with the patience that Jesus took with the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob (John 4: 9 ff) and the mystery of Jesus hidden in the stranger, the naked, the imprisoned and the hungry (Matthew 25: 35ff). The Pope laments the fact that it had taken so long for the Church unequivocally to condemn slavery and various forms of violence.

Love: the way to fraternity

The bulk of the rest of the encyclical is a detailed re lectiononLove:itsauthenticmeaningandexpressionand seen as the only true means to create a culture of global fraternity brining in social relationships that are sincere, honest and mutually enriching. It is a love that helps to move beyond ourselves, one that is more open, one that integrates others, taking us beyond just being associates, one that fosters fraternity, equality and liberty. It is most importantly a universal love that promotes persons in their dignity and inalienable rights. We can also speak about the rights of groups and nations and hence of a love and charity that embraces all without distinctions. A trace of this is found in the culture of hospitality that is found even in certain tribal societies. Of course, love promotes always the moral good. The Pope laments that: “regrettably, I feel bound to reiterate that “we have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty”. It is time to acknowledgethatlight-heartedsuper icialityhasdoneusno good. Once the foundations of social life are corroded, what ensues are battles overcon lictinginterests”.Letusreturn to promoting the good, for ourselves and for the whole human family, and thus advance together towards an authentic and integral growth. Every society needs to ensure that values are passed on; otherwise, what is

handeddownaresel ishness,violence,corruptioninitsvarious forms, indifference and, ultimately, a life closed to transcendence and entrenched in individual interests”.

Love facilitates solidarity and recognizes rights without borders. It has room to feel for those in disabilities and the elderly. Pope’s thought is not only along the strains of St. Francis of Assisi but also a resounding of a New Testament bible re lection by aperson of no mean stature as St. Paul who wrote the greatest rhyme on Love ever written, which we read in the irst letter to theneophyteChristiancommunityof Corinth, an ancient pagan cosmopolitan city of the

Roman Empire (I Corinthians 13). There is unfortunately an inadequate understanding about universal love in our modern parlance, ethics and media. This love and spirit ofconcernhastobere lected inallstructuresthataresocio-cultural, political-economic and even historical. Betterpoliticsand justeconomicsystems face the irstchallenge coming from this demand since these sectors affect relations between persons, groups. states and countries.

The Pope follows through referring to the right of nations to develop indigenously without being crippled by over-arching global economies. He mentions social and political charity inspired by a “political love”: this charity, which is the spiritual heart of politics, is always a preferential love shown to those in greatest need; it undergirds everything we do on their behalf.

Importance of Social Dialogue

Encountering one another necessitates dialogue. It helps in mutual understanding and leads to recognition of our abilities to build together. The guiding principle would be that of consensus that will bring people to agree on procedures and commitments and help arrive at the truth in a way that is participatory. It is far beyond the feverish barrage of opinions and views on social net-works. The Pope remarks that: “There is a growing conviction that, togetherwithspecializedscienti icadvances,weare inneed of greater interdisciplinary communication”. In the globalized world the role of media can be decisive and must be at the service of truth and good. It is said that “Life, for all its confrontations, is the art of encounter”. One can be wholly optimistic about the UNO and all other international organizations that bring people together. To speak of a “culture of encounter” means that as people, all should be passionate about meeting others, seeking points of contact, building bridges, planning a project that includes everyone”. There is also the joy of encountering others in kindness which frees us from the cruelty that at times infects human relationships, from the anxiety that prevents us from thinking of others, fromthefrantic lurryofactivitythatforgetsthatothersalso have a right to be happy.

In the last chapter eight, the Pope mentions about the role of world religions in the task of fostering and being a catalyst in building a world society where human fraternity can intensify and social friendships can lourish. He decries religious fundamentalismswhich are a contradiction in terms. Inter-religious dialogue and the perennial spiritual wisdom of religions are powerful sources of the regeneration of mankind. In a word, while heralding a warning to a modern culture which vitiates civilization by introversion, he is inviting the global society to an exciting adventure of the pursuit of an expanded human fraternity beyond and across borders through enhanced social relationships that will pave the way for a better world for all people, everywhere.

Two important issues are mentioned regarding war and death penalty which imply the elimination of others. While wars are unjusti iable, death penalty remains acontroversial issue. However, more rational and alternate pathshave tobe followed in theresolutionof con lictsamong nations and the rehabilitation of those guilty of serious crime.

The Pope ends his encyclical referring to two Catholic saints: St. Francis of Assisi and St. Charles the Foucauld, the hermit-saint who for him are supreme models of human fraternity as well as icons of love and compassion for others.

Pandemic and Human Suffering

Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku

Secretary of the Vatican’s Ponti icalCouncilfor

Interreligious Dialogue


1 CharismThe First Inspiration In the deepest stillness of the soul in a rapture of divine love, when contemplating on the Absolute Father Thomas our Founder could exclaim “Who is like unto God”. God is so supreme, so full of love, worthy to be praised, adored and glori�ied. God is everything, I am nothing.

2. Looking at the world: Looked around and noticed the enemy of God. He was so brutal and shrewd that he was trying to perverse God’s children to create a of god. Unbalanced by a lopsided scienti�ic knowledge of nature, so many people want to be separated from God and want to establish an earthly kingdom where God and Christ have no place.

(I) Scriptural insightIt was the garden of Gethsamene. The Redeemer

of mankind was in terrible mental anguish. Father saw that thousands were in a line willing.to go to hell. The words of the Saviour were piercing the heart of our Founder. “Simon, are you asleep? Were not you able to stay awake even for one hour”. (Mark 14:37). His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44) “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:40)

AppreciationWe the Rosarians are fully Church minded people.

Intercessory prayer is given a particular attention as individual letters, calls, reach us very often. Yet we storm heaven to preserve the Church from temptation, like manure under the tree, we stay hidden praying unceasingly for Holy Father, Cardinals, all Bishops throughout the world and for all active Priests, Brothers and Sisters so that they may be protected from the snares of the enemy and day by day be holy. We provide spiritual injection for them so that their missionary zeal may remain alive and full of charity.

We the Rosarians follow the spirit of our Founder by remaining before the Eucharistic Lord like soldiers before a king keeping awake whole night which is a very powerful means, we believe.

(II) Our Founder was drawn to Mount Calvary. Whenever there was silence around him by day or by night he was startled by a cry. It came from the Cross. It sprang from the lips of Jesus in the agony of His cruci�ixion. “I THIRST”. The pulse of Father Thomas got into a penitential rhythm. Oh! I must save souls! Reparation ... Expiation and continual Reparation as St. Paul has stated. (Colossians 1:24) Prayer alone would not be suf�icient... there should be penance in our lives……

III) All of a sudden he remembered the request of Our Lady of Fatima. At the foot of the Cross Mary was asked to look after Her children. She was so faithful to the mission; how she appeared to the three children in the year 1917 and brought a way to bring back her wayword sons and daughters. “ROSARY AND PENANCE” were her watchword to the children at Fatima and through them to the Catholic world.

Vicar of Christ spoke:The Pope of the Missions; Pope Pius XI addressed

all Bishops in the world through his letter “Rerum Ecclesiae” to start Contemplative Power Houses in the very mission �ields. He said “It is wonderful how those solitaries bring down superabundant blessings upon the Church activities.”

Jaffna RespondedAs soon as His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. J. D. Guyomar

OMI received this letter from Rome, he called his friend Fr. Thomas, the humble and saintly man. It was in 1926. The Bishop told him: ‘ re�lect and see whether it would be possible to implement this in our very Motherland, Sri Lanka.

Thrilled With JoyFather Thomas was thrilled with joy without know-

ing that the Bishop had him in his mind to entrust this sublime work to him. No lingering.... no time wasted . In the year 1928 the birth of Rosarian Monks took place. The Little Sisters were to be born after 20 years.

SpecialityFr. Thomas was again in contemplation. He saw Sa-

tan standing proudly exactly like Goliath in the OT and David the shepherd-boy with a catapult and �ive stones in his bag. Armoured with the strength of God, David slang at the forehead of the enemy and killed him.

Father Thomas was greatly inspired.He took the Rosary and he turned to Blessed Moth-

er. He said: "Mary, my Mother, I want to be with you to attack the devil. My children will be called 'Handmaids’ of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. They will stand round the clock to attack satan. Rosary will be the weapon in their hands. They will ful�ill the desire of Jesus and Your request at Fatima. The Rosarians will mount before the Blessed Sacrament, day and night. Who are they behind us? They are prostitutes, murderers, broken families, school children, prisoners, suffering people due to COVID -19 epidemic and the Active Missionaries etc. We take them all with us for the Eucharistic adoration. We apply Jesus' Precious Blood �lowing from the side of His Heart to whatsoever the group we ought to pray.

MissionTo seek the lost, lead all to repentance, aim at unit-

ing all into one �lock. Descending element is the bless-ing, the forgiveness and reconciliation. As lending el-ement is our thanksgiving praise and glory we raise them to God on behalf of mankind.

Foundation in Sri LankaThe Congregation of the Rosarion Sisters of Sri Lan-

ka was formally inaugurated by the Jaffna Bishop on 22nd August, 1950.

Foundation in the Archdiocese in Colombo The �irst Rosarian Monastery in Colombo was

blessed and declared open on 13th May, 1957 at Te-watte by the Archbishop of Colombo, His Grace late Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Benjamin Cooray OMI.

There are 17 Sisters at Tewatte. There are 07 Sis-ters at the Generalate Jaffna.

10 Sisters at Talawila09 Sisters at Medawachchiya

Our Prayer Apostolate is a reproduction of the silent life of St. Joseph at Nazareth with his humble occu-pation. Many Catholics come for prayers. We carry their sufferings, especially with COVID - 19 virus we present the current situation of our country to the Lord. Quite a number of people approach us for prayer at desperate moments. We listen to them. Sometimes we give a �ixed time for the families to join with us to pray. They are strengthened by our prayers.

6. Our hour of adoration is open even to the lay people. One can come and join us. We welcome poor girls into our workshops and pay them, out of our own income on charity basis.

We go to Basilica for the Eucharistic Adoration on Saturdays.

True message of Cardinal Cooray OMILate Thomas Cardinal Cooray OMI brought us to

the Archdiocese after a meeting he had with Rev. Fr. B. A. Thomas OMI, our dear founder. When Cardinal was kneeling down at the old grotto, at Tewatte, he said that he experienced a very strong inspiration for Mother Mary.

Voice was heard; "why delay in bringing Rosar-ian Nuns to the Archdiocese." Then he hastened his work and got everything ready to settle them down very close to the National Basilica. He himself brought the statue of Mary ….and the big Cruci�ix and installed them in the Rosarian chapel.

With much love to the Blessed Mother, he said to us: "You, the Rosarians should be on the other side at the Cruci�ix and pray for the Archdiocese.

Those who are willing to join us to become ‘Nuns’, kindly contact us at the following Telephone No. 0112958552

...they were �ishermen. Jesus said to them,” Come after me, and I will make you �ishers of men.” (Mark 1:16-17)

Rosarian Congregation marks 57th Death Anniversary of Rev. Fr. B. A. Thomas OMI

Prepared by Rev. Sr. M. Helena CRTranslated by Rev. Sr. Leatitia CR

Rev. Fr. B. A. Thomas OMI


Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James,... (Mark 1:18-19)

by Rev. Msgr. Robinson Wijesinghe

Article 3Journeying towards the discovery of renewal

movements in the Catholic Church

4. Create healthy eating habitsEllyn Satter describes the Division of Responsibility

during meals. The parent is responsible for what, when and where the child eats. The child is responsible for how much and whether all meals must be completed seated at a table and chair. At the Chitra Lane Children’s Resource Centre where I work, we �ind that the abil-ity to focus on a meal is the building block of attention. Mealtime is not screen time. Why? Because this is not a precedent you want to create for your teenagers and because meals are a great opportunity for children to develop social skills and autonomy. Kids develop social skills by eating socially with their family and friends every day in school and at home. They develop au-tonomy by deciding how much they eat. And do not worry...chances are he or she would not starve if he/she eats just three mouths of rice...provided you do not have any cookies and cakes accessible as a much preferred alternative and you have non- judgmental discussions about the importance of healthy eating. For instance, my children call KFC and soft drinks like Fanta “sometimes food”. It does not mean that they like eating rice and curry – but they know it is impor-tant for their health. Your picky child will naturally choose healthy foods that meet their physical needs, over a period of time. It may take a month and a kilo here and there – but it works.

5. Build con�idence not competitionBuild con�idence not competition in your children.

There was once a little boy called Saman in Grade 1 where they would have “asa liweema” tests. The children who get 10/10 get their names on the board and a star. The rest would get nothing. It is not easy to get 10/10...Saman would work hard and get maybe 8/10...9/10 but never the elusive 10. After a while he gave up and never practiced his words. He ended up getting 3/10...2/10

but told his mother what is the difference?Al�ie Kohn, who has done a lot of research on this

aptly says it: When we set children against one another in contests—from musical chairs to singing competi-tions to asa liweema — we teach them not to confuse excellence with winning, as if the only way to do some-thing well is to be �irst.

Unfortunately, the end-result is what I am worried about. When children’s self-esteem rises or falls with how well they do at tests or competitions, achievement can resemble an addiction, requiring ever-greater suc-cess to avoid feelings of worthlessness. And if it looks

as though success is unlikely, children may stop taking part, stop trying, deciding it does not matter, rather than suffer the loss of self-esteem that accompanies failure.

So do we just despair at the system and accept that our sons and daughters are going to struggle with self-esteem and con�idence, unable to take defeat and sim-ply enjoy the process of doing something and learning something rather than the end-result?

What we can do is introspect about our own parent-ing – our little comparisons and criticisms of our chil-

dren. Do we, by comparing our children to their siblings, to their peers, to ourselves, belittle their self-con�idence in being the best they can be? Do we criticize them for their lack of a skill or attitude? when we reward them for results but not for effort? Do we unknowingly teach them that the only honour is in winning? Yes of course, children can be motivated by being rewarded – but this does not mean motivating children requires adults to reward them each time they do something well. Some-times, rewarding children can make them feel they need to do things well in order to get someone else’s approv-al. As a consequence they may avoid activities they are not competent in. Children who are self-motivated tend to do things simply because they enjoy doing them. So instead of doling out rewards, let your children know that you are proud of them. And do not be afraid of praise. Real praise, or real interest and involvement, is something that boosts our children and helps them to thrive. If a child feels they have their parents attention and acceptance regardless of who they are or what they have done, they will develop self esteem.

Encourage our children to do some hard things. But this does not mean pushing your child inappropriately, which we might call Tiger Mothering. It certainly does not mean rescuing or doing it for them, which we might call Helicoptering. It means paying attention, and giv-ing your child targeted support to develop their own competence, and their own feeling of being capable and powerful.

To be Continued

Raising Children TogetherHealth related

Issues in Sri LankaBy Dr. Maxie Fernandopulle

Email: [email protected]

Nishalie Fernandopulle - Clinical Psychologist

Continued from last week …

Charismatic renewal: a return to the originsThe Latin word spiritus (breath) in the Hebrew Old

Testament is known as ruach (wind) while in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint) the word spiritus is translated as pneuma (breath). The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is seen today as part of a series of Pentecostal phenomenon that have taken place since the beginning of the 20th century. Historical investiga-tions reveal that there have been various attempts to the effect of renewal of the Church at hierarchical, theo-logical and pastoral levels.

Pope Benedict XVI expounds that “what we learn in the New Testament on charism, which appeared as vis-ible signs of the coming of the Holy Spirit, is not a his-torical event of the past, but a reality ever alive. It is the same divine Spirit, soul of the Church, that acts in every age and those mysterious and effective interventions of the Spirit are manifest in our time in a providential way” (Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Catholic Fra-ternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fel-lowships, 31st October 2008).

Pope Leo XIII(2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903)The Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII, Divinum illud

munus (on the Holy Spirit), 9th May 1897, is of para-mount importance as it is considered the eye-opening of the Church towards a renewed experience of the Holy Spirit and the appreciation of the gifts of the Spirit. Mo-tivated by the foundress of the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Lucca-Italy, Blessed (Rev.Sr.) Elena Guerra (23 June 1835- 11 April 1914), who sent him 12 personal letters, the Pope was inspired to solemnly proclaim a novena to the Holy Spirit and consequently an annual celebration in the universal Church [cf. Salvatore Mar-tinez, “Renewal in the Spirit, Testimonies by the Move-ments and Communities”, in The Ecclesial Movements in the Pastoral Concern of the Bishops, Vatican City, 2000]. Pope Leo XIII in 1901 dedicated the 20th century to the Holy Spirit, intoning the well-known, traditional hymn of the Church to the Holy Spirit Veni Creator Spiritus

(Come Holy Creator) of the 9th century. The Pope says that the mission which Jesus Christ

received from the Father for the salvation of the human-ity had for its �inal object the plan to lead the mankind to possess the eternal life of glory and to secure the life of divine grace which is destined to eventually blossom into the heavenly life (DIM, n. 1). In order to carry out better and more fully his intention the Pope is resolved to write this Encyclical on approaching of the sacred season of Pentecost for two reasons: (i) concerning the indwelling and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit and (ii) the extent and ef�iciency of His action, both in the whole body of the Church and in the individual souls of its members, “through the glorious abundance of His divine graces” (DIM, n.2). The Holy Spirit is the ultimate cause of all things. All thinking and all things �inally rest in their end. He, therefore, who is the Divine Goodness and the Mutual Love of the Father and the Son, com-pletes and perfects, by His strong yet gentle power, the secret work of man's eternal salvation (DIM, n.3)

The Pope refers then to the apostles "descending from the mountain," as St. John Chrysostom writes, "not bearing in their hands tables of stone like Moses, but carrying the Spirit in their mind, and pouring forth the treasure and the fountain of doctrines and graces" (DIM, n.6; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:3).

The Pope holds that these sublime truths, which so clearly show forth the in�inite goodness of the Holy Spirit towards us, certainly demand that we should di-rect towards Him the highest homage of our love and devotion. “Christians may do this most effectually if they will daily strive to know Him, to love Him, and to implore Him more earnestly…”(DIM, n.10). In conclu-sion, Pope Leo XIII exalts all Christians to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit, for each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help. “The more a man is de�i-cient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down with trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the more to �ly to Him who is the never-ceasing fount of light, strength, conso-lation, and holiness” (DIM n.12).

This great woman who inspired and motivated Pope Leo XIII, the Blessed (Rev. Sr.) Elena Guerra, is known as a writer and a theologian, an apostle and a saint. At the age of 19 she became a nurse among the people of Lucca in Italy, then devastated by cholera. She cre-ated a group of “spiritual friends” with certain project of promoting contemplative life. She was on bed for 8 years. Later she was able to participate in one of the reunions of the First Vatican Council in 1870. Following some unsuccessful attempts, she organized a feminine community of active life, dedicated to the education of the girls. In this community the future Saint Gemma Galgani received the First Holy Communion in 1887. Amidst internal tensions and controversies, she began to act and no one could stop her. She wrote to Pope Leo XIII and went to meet him in person. She insisted that we must return to the Holy Spirit. The Pope rec-ognized her cry. With 3 documents between 1895 and 1902, he invited the faithful for a deeper understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. He appreciated her perseverance in calling the atten-tion of the Church towards the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in the Church and for its renewal. He grant-ed the title of Oblates Sisters of the Holy Spirit to her community.

Pope Pius XII (2nd March 1939-9th October 1958)Pope Pius XII in his Encyclical Letter Mystici

Corporis Christi, 29th June 1943, speaks of the Holy Spirit as the vital principle of the Church. He writes this encyclical letter with the background of the Second World War to emphasize that the Church is a unique spiritual institution where the Holy Spirit works in communion with the Head of the Mystical Body, Christ, according to God’s plan of salvation for the humanity.

Contd on Pg 12


last week on the invitation of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo.

Addressing the audience, the President mentioned that it was the government’s vision to ‘ensure educa-tion is accessible to all’. He said “not just primary and secondary education but higher education in particu-lar. In order to ensure employability of our youth in the local and international employment markets and to enable them to be competitive in the emerging world stage, we have prioritized the need to produce ‘smart technocrats’ who are globally recognized.”

Speaking at the event, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said that the aim of establishing the BCI Campus was to widen the educational opportuni-ties to a wider section of the community. “BCI aims to enable many students to receive higher education that they deserve, and to make it affordable without com-promising the quality of content and delivery”.

He also stressed the fact that it will be operated as an entity that is not pro�it oriented. Instead it will focus on upgrading the skills, competence, and attitudes of its graduates.

Welcoming the distinguished gathering Rev. Fr. Quintus Fernando said ‘BCI Campus was established six years ago with a holistic and unique approach to higher education. Our emphasis is not limited to devel-oping graduates that are industry ready, armed with knowledge and skill, but we aspire to make BCI Cam-pus a breeding ground for well-disciplined, humanely nurtured, and responsible citizens. We Aspire to Inspire

our students to become professionals who possess aca-demic knowledge and skills, whilst also training them to assert their dignity and integrity as true human be-ings”.

He also thanked President Rajapaksa for the in-valuable support rendered to the BCI over the years especially for his involvement in expediting the re-construction and renovation work of the BCI in 2015 as the campus prepared to welcome His Holiness Pope Francis who visited the BCI during his visit to Sri Lan-ka.

The key note speech ‘Future of Business and In-formation Technology’ was delivered by Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri , Chairman of the Board of Management, PIM.

The highlight of the evening was the undergradu-ate induction, where His Excellency the President was invited to of�icially induct the BCI’s inaugural cohort of undergraduates by presenting them with letters of enrollment at a simple ceremony. The BCI Campus was granted the degree awarding status by the Ministry of Education in late 2020.

Subsequent to the formalities, a tree planting cer-emony was conducted at the location of the Proposed Green Court to commemorate this signi�icant milestone, in the annals of history of the BCI Campus.

The event was conducted under strict health proto-cols and was attended by a limited audience. Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Education, ministers and gov-ernment of�icers, Rev. Fr. Gemunu Dias, Director-Edu-cation, Rev. Fr. Deninton Subasinghe, Secretary- Admin-istration, Rev. Fr. Jude Samantha, Procurator General and Rev. Fr. Gihan Ridley, Administrator - Lands and Properties.

...the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them.... (Mark 1:19-20)

Contd. from Pg. 1 - Rev. Fr. John Hettiacrchchi: ...

Contd. from Pg. 6 - Keeping Holy the Lord’s...Catholics who live in areas declared under lock-

down may be airing this complaint time and again dur-ing these months of coronavirus pandemic. But is this attitude correct? Well, yes and no.

It is a good attitude if the person suffers out of true devotion to the Holy Eucharist and is honestly longing to unite oneself with Christ through the Holy Mass and Communion. It would be a wrong attitude, on the other hand, if someone were to think that there is no way of making holy the Lord’s day.

Take note that when Church authorities suspend public Masses, Catholics are not compelled to do any-thing on days of obligation. However, the Church strongly recommends that the faithful undertake other forms of spiritual activity, such as taking part in a Liturgy of the Word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the di-ocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families (can. 1248 §2). Watching a Mass on television or the Internet also is a possibil-ity, and some parishes and dioceses stream Masses on their web sites. Participating in the Liturgy of the Hours is another possibility (can. 1174 §2), as are reading the Bible and spiritual works. There are many possibilities of making holy the Lord’s day in times of pandemic.

Contd. from Pg. 11 - Journeying towards the...

Pope John XXIII (25th November 1881-3rd June 1963) Elected at the age of 78, he was considered as a transitory Pope. Despite his age, yet with rich experience of having been an Apostolic Delegate and Nuncio (Pope’s representative) and Patriarch of the Diocese of Venice, he was convinced of listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and setting them in motion in that hour of the Church in the post-World War II. In sign of his open-ness and conviction of opening the Church to a new ex-perience of the faith, new outpouring of the Holy Spirit the Pope beati�ied Rev. Sr. Elena Guerra on 26th April 1959. Prior to the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pope asks the participating members to read the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2 in order to enter into a new experience of the Pentecost of the disciples in the Up-per Room. He prayed for a new Pentecost: “Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost. Grant to Your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Di-vine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen”. To be continued…

Contd. from Pg. 1Giving value to human...

The Vespers service was held with a limited gather-ing due to the ongoing pandemic situation. Strict health guidelines were practiced throughout the service.

Rev. Fr. Wimal Thirimanne CSsR a priest-son of

Kandana also participated at the Vespers Service. The Festive Mass was celebrated by His Lordship Rt.

Rev. Dr. J. D. Anthony, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo. The Annual Feast was organized by Rev. Fr. Lalith

Expeditus, Parish Priest along with Rev. Frs. Teshan Priyadarshana and Sanath Udara, Assistant Parish Priests.

Contd. from Pg. 1Pope Francis and the Pope...

“I can con�irm that as part of the vaccination pro-gramme of the Vatican City State, as of today, the �irst dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been administered to Pope Francis and to the Pope Emeritus,” said Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Of�ice in response to journalists’ questions.

Pope Francis had announced during an interview

with Italian television station Tg5 on Sunday that he planned to receive the vaccine this week.

The Pope referred to the vaccination as “an ethical action, because you are gambling with your health, you are gambling with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others.”

Private Secretary to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Georg Gaenswein, had also con�irmed that the Pope Emeritus would be vaccinated.

Contd. from Pg. 1Higher education institutions...

Contd. from Pg. 1Blessing and opening of ...almost ten months due to the Covid-19 problems.

The community Fathers of Avila Niwasa made the necessary arrangements for the opening and bless-ing of the Monastery on 16th January 2021 by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

A warm welcome was given to His Eminence with a garland by the community Fathers of Avila Niwasa along with priests and nuns and the people of God gathered for the Holy Eucharistic celebration; Rev. Fr. Manokumaran, Episcopal Vicar and Rev. Fr. Lakpriya Nonis, Parish Priest of Battagama too were welcomed. St. Joseph’s statue was blessed by His Eminence for the commemoration of the year of St. Joseph. The Altar was consecrated by His Eminence during the Holy Eucha-ristic Celebration and at the request of His Eminence Rev. Fr. Lakpriya Nonis, blessed the Monastery. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by the Carmelite Fathers (from Elpitiya, in the diocese of Galle and Kegalle, in the diocese of Ratnapura), diocesan priests and neigh-bouring religious priests. Keeping in mind the critical situation of the Covid-19, the number of visitors were restricted and only a few local people attended the Holy Eucharistic celebration. The altar servers from Battagama Parish helped at the altar and the Apostolic Carmel sisters participated in the liturgy through their melodious songs to have a deeper experience of the Divine.

With Paternal concern His Eminence emphatical-ly highlighted in his homily the need of the religious communities in the diocese, their role in general and particularly faithful to their own Charism of the Car-melite Order at the service of the people of God. A re-ligious should be united with the Triune God and go deeper into the original charism of the congregation. It is through faithfulness and loyalty to the Church a Re-ligious can be a witness to the people. It is the contem-plative prayer which helps a person to live the evangel-ical counsel of chastity, poverty and obedience. Total surrender to the Almighty Father is the real imitation of Christ without seeking the security of this world. The eschatological aspect of religious life should be ex-perienced in union and communion among the mem-bers of the community. His Eminence appreciated the Carmelite Fathers for their pastoral involvements and initiatives as they are extending their communities in other dioceses, too (namely in Elpitiya, and Kegalle, ) and recruiting the local vocations.

Having blessed the Tabernacle, the Holy Eucharist was kept inside the Tabernacle for veneration and worship.

Fr. R.Prabu OCD, welcomed the gathering at the be-ginning of the sacred ceremony, highlighting the Car-melite Order’s Charism and explored Carmelites pres-ence in Sri Lanka. At the end of the special blessing by His Eminence, Fr. S. Arockiasamy OCD, thanked the gathering. Refreshment arrangements were organized by Fr. A. Alexander OCD.

Very Rev. Fr. Shantha Sagara Hettiarachchi, Episco-pal Vicar, Ja-ela Region and Parish Priest Pamunugama made these remarks paying tribute to late Rev. Fr. Hetti-arachchi during the homily at the Requiem Mass offered at the St. Mary Magdaline's Church, Dungalpitiya.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo was the Chief Celebrant. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo joined His Eminence in offering the Holy Mass for the repose of the soul of late Fr. John Hettiarachchi, who spent his �inal days at the Evening Star, Home for the Retired Priests.

His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith, performed the religious rites in church while Rev. Fr. Freely Muthukudaarchchi conducted �inal rites during the burial service.

Rev. Fr. Ishara Fernando, Parish Priest of Dungalpitiya organized the Holy Mass and events rel-evant to the funeral service. Contd. from Pg. 1 - Rev. Fr. Ponweera:...and Parish Priest Kelaniya while delivering his homily at the Requiem Mass offered for the repose of the soul of late Father Ponweera, at the Sacred Heart Chapel of the Archbishop House, Borella Colombo, last week.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo presided as Chief Celebrant of the Requiem Mass and Their Lordships Rt. Rev. Drs. Maxwell Silva, J. D. Anthony Jayakody and Anton Ranjith Auxiliary Bish-ops of Colombo joined His Eminence in offering the Holy Mass.

The Eucharistic celebration was held in Colombo taking into consideration the pandemic situation in the country. The burial was held at Hapugoda Church cem-etary enabling the parishioners and others known to Fr. Ponweera to pay their last respects.

The Final rites at the church premises were conduct-ed by Very Rev. Fr. Daya Shelton Welikadaarchchi. Very Rev. Fr. Bertram Ranjith attended the religious rites at the Hapugoda Church burial grounds, organized by Rev. Fr. Nishantha Wilathgamuwa, Parish Priest, Hapugoda.

13 The Messenger January 24, 202113 January 24, 2021The Messenger

Make life better for those who love

give them the MESSENGER

VATICAN NEWS: Pope Francis re�lected on the dimension of praise in prayer, at the General Audience on Wednesday, taking as his starting point “a critical moment in the life of Jesus.” At the beginning of His ministry, when He had already begun to preach the Kingdom of God and perform miracles, “the mission of the Messiah goes through a crisis,” the Pope said: John the Baptist expresses doubts, while the people to whom He had preached showed hostility to Jesus and His message. But “precisely in this disappointing moment,” Pope Francis said, “Jesus does not lift up a lament to the Father, but rather a hymn of jubilation… in the midst of a crisis, Jesus blesses the Father, He praises Him.” Jesus praises God for Who He is, calling upon Him as “Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” Jesus acknowledges His Father as Lord of the universe, and

Pope at General Audience: We can always praise God, whose love never failsconversely recognizes “the Lord of all that exists,” as His Father. “Praise springs from His experience of feeling that He is ‘Son of the Most High’,” the Pope said. In His prayer, Jesus goes on to praise God “for favouring the little ones.” Pope Francis explained that in His ministry, Jesus saw those who were considered “wise” and “learned” react to His preaching with suspicion, while the “little ones” were open to His message. “This can only be the will of the Father,” the Pope said, “and Jesus rejoices in this. We too must rejoice and praise God because humble and simple people welcome the Gospel.” Jesus’ prayer of praise “in that moment of seeming failure” leads us to see our own failures in a different light, Pope Francis continued. He explained that praising God, especially “when it seems evil prevails and there is no way to stop it,” is necessary, not for God’s sake, but for our own.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER BUREAUThe activities of the above has been

restarted at St. Mary’s Church, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

The objective of bureau is to help Catholics to �ind marriage partners.

It is held on Saturdays from 9 am to 12 noon. Those interested should physically attend.

a strong economy begins with a strong

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