The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica November 9

The Catholic weekly of sri Lanka “ 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 Sr i L a n k a”

u n d e r N o. Q D / 1 1 / n e w s / 2 0 1 6

Sunday, November 6, 2016 Vol 147 No 44 24 Pages Rs: 30.00 Registered as a newspaper

PAPAL VISIT CASH BALANCE FOR MAHA-GALGAMUWA

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith presents cheque to Bishop of Kurunegala for proposed National Shrine of St. Joseph Vaz

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he Papal Visit 2015 Finance Committee of the Blessed Joseph Vaz Trust of which the Chairperson is the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has presented a sum of Rs.27,985,671/- to the Bishop of Kurunegala, His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera, for the construction of the National Shrine for St. Joseph Vaz, the Saint of Sri Lanka, at Maha-Galgamuwa. His Eminence who is also the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka had in consultation with the Bishops’ Conference handed over this money in two installments to the Bishop of Kurunegala. The first being on July 31, 2015 – a cheque for the sum of Rs.15,000,000/-. This presentation took place at Maha-Galgamuwa. The second installment of Rs.12,985,671/- was handed over on August 18, 2016 at the last Bishops’ Conference held at Lankarama by a representative of the Papal Visit 2015 Finance Committee of the Joseph Vaz Trust. n September 6, 2016 His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, to a further term of five years as a member of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. We of the Messenger wish for His Eminence God’s blessings for his endeavours in the service of Sacred Liturgy.

65th Cardijn Day 2016 Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith will address the 65th Cardijn Day 2016, as the Chief Guest on November 13 to be held at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 from 9.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. This programme is organised by the Young Catholic Students’ Movement (YCS) of the Archdiocese. Contd on Pg. 2

Cardinal Cooray – a mission par excellence

Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith places a floral tribute at the crypt of Servant of God Thomas Cardinal Cooray, OMI to commemorate his 28th death anniversary. Pic: T. Sunil Fernando & Roshan Pradeep

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We are prisoners of a material world A

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rchbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith presiding at the annual feast of St. Jude’s Church, Indigolla last Sunday stated that we has humans have become prisoners to the material concepts of the secular world. We give room to sin and selfishness and finally become pathetic in the lives we lead.

Contd on Pg. 2

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November 6, 2016

Pope's Visit 2015 - Money Allocation A total of Rs. 8,754,123.00 was collected by the local churches to be gifted to the His Holiness Pope Francis during his visit to Sri Lanka from January 1315, 2015 for the canonization of St. Joseph Vaz. The Holy Father very kindly returned this money to be used for the cause of charitable work in Sri Lanka. Hence the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith heading the Finance Conmiittee of the Papal Visit to Sri Lanka, in consultation with the Bishops' Conference distributed the amount collected to the various dioceses. Given below is the breakdown of the receipts received from the various dioceses and the amount distributed to the various dioceses.

COLLECTION FOR POPE'S CHARITY FUND POPES' VISIT 2015 Out of above collection obtained a Bank Draft for USD RECEIPTS FROM VARIOUS DIOCESES 65,870.00 was gifted to the Pope on 15.01.2015 Bishop of Anuradhapura 62,257.00 Bishop of Badulla 57,804.25 This draft was returned Bishop of Batticaloa 104,139.00 by the Pope for the charitable Bishop of Chilaw 400,000.00 work in Sri Lanka. Bishop of Galle 75,000.00 Accordingly the said Bishop of Kandy 463,000.00 amount was distributed back to Bishop of Kurunagala 400,000.00 the Dioceses as follows: Bishop of Mannar 200,000.00 Bishop of Ratnapura Bishop of Trincomalee Bishop of Jaffna Archbishop of Colombo

100,000.00 75,000.00 500,000.00 6,316,922.75

8,754,123.00

Negombo, Bolawalana, Katana, Eucharistic Rally

The deanaries of Negombo, Bolawalana and Katana held a joint Eucharistic Rally at the Maris Stella College, Grounds recently. Archbishop of Colombo, His EminenceMalcolm Cardinal Ranjith presided. A special blessing was bestowed on the people by the Rev. Fathers from the various parishes who were present.

Distribution TO THE VARIOUS DIOCESES Bishop of Anuradhapura Bishop of Badulla Bishop of Batticaloa Bishop of Chilaw Bishop of Galle Bishop of Kandy Bishop of Kurunagala Bishop of Mannar Bishop of Ratnapura Bishop of Trincomalee Bishop of Jaffna Archbishop of Colombo

350,000.00 350,000.00 400,000.00 500,000.00 350,000.00 575,000.00 500,000.00 400,000.00 400,000.00 350,000.00 600,000.00 3,979,123.00

8,754,123.00

Special Programme for Gurubewila Legionaries

Pic. T. Sunil Fernando

(From Pg. 1)

Cardinal Cooray – a mission par excellence

“The missionary zeal of His Eminence, the late Thomas Cardinal Cooray was such that when he was Archbishop, he sent priests from the Archdiocese to serve as missionaries in the remote areas of Jaffna and Anuradhapura. His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Norbert Andradi, OMI said in his homily at the Holy Mass commemorating the 28th death anniversary of the Servant of God, Thomas Cardinal Cooray, OMI held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatte held on Saturday October 29. The commemoration Holy Mass was held

Contd. from Pg. 1

at the basement chapel where the remains of the late cardinal are entombed in a crypt. The Chief Celebrant was the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. In his homily His Lordship, Bishop Andradi also pointed out that the missionaries sent by Cardinal Cooray were Oblate priests who had lived and worked among the people of these areas for long periods of time with some of them even dying there. His Lordship observed that Cardinal Cooray not only served the Archdiocese of Colombo but all other dioceses as well

65th Cardijn... His Eminence will speak to the members of the YCS on the theme ‘How to be merciful as youngsters in their day to day dealings, in the light and example of Cardinal Leo Joseph Cardijn.’ Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Fernandopulle will introduce the ‘Year of St. Joseph Vaz’ and speak on the theme, ‘What is expected from the Youth in this year of St. Joseph Vaz’. There will also be a special blessing for all students sitting for their O/L examination by His Eminence. Rev. Fr. Pradeep Kumar Fernando Chaplain - YCS

A special programme for legionaries in view of the Year of Mercy, organised by the Gurubewila Deanery was held at Sacred Heart Church, Gurubewila recently. The programme was conducted by Rev. Fr. Shelton Dias. Over a hundred legionaries from the deanery participated. Roshani

Thanksgiving Holy Mass

and this will be written in golden letters in the history of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Present on the occasion were the Auxiliary Bishops of Colombo, Archbishops Emeritus and a large gathering of

Contd. from Pg. 1

We are prisoners.. The saints we honour had reached glory in their lives not because they were intelligent but because they had a special calling from God. The selfless lives they led in this world was a witness in itself, said His Eminence addressing the large crowds gathered to participate at the Festive High Mass.

priests and religious. The celebrants laid floral bouquets at the crypt. Twenty eight parcels of dry rations were also distributed to the needy after the Holy Mass.

His Eminence advised the faithful to adhere to the will of God and establish a deep relationship with the Lord which is the only way to lead a good Christian life. If we can do so then we too can become saints, he said. Present at the feast were Ministers John Amaratunga and Ravi Karunanayake.

Rev. Fr. Hugo Palihawadana celebrated his 40th anniversary of priesthood by offering a special Mass of thanksgiving at the Bopitiya RC cemetery is memory of his loved ones and others. Rev. Fr. Gayan Dinesh Assistant Parish Priest of Bopitiya is also seen here. S.K.J. Kurera

Financial Assistance to needy Medical Students

The Catholic Doctors' Guild as in the past plans to T. Sunil Fernando & Roshan give financial assistance to needy Medical, Dental and Pradeep Ayurvedic students entering the faculties this year. Those interested please contact Dr. Maxie Fernandopulle at 33 Police Park Avenue, Colombo 5. Telephone 0112501217

Messenger E-mail

ccpmessenger @yahoo.com [email protected] Telephone: 2695984, 2678106 Website:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com

Dr. Maxie Fernandopulle Consultant Paediatrician 33 Police Park Avenue Colombo 5 Tel: +94-11-2501217

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November 6, 2016

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November 6, 2016

Zacchaeus come down

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uring the past three weeks, the ‘Messenger’ editorial has focused on the vital spiritual dimension of prayer - not so much written or memorised prayers but a heart to heart communication with God. Last Sunday October 23, we spotlighted an important parable - Jesus Christ speaking about the Pharisee who stood in front of the temple and boasted about his virtues and what he was doing for God. Jesus says the self-righteous Pharisee was praying to himself and God did not hear it. At the back of the temple was a despised tax collector, rejected by the Jews because of his racketeering deals with the Roman invaders. The tax collector bowed his head and prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus summed up this parable by telling us the incredible truth that it was the repentant tax collector and not the self-righteous Pharisee who went away at peace with God. Last Sunday October 30, Jesus carries the story of the despised tax collectors to an astounding dimension. This however is not a parable but a true story about one of Jericho’s chief tax collectors Zacchaeus, who in today’s terms could be counted among the world’s 62 super billionaires. This important Gospel passage indicates to us that though Zacchaeus was one of the wealthiest tax collectors in Jericho, Israel’s business centre, he apparently did not have peace of mind. It is similar to the story of the Microsoft founder Bill Gates who says that all his thousands of billions of dollars have not given him peace of mind. So he is giving away about 90 percent of his wealth and says he has found peace with God. Zacchaeus also must have been in a similar situation. He had perhaps heard of Jesus and had a deep desire to meet Him. Do we have this desire? The Gospel passage says: “Zacchaeus kept trying to see who Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see Him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today.' And he hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.” We see here not only the deep but also the desperate desire that Zacchaeus had to see Jesus. St Luke’s Gospel indicates to us that the divinity of Christ manifested at that time because the passage says Jesus looked up and called Zacchaeus by name. It may not be difficult to climb the Sycamore Tree and Zacchaeus who climbed it quickly was equally fast in coming down. A message for us here is that when we meet the Risen Lord at unexpected occasions we need to respond to Him quickly in faith without thinking of the pros and cons. We must also note that wealthy people, at that time and even now, do not climb trees. So it shows how deep was the desire of Zacchaeus to meet Jesus Christ and we also need to grow in that desire to seek the Lord when we are in trouble or in pain, when we are happy and seek Him everywhere, not only at religious services. The Gospel passage tells us that Zacchaeus hurried down and was full of joy when he welcomed Jesus to his home. But as usual there were the self righteous humbug who complained. “They complained when they saw what was happening.’ He has gone to stay at a sinner's house,' they said” (Luke 18:7). But we come to the most spectacular scene of repentance and restitution - a total change of direction and change of heart or “meta noir” which is the real repentance, a complete turnaround from our parts of sin, to bring us into a powerful relationship with Jesus. “Zacchaeus stood his ground and said, Lord, I am going to give half my property to the poor and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.” If the super billionaires in the world in our country come to this transformation we would be going a long way towards poverty alleviation and a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources in the world and in our country. “Jesus said to Zacchaeus, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost'.” The use of the word 'today' is important because for God the past, the present and the future are the same and it is eternal. ‘Now’, that is why Jesus used the word today. Let us also reflect and pray for a deep desire to meet the crucified and the Risen Lord at all times and everything so that our lives also would be transformed intellectually, morally, in psychic or interior terms and in religious ways so that gradually we could touch the perfection that God seeks from us.

Theology and pastoral care 'go hand in hand' Doctrine and theological reflection are to be formed by its evangelizing purpose and by pastoral concerns, Pope Francis told the faculty and students of the John Paul II Institute last week. “Theology and pastoral care go hand in hand,” the Pope said on October 27 at the Vatican's Clementine Hall. “Theological doctrine that doesn’t let itself be directed and formed by its evangelizing purpose and by the Church’s pastoral concerns is no less unthinkable than pastoral activity that doesn’t know how to use revelation and tradition to better understand the Faith and preach it as Jesus commands.” Pope Francis' address marked the opening of the new academic year for the institute, which will be celebrating its 35th anniversary. The address to open the academic year had been scheduled to be delivered by Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, but he was replaced by the Pope earlier this month. Pope Francis began, saying that the fruitfulness and value of the far-sighted intuition of St. John Paul II can be recognized and appreciated ever more clearly today. “His wise discernment of the 'signs of the times' has enabled us to refocus, in the Church and in society as a whole, our attention on the depth and sensitivity of the relationship that springs from the marriage covenant between a man and a woman.” He lamented the forces that strain the marriage bond and family ties, citing a culture that glorifies narcissistic individualism, the idea that freedom can be unhinged from our responsibility for one another, growing indifference to the common good, the imposition of ideologies that directly attack the traditional family, together with poverty that threatens the future of so many families. Mentioning the complexity of newly developed technologies that make possible courses of action that are in conflict with authentic human dignity, the Pope advised a much closer relationship between the Saint John Paul II Institute and the Pontifical Academy for Life. The proximity of that relationship is facilitated by Pope Francis' recent appointment of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia as grand chancellor of the St. John Paul II Institute and as President of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The institute's previous grand chancellor had been, ex officio, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, currently Cardinal Agostino Vallini. The Pope said that culture's individualism, leading 'me' to prevail over 'us' and the individual over society … goes against God’s plan, the plan that has entrusted the world and history to the covenant between man and woman. By its very nature, this covenant calls for cooperation and respect, generous commitment and shared responsibility and the ability to recognize difference as being richness and promise, not a justification for subjugation and abuse.” To understand the dignity of both man

“.....culture's individualism, leading 'me' to prevail over 'us' and the individual over society … goes against God’s plan” and woman “requires a proper appreciation of the relationship between the two. How can we know fully our own concrete humanity other than through an appreciation of the complementary difference between ourselves, man or woman and the other sex?” This knowledge is reached, he said, “as man and woman speak to each other, question each other and act together, with mutual respect and good will. It is impossible to deny the contribution that modern culture has made to the rediscovery of the difference between the sexes.” “For this reason, it is very troubling that this same culture appears unable to get beyond a tendency to eliminate difference rather than addressing the problems that threaten it,” he added. Pope Francis reflected that it is “only in the cradle of the family” that the covenant of marriage between man and woman can first be nourished and that when all is well between man and woman, all is also well in the world and in history. If not, the world becomes unwelcoming and history grinds to a halt. The Pope said that the witness of the thoroughgoing humanity and pure beauty of the Christian ideal of the family should inspire us to our very core … The love that is in the Church commits itself to the development, in doctrine and in pastoral practice, of its own ability to make understandable, to people of our own time, the truth and beauty of God’s creative plan. To make this plan effective today requires a special and loving understanding, as well as a complete commitment to evangelization that is animated by great compassion and mercy toward the vulnerability and weakness of human love. The dynamism of the relationship among God, man and woman is a golden key that unlocks the meaning of the world and of history and of all that is in them, as well as, after all, something of the depth of the love that is God Himself. Can we embrace the greatness of such a revelation?” he asked. “Do we know how to keep the new generations from giving up and bring them back to the boldness of this plan?" In the face of this, Pope Francis recalled the reality of sin, saying that we have to learn not to resign ourselves to human failure but rather to support the fulfillment of God’s plan by every means possible. He quoted from his apostolic exhortation on love in the family, Amoris laetitia, saying it is right to admit that at times we have presented a Contd. on Pg. 15

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November 6, 2016

Church in the Modern World

Making war in the name of religion is satanic V

ATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has called making war in the name of religion “satanic” and a "blasphemy.” His words came in an interview with the Jesuit Catholic journal La Civita Cattolica ahead of his ecumenical Apostolic Trip to Sweden. The interview was conducted by Father Ulf Jonsson S.J., the Director of the Swedish cultural journal of the Jesuits, Signum. The purpose of the trip to Sweden is to mark the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation and much of the discus-

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we see how the Lord always comes to the aid of His people.” Speaking about the mutual enrichment possible between Christian communities, the Pope was asked what Catholics could learn from Lutherans. “Two words come to my mind: ‘reform’ and ‘Scripture’,” - Pope Francis said – “I will try to explain. The first is the word 'reform'. At the beginning, Luther’s was a gesture of reform in a difficult time for the Church. Luther wanted to remedy a complex situation.

Then this gesture —also because of the political situations, we think also of the cuius regio eius religio (whose realm, his religion) —became a ‘state’ of separation and not a process of reform of the whole Church, which is fundamental, because the Church is semper reformanda (always reforming).” “The second word is ‘Scripture’, the Word of God,” – the Pope continued – “Luther took a great step by putting the Word of God into the hands of the people. Reform and Scripture are two things

meeting stakeholders including separatist leaders on October 25. Church officials joined political, religious and social organizations in welcoming the effort to bring peace to the region that has witnessed prolonged curfews, civil unrest and military action. "We want the present cycle of violence to end. Dialogue and rec-

onciliation is the only way forward," said Father Prem Tigga of Jammu-Srinagar Diocese that covers all of Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state. "The Church hopes such initiatives will continue so that the people who have borne the brunt of present unrest can heave a sigh of relief," Father Tigga said.

Violence began to engulf the Himalayan region on July 8 when militant leader, Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed by police in South Kashmir. His separatist supporters clashed with the army in a series of encounters that left about 90 people dead and 11,000 injured.

Church officials welcome dialogue to end Kashmir violence

RINAGAR: In a fresh move to end the threemonth long violence that has claimed more than 90 lives in India's Jammu and Kashmir State, a team from New Delhi has began talks with separatist Muslims leaders. The five-member team, led by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Federal Minister Yashwant Sinha, began

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sion in the interview covered ecumenical affairs. Pope Francis mentioned the recent interreligious meeting for peace in Assisi, which he called “very important.” When asked about the suffering of the Christians in the Middle East, Pope Francis called the region “a land of martyrs.” “I believe that the Lord does not leave His people on their own,” – the Holy Father said – “He will not abandon them. When we read of the hard trials of the people of Israel in the Bible or remember the trials of the martyrs,

UCAN

rome's poor to be guests of honour at Vatican concert

he Vatican will host a concert for the poor and homeless of Rome this month, not only using the concert to raise money for Pope Francis’ charities, but also inviting the poor to attend as the guests of honour. Called 'With the Poor and for the Poor,' free-will donations taken at the end of the concert will benefit Pope Francis’ charitable projects: This year, the building of a new cathedral in Moroto, Uganda, and an agrarian school in Burkina Faso. The concert will take place November 12 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. Following the concert, volunteers of the Jubilee of Mercy and members of the choir of the Diocese of Rome will distribute a meal and a small gift to the invited guests as a reminder of the evening. Performances at the concert will be by the Roman Symphonic Orchestra and the National Choir of Saint Cecilia, directed by Academy Award-winner Ennio Morricone. They will be performing excerpts from some of Morricone’s most famous works. he Korean Catholic Bishops' Conference held a seminar on recently to assess the progress of a project aiming to catalogue Catholic archives and items of historical interest. In 2015, the bishops initiated the 10-year-long project to investigate historical materials scattered across the country and construct a standardized classification plan and database. The materials date from 1784, when the formal Korean Catholic Church was established, until 1962 when the Church hierarchical structure was founded. Seminar participants, including Catholic history researchers, admitted that the Church has neglected

standing some theological questions.” “Personally, I believe that enthusiasm must shift towards common prayer and the works of mercy - work done together to help the sick, the poor, and the imprisoned,” – Pope Francis said – “To do something together is a high and effective form of dialogue. I also think about education. It is important to work together and not in a sectarian way. There is a policy we should have clear in every case: To proselytize in the ecclesial field is a sin." Vatican Radio

rosary: The Prayer of my heart says the Pope

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ATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has reminded the faithful that the month of October is dedicated to the Rosary and invited all believers to recite the Marian prayer.

In a tweet, just a few days ago, on the day when the Church celebrates the feast of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, the Pope said, “The Rosary is the prayer that always accompanies my life: It is also the prayer of simple people and saints...it is the prayer of my heart.”

With Mary, in the mysteries of the Rosary we contemplate the life of Jesus which radiates the mercy of the Father. Let us rejoice in His love and forgiveness, let us recognize it in foreigners and in those who are needy, let us live His Gospel every day.” And greeting the young, the sick and the newly wedded, Pope Francis said: “May this simple Marian prayer show you, young people, the way to give life to God’s will in your lives; dear sick people, love this prayer because it brings consolation for the mind and the heart; and dear newly wedded spouses, may it represent a privileged moment of spiritual intimacy within your new family”. Pope Francis gives all people he meets a Rosary. “Our Lady – he says – is always close to Her children and ready to help when we pray to her, when we ask for her protection… let us remember she is always ready to serve and never keeps anyone waiting.”

Alongside them, Msgr. Marco Frisina will direct the choir of the Diocese of Rome in performing several sacred songs and will lead those present in reflections on the theme of charity in honor of the end of the Jubilee of Mercy. The event, organized by the Opera Nova Onlus and the choir of the Diocese of Rome, is sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization and by the St. Matthew Foundation in memory of Cardinal Van Thuan, a Vietnamese cleric Vatican Radio who was imprisoned by his nation's communist government for 13 years. All donations made by the sponsors of the concert as well as those who wish to make an offering will Hindi translation of the Joy of Love (Amoris Laetibe given to Pope Francis’ charitable projects, which in tia) was promulgated in Bangalore on September 2014 boasted over one and a half million in charitable giving. Distribution of the funds is a responsibility of 28 by the Bishops' Conference of the Bishops of Latin India Rite under the title, dell'Amaris Laetitia. the Papal Almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski. At the launch, the bishops explained that it is their intention to assist people at the grassroots level to focus their attention on the development of strong Catholic families. to preserve its archives and the project's success relies Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the president of the on several stakeholders working together. bishops' conference and the Federation of Asian BishLuke Cha Ki-jin, Director of the Yangup Church ops' Conferences, placed the first copy into the hands of History Research Institute, said, to successfully imple- Archbishop Anil Couto, from Delhi. The Indian Commission on the Family said the ment the project, it is essential that we have the active text is intended to promote the contents of the text, participation of Church institutions like dioceses arwhich have been widely debated throughout the counchives, research institutes, church libraries, museums try, at national, regional and diocesan levels. and so on." They called the translatiori useful, especially To obtain support for the project, the bishops' to Catholics of the northern part of the country, where conference will hold a meeting this month for research- Hindi is the mother tongue. They described their comers from all Church history institutes and related offi- mitment as "to strengthen family life, despite all the cials who may possess historical materials. challenges it faces." CNA Sunday Examiner

Korean church to catalogue all historical material

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that we can deepen by looking at the Lutheran tradition. The General Congregations before the Conclave comes to mind and how the request for a reform was alive in our discussions.” The Holy Father was later asked about how the Ecumenical movement can move forward. He responded by saying that theological dialogue must continue and pointing to the Joint Declaration on Justification as an important point, but added, “It will not be easy to go forward because of the different ways of under-

'Joy of Love' in hindi

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November 6, 2016

The Messenger

health related issues in sri Lanka

LerProsY (hansen’s Disease)

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eprosy is one of the oldest diseases first described in the ancient Indian texts from the sixth century BC. It is an infectious non fatal chronic disease. References are made to lepers in the New Testament where Our Lord Jesus has cured lepers on many occasions. Leprosy carries a social stigma and those with the disease are isolated and not freely accepted in the society. The propensity of the disease when untreated, result in characteristic deformities and the recognition in most cultures that the disease is communicable from person to person have resulted historically in a profound social stigma. Today with early diagnosis and the institution of early anti microbial therapy, patients can lead a productive live in the community and deformities and other visible manifestations can largely be prevented. sri Lanka It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae which can be cultured from in tissue sections. It is almost exclusively affection of the poor people living in the developing world in crowded environment and poor housing. Leprosy is with a high disease burden and should be addressed with the same degree of vigilance we pay towards diseases like tuberculosis and dengue. Sri Lanka reached the leprosy elimination in the year 1995, 5years ahead of the target date, but this was not maintained possibly due to low emphasis on surveillance due to reduced disease burden. The number of new cases has started to increase again in Sri Lanka and every year about 2000 new cases are been reported. There is a delay in detection of cases. There is lag time of 6 months in 60% of cases. A total of 2131 cases were registered and 1990 new cases were detected during 2013 in Sri Lanka, the highest percentage of cases has been from the Western province with 42% and the Eastern and the Southern provinces15% and 12% respectively followed by Gampaha and Kalutara districts. The new increased case detection rates was from Batticaloa and Kalmunai districts. Due to many manifestations and the ability to masquerade as other diseases diagnosis of leprosy can be quite difficult. This, combined with indolent progression, will cause even the experienced doctor to miss the diagnosis. Once the disease has reached a certain point, it is almost impossible to regain previous functionality. But with early detection, followed by proper use of anti-leprosy treatment, these patients can lead a normal life. The incubation period from the time of infection to the manifestation of the disease picture varies from 2 to 6 years although may be short as a few months to as long as 20years. The source of infection

is from nasal secretions and prolonged close contact.. Infected boils and insect transmission too has been stated to occur. The major signs of leprosy are skin lesions where the skin pigment diminishes and area is insensitive. (hypo pigmented anaesthetic palches).The peripheral nerves are thickened and easily felt. The diagnosis is made on these finding and proven by culturing the organism from skin tissues. The spectrum of disease can be divided into 5 groups. 1. Tuberculoid type. There are hypopigmented single anaesthetic patches in the face, buttocks and the extremities are commonly affected. 2. Borderline tuberculoid type. This resembles the former but there are number of patches. 3. Borderline leprosy. The skin lesions are many and varying in size and shape and may be thickened. 4. Borderline lepromatous leprosy. There are large number of florid asymmetrical skin lesions 5. Lepromatous leprosy. Any organ can get affected. Swelling of peripheries and nasal discharge are characteristic, Eye brows are decreased. Perforation of nose is seen. There is typical leonine facies.Nerves are atrophic. Breast swelling and small testicles are evident. Management. Multi drug therapy is available and essential. They are best handled by the anti-leprosy campaign officers who are specialists. Prevention is by early adequate treatment of persons affected. An article on leprosy is incomplete without referring to the great and fantastic service rendered by SUROL (Society for Upliftment and Rehabilitation of Persons affected by Leprosy). It was initiated by Jesuits and the work carried on by Late Rev. Fr. Glen Fernando and now by Rev Fr, Neil Dias Karunratne and Sister Rudolf Perera.

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Blessed are those who remain faithful while enduring evils inflicted on them by others and forgive them from their heart.

due to their links with the disease Leprosy also known as Hansen’s Disease.

Goals: •

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A brief account of SUROL is as follows:

Vision:

We are committed and dedicated to establishing a society where persons affected by leprosy find themselves acceptable as equal partners with all others in the community and society at large.

Mission:

Promoting activity for sharing (giving and taking) of available resources which assists the Persons affected by leprosy to uplift and rehabilitate themselves so that they participate effectively in the social and economic life of the community without discrimination

six new Beatitudes proposed by Pope francis

The Pope has offered a new list of Beatitudes at a Holy Mass in Malmo, Sweden. At the Mass, which took place at the conclusion of his ecumenical trip to the country, Pope Francis highlighted the lives of the Swedish saints Elizabeth Hesselblad and Bridget of Vadstena. The best description of the saints, their identity card, the Pope said, is found in the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which begins, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” New situations require new energy and a new commitment, he said and then offered a new list of Beatitudes for modern Christians:

By Dr. Maxie Fernandopulle

email: [email protected]

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To be an organization that is committed to be of service to leprosy afflicted or post-afflicted persons and their family members and those who are dependents of the primary beneficiary. We help them to overcome the psychological, physical and socio- economic adverse effects brought on them by the disease leprosy and help them to rehabilitate and holistically develop themselves. We help them to remain or re-enter society and their community with Dignity and Confidence, devoid of stigma or discrimination at social or other levels due to their connection with leprosy. To be an organization that promotes the reduction of the incidence of leprosy itself and also works to prevent and reduce all manner of adverse after-effects of leprosy afflicted and affected persons, their family members and other relations or persons linked with or associated with them. To be an organization which provides relief and assists the rehabilitation of leprosy afflicted and affected persons and closely connected persons who can be described as being the “Poorest of the Poor” (“most needy”). They are those who in reality need Surol’s support in the Physical, Psychological, Social, Spiritual and Economic Spheres. They are people who essentially need to overcome the social stigma and negative attitudes of people towards leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) from time immemorial. To disseminate information and promote Awareness regarding Leprosy; which will encourage a more complete knowledge and understanding of the truth regarding the disease of leprosy. a. Leprosy in the past, was dreaded since no cure was known and thought to be highly infectious/ contagious till the late Nineteenth Century; and today since the late 1930s we have definite methods of diagnosis, treatment and cure which are obtainable free of cost from all government hospitals in Sri Lanka. b. To involve in efforts to help change attitudes and quell fears of people at large towards leprosy and those afflicted and/or affected by it. To organize and implement programmes to raise funds to finance and support the implementation and the strengthening of all the programmes and activity of SUROL.

Reflections for November November! A remembrance of the dead Of those gone ahead Languishing in the flames Of purgatory's saving grace Their aspiration To feel the Divine Presence To see the Divine Light With the strengthening support Of the prayers of the faithful

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Blessed are those who protect and care for our common home. Blessed are those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others.

• Blessed are those who pray and work for full Blessed are those who look into the eyes of the communion between Christians. abandoned and marginalised and show them Reflecting the multicultural makeup of the their closeness. Catholic Church in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia, the prayer intentions at Mass were read in Spanish, ArBlessed are those who see God in every person abic, English, German and Polish, as well as in Swedish. and strive to make others also discover him. Catholic Herald

November! When grave-yards come alive With flickering candle-light And blossoms and blossoms The faithful bent in prayer Sombre tones of moving hymns Fill the air With grateful prayer For those who enlivened their lives Mingles a teardrop of remembrance

November! A timely reminder Of man's mortality That unto this very dust He shall return Man luxuriating In the glamour of the materialistic world Forgetful of this reality That the only surety in life is death Jeannette Cabraal

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The Messenger

November 6, 2016

LiVinG faiTh rev. fr. Daniel icatlo

“i BeLieVe in The coMMUnion of The sainTs”

The church as communion The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. It is a communion through Christ, with Him and in Him. Nothing can bind the faithful together more profoundly than this communion. It is what the Creed refers to when the ‘“Communion of Saints’ is professed. There is a mysterious yet real union among the different members of the Mystical Body. We view the Church as comprising three states: The Church here on earth (church militant), the souls in Purgatory (church suffering) and the Saints in heaven (church triumphant). We believe that we are all linked to one another. The living, the souls in Purgatory and the saints in heaven are gathered around Jesus’ cross and resurrection. This is the communion of saints we profess in the Apostle’s Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.”

Departed father cared for his son Believing in the communion of saints means believing that the saints in heaven are praying for us, including our own relatives who we hope now share fully in the happiness of God’s kingdom. How often we hear people saying their deceased relatives have granted them favours from heaven when they prayed to them. There was once a true story about a departed husband helping his wife and child recounted by Fr. Lane. “Her husband had died a few years before and she had a young son who was born just before his father’s death. “One day when her son was at a neighbour’s house, she suddenly sensed her husband was speaking to her. He seemed to be telling her that their son was drowning in a swimming pool. She ran next door to the neighbour’s and found her son drowning in the pool, exactly as she sensed her husband telling her. She pulled her son out of the pool, just in time to save his life. “Why does this story move us so

deeply? A story about a child’s life being saved is certainly moving, but this story contains something more. A dead father is still there for his child, at the moment when he is needed most” (Matthew & Denis Linn and Sheila Fabricant, Healing the Greatest Hurt, p. 144, Paulist Press).

communion of Persons ‘Communion of Saints’ denotes the relationship of those who are bound together with one another in Christ. This communion does not cease at the threshold of death, as shown by the abovementioned story. Those now departed who rest in Christ and those who are still pilgrims in faith on earth form a single communion: “All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together” (CCC 954). And just as there is an interchange of spiritual goods among the members of the Body of Christ who are alive on earth, so there is a similar interchange between the heavenly and the earthly sides of the Church. The saints who dwell in heaven help us. They are more closely united to Christ (CCC 956; 1370) and therefore also to us. When we love them, honour them, this strengthens our communion with Christ (CCC 957). Finally, the ‘communion of saints’ also includes those deceased who are still in need of purification. Our prayer is a help to them, and their intercession to us (CCC 958). communion of spiritual Goods According to St. Josemaria, what blood transfusion does for the body the communion of the saints does more or less the same thing as regards the soul (cf. The Way, 544). In a graphic and vivid way we get a fairly good idea of the essence of the communion of the saints. It implies that in the Church there is a communion of “holy gifts” (CCC 948). Among the members of the Church, there is a process of interchange, as with “communicating vessels”: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12:26; CCC 953). This interchange occurs above all between Christ,

the head, and those who are members of his Body. “Communion of saints” implies that Christ bestows his gifts upon the Church. What she receives from him is shared by all in common: His Word, his grace, his love. Christ bestows his gifts especially in the sacraments (CCC 950). Hence, ‘Communion of Saints’ implies that common bond which arises among the faithful through the sacraments, fundamentally through baptism and in a special way through the Eucharist (CCC 1331). The baptized are bound together through the new life they have received from Christ. Receipt of Christ’s love deepens this communion. We become “one body” with Christ and therefore “blood relatives” with one another in Christ (CCC 1396; cf. Living the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vol. I).

intercessions for one another In daily life, we live the communion of the saints when we make intercessory prayers for the souls in Purgatory and when we seek the intercession of the saints in Heaven. Likewise, when we strive to live a life of holiness we do pull up the rest of the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. There is a sharing of spiritual goods among us who are still on earth; the same is true among the living, the souls in Purgatory and the saints in heaven. This truth is especially relevant in this Jubilee Year since praying for the living and the dead is a spiritual work of mercy. But there are some who doubt the effectiveness of intercessory prayers offered for those who are still here on earth journeying to heaven. To clarify these doubts let us cite some Biblical passages which attest to their efficacy. St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). While in captivity, St. Paul wrote to the Colossians: “… and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison (Col 4:3).” To the Romans he pleaded: “I ap-

peal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf (Rom. 15:30).” Again, he would tell the Thessalonians: “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power” (2 Thes. 1:11).

Praying for the dead During the month of November we pray especially for those souls who are still being purified in Purgatory because we believe that our prayers can help them. We are all of us, living and dead, united around the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Those souls cannot help themselves but we can help them with our prayers. Though some Christian sects deny the existence of Purgatory, there are Biblical passages that point to it as a real state of some souls after death. The exact term may not be in the Scriptures but the reality is alluded to. The second book of Maccabees reads: “He (Judas) also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing so he acted very well and honourably, taking account of the resurrection. “For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin” (2 Mac 12:43-46). The saintly souls in Heaven and the condemned ones in Hell do not need prayers obviously. Therefore, there must be a state of some souls after death that requires further purification from the vestiges of sins. We, on earth, and the saints in Heaven can intercede for the Holy Souls in Purgatory to alleviate their sufferings and hasten their entry into eternal life. It is such a wonderful spiritual work of mercy.

commemoration of all the faithful departed

(1st Read: Wis. 3:1– 9 / 2nd Read: Rom 5:5 – 11 or Rom 6: 3 – 9 / Gospel: Jn. 6:37 – 40) The Church teaches us that the souls of the just who have left this world with traces of venial sin remain for a time in a place of expiation called purgatory, where they suffer whatever punishment may be due to their offenses. Even if pardon has been obtained for the sins, satisfaction must be made to God, our Creator, in this world or in the next; for His sanctity has been insulted by the self-will of human beings. It is a dogma of our faith that the suffering souls are relieved by the intercession of the Saints in heaven and by the prayers of the faithful upon this earth. To pray for the dead is therefore an act of charity and of piety, certainly obligatory for a Christian who professes to have charity in his heart. We read in Holy Scripture: “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins” (2Macc 12:46). And we are also asking God through our offering of Masses, prayers, almsgiving, indulgences, fasting, sacrifices and so on and so forth, to shorten their purgation and be forgiven of their sins they had committed. We pray that their struggle will be shortened and that their repose will be peaceful. We pray for them in these words: Eternal rest

grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in Peace. Amen. So we pray that the departed will rest in peace. We hope that they will rest in peace. But are they really resting in peace? And that is the question that we are to think about as we join the Church to commemorate the faithful departed on this day.This commemoration is associated with the doctrine that the souls of the faithful who at death have not been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to sin and from attachment to mortal sins. They cannot immediately attain the joys of heaven and they may be helped (We are asking God to shorten their purgation and be forgiven of their sins, they had committee.) to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass, almsgiving, indulgences, fasting, sactifices etc. In other words, when they died, they had not yet attained full sanctification and moral perfection, a requirement for entrance into Heaven. This sanctification is carried out in Purgatory. There is the practice that the entire month of November became associated with prayer for the departed; lists of names of those to be remembered were being placed in the proximity of the altar on which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Our prayers for the faithful departed has its efficacy in helping them to purify themselves for

heaven.Yes, souls in Purgatory need our prayers otherwise today will just be a day we remember our departed loved ones and nothing else. On All Souls Day, we not only remember the departed, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory. We do this by coming to church for Mass and by visiting cemetery and offering a prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Praying for the departed is a Christian obligation. In the modern world, when many have come to doubt the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, the need for such prayers must increase and has increased, as can be seen by the high numbers of Mass offerings for the faithful departed and the attendance at Mass today. In our modern world, with all the technology, we are still busy and have no time. But today we have taken time to remember and pray for the faithful departed and our departed loved ones.All the technology can’t help them. Only we can help them with our prayers so that they can truly rest in peace. And the time will come when we will need the prayers of the living to help us attain eternal rest. Rev. Fr. Srinath Joseph, OMI

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The Messenger

November 6, 2016

Catacombs of Rome by: Kishani S. Fernando

Part I

monument of the early Christian Church. Currently, responsibility for the Christian Catacombs lies with the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology which directs excavations and restorations. Study of the Catacombs is directed by the Pontifical Academy of Archaeology. The Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter are ancient Catacombs situated on the 3rd mile of the ancient Via Labicana, today Via Casilina in Rome, Italy, near the church of Santi Marcellino e Pietro ad Duas Lauros. Their name refers to the Christian martyrs Marcellinus and Peter who, according to tradition, were buried there, near the body of St. Tiburtius. In 2006, over a thousand skeletons were discovered in these Catacombs; the skeletons were stacked one on top of each other and still bore the togas they were buried with. The Catacombs opened on the 13th April 2014.

The catacombs of Domitilla is named after Saint Domitilla at via delle Sette Chiese 282. It is one of the most he Church traditionally dedicates the month of extensive of all the Catacombs spreading over 15 kilometers November for all the faithful departed and the holy souls in purgatory. With this in mind, this month we will focus on the Roman Catacombs.

T

The catacombs of rome are subterranean burial chambers, outside the walls of the city, built along main Roman roads, like the Via Appia, the Via Ostiense, the Via Labicana, the Via Tiburtina, and the Via Nomentana. There are at least sixty well known named Catacombs of which some like the Catacombs of St. Calixtus and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, refer to martyrs that may have been buried there. The first large-scale Catacombs in the vicinity of Rome were excavated from the 2nd century onwards. They were carved through tufo - a soft volcanic rock, outside the walls of the city. The pagan custom was to incinerate corpses, while early Christians and Jews buried the dead. Since most Christians and Jews at that time belonged to the lower classes or were slaves, they usually lacked the resources to buy land for burial purposes. Instead, networks of tunnels were dug in the deep layers of tufo which occurred naturally on the outskirts of Rome.

Excavators no doubt slaves, built vast systems of galleries and passages on top of each other. They lie 7–19 metres below the surface in an area of more than 2.4 square kilometers. Narrow steps that descend as many as four stories join the levels. Passages are about 2.5 by 1 meter. Burial niches were carved into walls. Bodies were placed in the niches and sealed with a slab bearing the name, age and the day of death.

The Catacombs were often decorated with frescoes which provide the main surviving evidence for Early Christian art, and show typically Roman styles used for decorating homes - with secular iconography adapted to a religious function.

In 380, Christianity became a state religion in Rome. However many still desired to be buried in the Catacombs alongside the martyrs. However, the practice of Catacomb burial declined slowly, and the dead were increasingly buried in church cemeteries. In the 6th century Catacombs were used only for martyrs memorial services, though some paintings were added as late as the 7th century. It is believed that the Ostrogoths, Vandals and Lombards that sacked Rome also violated the Catacombs, presumably looking for valuables. By the 10th century Catacombs were practically abandoned, and holy relics were transferred to above the ground basilicas. In the intervening centuries they remained forgotten until they were accidentally rediscovered in 1578. Today the Catacombs have become an important

of underground caves and are also the best preserved. The Domitilla Catacombs are unique in that they are the oldest of Rome’s underground burial networks and the only ones to still contain bones. There are almost 150,000 bodies buried in the Catacombs of St. Domitilla. The oldest galleries were excavated from the late 2nd to early 3rd centuries beneath land donated to the Christians by the noble Flavia Domitilla, granddaughter of the emperor Vespasian. The Catacomb of Domitilla has the largest inventory of Catacomb painting, with about 80 painted tombs. Included in their passages are a 2nd-century fresco of the Last Supper and other valuable artifacts. They are also the only Catacombs that have an underground basilica open to the public. Excavated in the late 4th century A.D. they were dedicated to the holy martyrs Nereus and Achilleus who were first buried under the apse of the basilica. In the beginning of 2009, at the request of the Vatican, the Divine World Missionaries, a Roman Catholic Society of priests and brothers, assumed responsibility as administrator of the St. Domitilla Catacombs. Catacombs of Commodilla on the Via Ostiensis, contain one of the earliest images of a bearded Christ. They originally held the relics of Saints Felix and Adauctus.

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The Messenger

November 6, 2016

The incredible power of The Blessed Virgin Mary (Part 1)

Post War austria

At the end of the War, a part of Austria was occupied by the Soviet army which tried to impose on the Men believe that they are in control of their rest of the country the principles of communism. On lives and destiny and some even pretend that they can the 2nd February 1947, the Purification of the Blessed make history through their own qualities and skills. If Virgin Mary, Father Petrus Pavlicek, who came to know some had an influence on the course of events that af- about the apparition of Our Lady in Fatima when he fected mankind, they were merely the instruments of was a war prisoner, heard the voice of the Virgin Mary Divine Providence. God is using men in order to exer- during a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell, in Austria, telling him: "H one does what I say, many cise His Justice or His Mercy. Among men who actually changed the world, souls will be saved and there will ,be peace." Father Pavlicek accepted the invitation to trust there is one who surpasses all. Actually it is a woman, in Our Lady. He took the resolution to say the rosary the greatest woman in history, the Blessed Virgin Mary, daily and in 1949, with the permission of the Austrian the Mother of Our Saviour. bishops, he promoted a rosary crusade for his country. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given to His Holy The crusade was a success since around Mother a fantastic power over human affairs, a power 600,000 people joined in to say the daily Rosary. After that shows itself especially when men request her assix years of fervent prayers offered for Austria's freesistance. Here are four examples of the response of the dom, came the good news that the Soviet Union had deBlessed Virgin Mary to men's prayer and the unbelievcided to withdraw its troops. The Red Army left Austria able efficacy of Her action: World War II, post war Auson 13th May 1955, on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. tria, post war Germany and the Korean War. At a huge rally held as a thanksgiving for freedom on the 1st September 1955, the Austrian ChancelWorld War ii lor (equivalent to Prime Minister) Julius Raab publicly declared: "We are free; Mary, we thank Thee!" Despite all his diplomatic efforts, His Holiness It is worth noting that on the very next day folPope Pius XII was unable to stop World War II. By au- lowing the withdrawal of communist troops, the Wartumn of 1942, the number of casualties and destruction saw Pact was signed on 14th May 1955 that tightened was horrifying and nothing seemed possible to stop the the grip of Russia on the Eastern European countries, course of the biggest conflict in human history. countries that, unlike Austria, did not pray to the MothSeeing the hopelessness of all human action in er of God for help. bringing about the end of this human tragedy, Pope Pius XII turned to Heaven for assistance. Inspired by the apPost War Germany parition of Our Lady in Fatima, the Pope consecrated the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 31 Germany too became the recipient of Our Last October 1942, with the principal intention of stopdy's intervention. The German branch of the Blue Army ping the war. (*) asked the German bishops to consecrate Germany The answer of the Blessed Virgin Mary did not to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration was take long. On the very same day, the Allied Armies in done by His Eminence Cardinal Frings on 4th SeptemNorth Africa engaged in a battle fought valiantly by the ber 1954 with three main petitions: Australian troops, that paved the way to the victory of EI Alamein which took place a few days later on the 4th November 1942. Only one week after the consecration, • For the return of the war prisoners from Russian on the 8th November 1942, American troops, followed camps. by the British, landed in Morocco and Algeria opening • For the reunification of Germany. a second front against the German and Italian armies • For the conversion of the Protestants and for the unity which would eventually leave. Northern Africa on 13th of Christendom. A few months later, Konrad Adenauer, the GerMay 1943, the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. man Chancellor, himself a member of the Blue Army, Winston Churchill wrote in his memoirs that undertook a voyage to Moscow in order to ask for the the victory of EI Alamein was the turning point of release of the prisoners. The Russian authorities agreed World War II. He declared: "One can say that before EI because they wanted to push him to open an Embassy Alamein we had not had any victory, and after it, we . of West Germany in Moscow. never had any defeat." As soon as the Chancellor arrived in Russia's capJust a few days after the consecration of the ital city, he went to the French Embassy where there was a world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by statue of Our Lady of Fatima. He prayed the Rosary for the Pope Pius XII, the tide of history had turned. success of his mission, then, he went to the only Catholic It is interesting to note that the major defeat of church in Moscow and prayed to Our Lady again. the German army in Stalingrad, Russia, that put a stop to During the negotiations, as planned, the Rusthe advance of Hitler's troops and started their gradual sians demanded the opening of a West German embassy receding, took place on a feast of Our Lady, on 2nd Febin Moscow to which Adenauer refused on the grounds ruary 1943, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.. that there was already an East German embassy. OpenThis date is one of a series that shows the ining another embassy would be acknowledging the parvolvement of the Queen of Heaven in the events that tition-of Germany which he always refused to do; in his will eventually lead to the end of the war. Here below mind, there was only one Germany. are a few of those dates: Adenauer had his rosary beads in his pocket, • 8th september 1943, on the feast of the nativity of and when he did not have to talk during the sessions, he the Blessed Virgin Mary, Italy capitulates. said the Rosary. His prayer was heard beautifully as at • 13th october 1943 (fatima Day), Italy breaks its the end of the negotiations the head of the Russian delpact with Germany and sides with the Allies. egation told him: "We give you everything, everything. • 13th May 1944 (fatima day) sees the complete vicJust wait for a week. We give you our word of honour." tory of the Allies over the Germans in Italy. They agreed to free 20,000 war prisoners without any• 15th august 1944, on the feast of our Lady's asthing in return sumption, the Allies landed in Toulon, France and beThe transfer of the German prisoners-of-war gan to free France from German occupation. held in Siberia began on 7th October 1955, the Feast of • 12th september 1944, on the feast of the holy the Most Holy Rosary. name of Mary, the Allies cross the German border and Forty years after the division of Germany, dementered Germany for the first time. onstrations began on the 7th October 1985, the Feast • 13th october 1944 (fatima day), the first German of the Most Holy Rosary, causing the first cracks in the city (Aachen) is attacked'by the Allies. • 8th May 1945, on the feast of Mary Mediatrix of all edifice of communism, and again on 7th October 1989, new demonstrations sprang up that increased by the day Graces, it is the official end of the war in Europe. • 15th august 1945, on the feast of our Lady's as- until the complete collapse of the communist regime. On sumption, takes place the capitulation of Japan and the the 3rd October 1990, Germany was reunited. Here again, no comment is needed; the dates end of the war. speak by themselves. • 8th september 1945, on the feast of the nativity of (*) The Blue army was founded by Msgr. the Blessed Virgin Mary, the peace treaty with Japan harold V. colgan in october 1947, in the United is signed. By Rev. Father Fabrice Loschi, SSPX

states, to battle the red army. Whilst sick in hospital with a serious heart condition, fr. colgan promised to our Lady on the 8th December 1946 that if he got better, he would spend the rest of his life promoting the message of fatima. after making this promise, fr. colgan left the hospital w#hout being discharged, absolutely certain he was cured. his doctor was present at Mass when fr. colgan unexpectedly came out of the sacristy to go to the altar. afraid he could have a heart attack, the doctor spoke to the bishop who ordered the priest to have a medical checkup. The examination revealed that his heart was perfectly fine and that he could resume his priestly activities.

Korean War In 1949, as soon as the American troops left Korea, the North, aided by the Chinese military, invaded the South of the country. The Americans came back in June 1950 to push the invaders back to the North. This was the1Jeginning of a deadly war that would claim the lives of 1.5 million Koreans. Seeing that no side was winning, and while violent fighting went on at the level of the 38th parallel, peace talks began in July 1951 but to no avail. Two years later, the conflict was still raging. On the 11th March 1953, a Catholic chaplain to the American Army, Fr. Matthew Strumski, asked the American branch of the Blue Army to send him a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. After being blessed by the bishop of Fatima himself, the statue arrived in South Korea for the launching of a rosary crusade across the country. With the permission of the Korean Bishops, the pilgrim statue visited all the dioceses, but more had to be done. Fr. Strumski, then, had the idea of going to the front line in company with the Virgin Mary. A plaque reading "Pilgrim Virgin of the US Army, Queen of the �irst Division of Catholic Marines" was placed· at her feet. The statue went and visited all the battalions where Catholit soldiers were asked to join in the rosary prayer for peace. The statue travelled in an armoured vehicle from East to West, by day or night time, across valleys, rivers, and hills, amid fighting and bombardments. After only four months of prayers, on the 27th July 1953, the armistice was signed, and the war ended. Had men called on the Blessed Virgin Mary at the beginning of the war, countless lives would have been spared. Our times, too, have their challenges. We are worried, for instance, about the direction society is heading to, when, in so many countries, laws are passed that blatantly offend God and defy His . Authority over the creation. The sense of powerlessness we experience before growing impiety might be extremely frustrating at times, but we should not forget that Our Lord gave us the solution to all of today's difficulties, and such a solution has a name: it is the Blessed Virgin Mary.

9

The Messenger

November 6, 2016

a refuge for all samata sarana

Samata Sarana was begun 28 years ago, in 1988, by late Rev. Sr. Bernie Silva SCJM. It was a dream of the foundress which has not only turned into a reality but has blossomed far beyond the expectations. Not only are a few children fed and taught their alphabets, not only are a few elders given a haven of rest but literally hundreds are fed and clothed every day and tears are wiped away giving place to smiling faces, both young and old. The only explanation for this can be found in the Scriptures which make clear to us that the Lord’s plans

gry. But that crucial step was taken in all generosity and the poor human offering in the hands of the Master, was turned into a banquet with even 12 baskets of scraps left over. This miraculous power of the Lord has been daily experienced by those in touch with the work of Samata Sarana. The rubbish dump has turned into a Palace of the Poor. Now the starving are fed, the homeless are sheltered, the vagrants are clothed and the poor have the good news of being welcomed and whatever form pov-

an Education extension Programme for grade 6 and upwards children, a Day Care Centre for 60 elders; a Medical Clinic twice a week; a Nutrition Programme, providing breakfast, mid-morning snack and lunch for 500 persons, 5 days a week, in addition for elders only afternoon tea and takehome dinner packet. Anyone who steps into this Palace between 7.30 a.m. – 1.30 p.m. Monday to Friday could see the services in action. This is the daily operation which conducts throughout the year, and year after year.

as the month of November approaches. Samata Sarana at 531, Aluthmawatha Road, Modera functions under the Chairmanship of His Eminence the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese. We strive to feed and educate the lambs and sheep of the Master’s flock, and wish to take this opportunity to remind you of the different services carried out for the poor and invite you all to join hands in loving service. Some of the suggestions I would like to make are as follows: Almsgiving and Dana: Over 500 are provided with breakfast and lunch on 5 days of the

and delivered here or can be collected from there by us. This is really more suitable than cooked food due to the varying ages of our beneficiaries. With Christmas and the New Year around

forms, under linen and stationery items are also provided by us for about 350 of our students. Therefore we would like to gently remind all Parishes and Schools that the beneficia-

What is the response required of us then, those who as shepherds wish to nurture and feed the sheep and lambs of the Lord’s �lock?

are far beyond anything that the human mind can ever imagine. His ways are not our ways. The Lord wants us to take the first steps in faith but the journey is His. If no one had come forward to offer the five loaves and two fish, the multitude would have had to go away hun-

erty manifests itself has been met with a joyful response. Samata Sarana carries out multi-faceted services to the poor from WOMB to TOMB. It conducts a Crèche for 15 babies of poor mothers who are going for minor jobs; a Pre-School and a Primary School for 350 children;

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This is a time when we are thinking of service to the poor as the year of Mercy draws to a close and the Year of St. Joseph Vaz is dawning on the horizon. Our minds also go towards almsgivings and dana in memory of our departed loved ones

week at the cost of Rs. 45,000/ per day. Almsgivings for Elders only (60) persons cost Rs. 18,000/ per day. How can you help in the task of feeding these poor sheep? Dry rations offered during church feast novenas, All souls day and other occasions can be collected

the corner, Toys, Clothing, Toilet articles, School books etc are of use. Sarongs and cloths for the elders, Uniform material for the school children (boys and girls) are also needed. At the beginning of the school year, shoes, socks, schoolbags, uni-

by AFP photographer Gali Tibbon who captured images of the site believed to contain the rock upon which Jesus was laid in around 33 AD as it was uncovered as part of ongoing restoration at the site. A marble slab

covering the site, among the holiest in Christianity, was pulled back for three days as part of both restoration work and archaeological analysis, experts on the scene told AFP. It was the first time the marble had been removed since at least

1810, when the last restoration work took place following a fire, and possibly earlier, said Father Samuel Aghoyan, the church's Armenian superior. A painting of Jesus can be seen in the narrow area above where the marble slab was removed.

Debris and material was found beneath the marble and was being further studied, Aghoyan said. "It is moving in a sense, something we've been talking about so many centuries," Aghoyan told AFP. National Geographic

ries of Samata Sarana can be thought of when you encourage your people to practice the Corporal works of Mercy. Please help us to turn tears into smiles and sadness into joy. Rev. Fr. Leo Perera Executive Director Samata Sarana

Jesus's tomb opened for first time in centuries

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ERUSALEM - Preservation experts have opened for the first time in at least two centuries what Christians believe is Jesus' tomb inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Some of the historic work was witnessed

has been documenting the restoration work which is being carried out by a team of Greek specialists. It reported that "the exposure of the burial bed is giving researchers an unprecedented opportunity to Contd. on Pg. 15

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The Messenger

Challenges to Family

he encyclical on the Family, Amoris Laetitia (AL), of Pope Francis touches on several issues that challenge modern family life. After consultation with the bishops of the BiTS & world, including Sri Lanka, at PiECES two Roman synods, he comes to By Ariel the conclusion that individualism and the extremist attitude to have freedom is the first cancer that decreases the commitment to marriage and family life. Chapter Two of the encyclical refers to individualism and egoistic self-centredness: “Weakens family bonds and ends up considering each family member as an isolated unit, leading in some cases to the idea that one’s personality is shaped by her or his desires” (AL 33). The inability of young couples to commit themselves for life is another hindrance to the stability of family. The society is used to a “throw-away” culture. The life-time commitment that is accepted by Catholic marriage is too much for them. They seek a temporary commitment and not a life-long bond. They do not realize the very fact that one of the prime purposes of Christian marriage is procreation and that forming a family needs the life-time commitment of husband and wife and father and mother for the stability of the family (AL 39). Pope Francis also speaks of the postponement of marriage for economic reasons such as work and study for the betterment of their life status. They are more concerned with loss of social opportunities and social benefits by marrying earlier before they are educated and having a steady income. He is also dealing with the cultural norm of young couples not to commit themselves to any social or cultural bonds of so-called marriage, but to live together and to have extra-marital relationships. They fear the inability to continue their relationship and abhor divorce and separation as ultimate “social failure.” Pope Francis urges young couples living in such situations to commit themselves to marriage and family life. “We need to find the right language, arguments, forms of witness that can help us reach the hearts of young people, appealing to their capacity for generosity, commitment, love and even heroism, and in this way inviting them to take up the challenge of marriage with enthusiasm and courage” (AL 40). In paragraph 41 of Amoris Leatitia the Pope speaks about the spread of pornography and the commercialization of the body especially fostered by the

Inauguration of process of Beatification for Servant of God Augustine Pereira

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November 6, 2016

he inaugural session for Fr. AUGUSTINE PEREIRA (11.02.1854 – 21.10.1911) the process of the Beatification of the Servant of God, Augustine Pereira was held on October 21, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Dindigul and presided over by the Bishop of Dindigul. The ‘Nihil Obstat’ for the process of Beatification of the Servant of God Augustine Pereira was granted on March 26, 2015 by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. The Diocese of Dindigul and the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception Sisters rejoice over the recognition of the Holy See and give thanks to the Lord for the gift of the Servant of God, Augustine Pereira. The Congregation of Immaculate Conception Order was founded by Fr. Augustine Pereira in Madurai, South India. The Congregation has spread over 21 countries and counts over 800 nuns and 130 convents and serves over 24 dioceses in India. Fr. Augustine was born on February 11, 1854 and laid to rest on October 21, 1911. Rev. Sr, Antony Xavier, CIC Superior General, Madurai South India

misuse of social media. He also says that this tendency can lead to regarding the body of a woman as a marketable commodity which leads to prostitution and social evils connected with this. “A crisis in a couple’s relationship destabilizes a family and may lead, through separation and divorce, to serious consequences for adults, children and society as a whole weakening its individual and social bonds” (AL 41). The Pope also draws our attention to the reduction of world population especially among the so-called ‘Christian’ countries in Europe, North America and the southern hemisphere. “Decline in population due to a mentality against having children and promoted by world politics of reproductive health, creates not only a situation in which the relationship between generations is no longer ensured but also the danger that, over time, this decline will lead to economic impoverishment and loss of hope in the future. The development of bio-technology also has a major impact on the birth rate. Added to this are other factors as industrialization, sexual revolution, the fear of over-population and economic problems.... Consumerism also deters people from having children, so that they may maintain a certain freedom and life-style” (AL 42). The Church reiterates the traditional teaching against artificial contraception and abortion. “The Church strongly rejects forces of State intervention in favor of contraception, sterilization and even abortion. Such measures are unacceptable even in places with high birth rates, yet also in countries with disturbingly low birth rates we see politicians encouraging them” (AL 42). Pope Francis also appeals to governments to take action to provide affordable housing, employment with an adequate income to bring up a family and affordable means of education and healthcare. Amoris Leatitia reiterates “Lack of dignified or affordable housing often leading to the postponement of formal relationships. It should be kept in mind that the family has the right to decent housing, fitting for family life and commensurate to the number of members…Families and homes go together.” “At times families suffer terribly when faced with the illness of a loved one, they lack access to adequate healthcare.” “Families, in particular, suffer from problems related to work, where young people have few possibilities and job offers are very selective and insecure. Workdays are long and are often made more burdensome with extended periods away from home. This situation does not help family members to gather together or parents to be with their children in such a

way as to nurture their relationships each day” (AL 44). Pope Francis in his encyclical also refers to children born out of wedlock and sexual exploitation of women. He also touches on the sexual exploitation of children. He refers to war, terrorism and migration which break up the fabric of traditional family. “A great number of children are born out of wedlock, many of whom subsequently grow up with just one of their parents or in a blended or reconstructed family… the sexual exploitation of children is another scandal… (especially) when it occurs in places where they ought to be most safe, particularly in families, communities and Christian institutions” (AL 45). “Migration is another sign of the times to be faced and understood in terms of its negative effects on family life.” “Forced migration of families resulting from situations of war, persecution, poverty and injustice, marked by vicissitudes of a journey that often puts lives at risk, traumatize people and destabilize families… Migration is more dramatic and devastating to families and to individuals when it takes place illegally and is supported by international networks of human trafficking.” The document also deals with the situation of selling of children and also of making some money out of organ donation. Poverty and extreme situations also can lead to “situations of family breakdown sometimes even lead to selling their children for prostitution or for organ trafficking” (AL 46). The Pope also regrets the fact that in the modern family life there is no room for the elderly or the disabled. The Church abhors the abortion of disabled children and ending of life with euthanasia and assisted suicide which are legally permitted in some countries. The document also speaks about same sex marriages and infertility treatments which take the creative aptitude of God into the hands of humans. It also points out drug and alcohol addiction and spending too much time and energy on the electronic and social media as aberrations which disrupt the unity and the harmony of family life. (Contd on Pg. 15)

Remembering the Dead

Memories of loved ones gone before November restores; As in prayerful thought, in charitable deeds We, merit to them bestow. Helpless souls in purgatory Awaiting release; Depending on the prayers of the faithful To obtain relief. A candle, a rose, a sigh, a tear Reach out to them In love, remembrance and prayer.

Remembering in gratitude, their contribution to our welfare. They touched our lives Parents, grandparents, family members, relatives, teachers, friends. They befriended us, our turn to befriend them. Thank God! For those kindly souls and lisp a prayer That God’s eternal peace and rest be theirs. Jeannette Cabraal

Annual Retreat of Catholic Students’ Movement, University , Sri Jayewardenepura

The Annual Retreat 2016 of the Catholic Students’ Movement of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was held recently at Madampe Seth Sarana Model Farm under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Jude Chrysantha Fernando, Chaplain of Archdiocesan University Catholic Students’ Movement. The Retreat was conducted by Rev. Fr. Sumedha Dissanayake (TOR) under the theme, ‘Do whatever He tells you’. Dr. (Ms.) Niluka Anuradha and Mr. Kevin Fernando witnessed the retreat from the academic staff . A large number of first year new students joined the retreat. It was a blessed time for all to experience Jesus’s love and reconcile with God in a deeper manner.

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11 November 6, 2016

Messenger The Messenger

November 6, 2016 11

St. Martin of Tours Feast: November 11

Girl's come and help us! Boy's come and help us! My Dear Young Builders,

Are we not Eternal? We have come to the 11th month of the year and November is famous for remembering the dead. But today’s readings direct our attention towards eternal life. Think of this; we were with God before we were born and after we die we will go back to God. As the gospel says, we are sons and daughters of God because we are born of the resurrection. So even after we die we will be eternal like God our Father. But are we the children of God? Can we call ourselves Children of God? Do we live according to the way God tells us to? This week we celebrate the feasts of the great saints, St. Leo the great, St. Martin of Tours and St. Josaphat. They all lived pleasing lives to God and now we know that they are eternal with God. If our life on earth is to end, are we worthy of eternal life? Let us pray then as St. Paul did, “Heavenly Father, strengthen us in Your Love. Encourage our hearts and make us steadfast in every good work and word, through your Holy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ so that we may be worthy of the life everlasting, Amen.”

Aunty Gerro

Satan’s Beatitudes

Martin was born at Upper Pannonia, which is called Hungary today. His father was a Roman military of�icer and tribune. Although his parents were pagans (did not believe in God), he began to study the Christian religion. Those who study the Christian religion are called catechumens until they are baptized. He joined the Roman imperial army in Italy when he was only �ifteen in a unit that served as the emperor’s bodyguard that very rarely had to �ight in battle. One very cold winter day, when Martin was on horseback, he and his companions came upon a beggar at the gate of the city of Amiens. The man’s only clothes were nothing but rags and he was shaking with cold. The other soldiers passed by him, but Martin

felt that it was up to him to help the beggar. Having nothing with him, he drew his sword and cut his long cloak in half. Some laughed at his funny appearance as he gave one half to the beggar. Others felt ashamed of their own sel�ishness. That night, Jesus appeared to Martin. He was wearing the half of the cloak that Martin had given away. “Martin, still a catechumen, has covered me with this garment,” Jesus said. Right after this

Catechism

wonderful event, St. Martin went to be baptized at the age of eighteen. Just before a battle, Martin announced that his faith did not allow him to �ight. They called him a coward and put him in jail. His commander planned to put him in the front line in the battle, but when the enemy made peace the battle did not take place. A few years later, the saint left the army. He became a disciple of St. Hilary, the bishop of Poitiers, France. Because of his strong opposition to the Arian heretics (nonbelievers) in various cities, Martin had to go into exile. But he was happy to live in the wilderness with other monks. When the people of Tours asked for him as their bishop, he refused but they would not give up. They got him to come to the

city to visit a sick person and when he got there, they took him to the church. As bishop of Tours, St. Martin did all he could to make the people of France friends of Jesus and give up their unbelief. He prayed, he worked and preached everywhere. Our Lord let Martin know when his death was near. As soon as his followers heard of it, they began to weep. They begged him not to leave them. So the saint prayed: “Lord, if your people need me yet, I will not refuse the work. Your will be done.” He was still laboring for the Divine Master in a far-off part of his diocese when death �inally came in 397. St. Martin’s tomb became one of the most famous shrines in all of Europe. Holy Spirit Interactive Kidszone

Based on Lk 20: 27-40 (NIV)

Based on Lk 20: 27-40 (NIV)

Article 9 - The Creed “The Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints.” 90. Is the Roman Catholic Church Holy? Yes, the Roman Catholic Church is holy because her founder is holy, her doctrine is holy, her sacraments are a source of holiness. (ccc 823-829) 91. What does the word Catholic mean? The word Catholic means Universal.

92. How is the Church Catholic/Universal? The Church is Catholic/Universal because her teaching is meant for everybody in the world. The mission of the Church is to proclaim and to establish among all peoples the Kingdom of God. 93. How is the Roman Catholic Church Apostolic? The Roman Catholic Church is Apostolic because her Doctrine is the Doctrine of the Apostles, her Sacraments are those of the Apostles. Her leaders are the rightful successors of the Apostles. (ccc857-865)

Sermons 4 kids

94. Can the Church err in what she teaches? The Church cannot err when she teaches us on Blessed - are those who are too tired, to spend time faith or morals, for she is our infallible guide in in church both.

They are my best workers.

Blessed - are those who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked I can use them in my business. Blessed - are those who are not going to Church They shall be my missionaries

Blessed - are those who sow lies and trouble They are my beloved children Blessed - are those who have no time to pray For they are my prey Blessed - are those who gossip They are my secret agents

Blessed - are you who read this and think it is for other people and nothing to do with you I’ve got room for you in my inn.

Riddles

Why are they alike 1. Why are a railroad engine and a family wash alike? 2. Why is a bad joke like an unsharpended pencil? 3. Why are a naughty boy and a dirty rug alike? 4. Why is a good architect like a popular actor? 5. Why are money and a secret alike? Answers 1. Because both of them go on a line. 2. Because it has no point. 3. Because both need a beating. 4. Because they both draw good houses. 5. Because both of them are hard to keep.

Neyali Abeyratne Grade 7, Sunday School, St. Sebastians Kandana

Laughter is God's Blessing Kid comes home from 1st day at school Mum asks, ‘What did you learn today?’ Kid replies, ‘Not enough I have to go back tomorrow’

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The Messenger

November 6, 2016

eleventh plenary assembly of the faBc to be held in negombo [PART – I]

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he 11th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (popularly known as the ‘FABC’) is due to be held in Negombo, from 28th November to 4th December 2016. With this in mind, using my 15 years of experience with the FABC, I wish to introduce to the readers of the Messenger what the FABC stands for, its history and the unique role it has been playing within the churches in Asia. I will be doing this in three instalments.

What is faBc? As the name itself implies the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences is primarily a network for cooperation, solidarity and communion among the Asian bishops, especially in the pastoral field. As the official web-site of the FABC introduces itself: “The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) is a voluntary association of episcopal conferences in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia, established with approval of the Holy See. Its purpose is to foster among its members solidarity and co-responsibility for the welfare of the Church and society in Asia and to promote and defend whatever is for the greater good”. Today, the FABC is a loose federation of 19 member Episcopal Conferences and eight associate members. It has no binding juridical authority over any Church in Asia. It is simply an expression of Asian Episcopal solidarity and communion. As things stand today, the FABC functions mainly through the nine Offices among which various pastoral tasks of the mission of the Church in Asia are distributed. The nine Offices are: the Office for Human Development, the Office for Evangelization, the Office for Social Communications, the Office for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenical Affairs, the Office for Theological Concerns, the Office for Education and Faith Formation, the Office for the Laity, the Office for the Clergy and the Office for Consecrated Life. During its 44-year existence, through these Offices (which came into being at various stages of FABC’s evolution), the FABC has organized various Bishops’ Institutes, colloquia, seminars and other pastoral programs that have exerted an enormous influence on Church life all over Asia. A non-Asian commentator, Thomas Fox of the National Catholic Reporter is of the opinion that FABC plays a prophetic role in introducing “a new kind of Catholicism,” for the rest of the Church, especially to those in the West. Accordingly, FABC through its teachings enables the rest of the Church to see Catholicism from a whole new perspective, a non-Western perspective, “an Asian perspective” to be precise. The vast network of the FABC is co-ordinated through the Central Secretariat in Hong Kong. Today, it has His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias of Mumbai as its President and Rev. Fr.Raymond O’Toole as its Secretary and is governed by the Central Committee which consists of the Office-bearers of the FABC, the Presidents of the member Episcopal Conferences and the chairing bishops of each of its nine Offices.

The functions of the faBc The agreed main functions of the FABC are: • To study ways and means of promoting the apostolate, especially in the light of Vatican-II and post-conciliar official documents and according to the needs of Asia. • To work for and to intensify the dynamic presence of the Church in the total development of the peoples of Asia. • To help in the study of problems of common interest to the Church in Asia and to investigate the possibilities of solutions and coordinated action. • To promote inter-communication and cooperation among local Churches and bishops of Asia. • To render service to episcopal conferences of Asia in order to help them to meet better the needs of the People of God. • To foster a more ordered development of organizations and movements in the Church at the international level. • To foster ecumenical and interreligious communication and collaboration.

origins of the faBc In the immediate aftermath of the Vatican-II, when the Asian Bishops representing different Asian Episcopal Conferences met in Manila in 1970, for the first time, they felt a unique sense of solidarity. This led them to the formation of the FABC, within just a couple of years. Their enthusiasm was such that they had the very First Plenary Assembly of the FABC in Taiwan in 1974 hardly a decade after the conclusion of the Vatican-II. Since then, there had been nine more Plenaries at the following venues, with the following themes: •

rev. fr. Vimal Tirimanna, cssr [Former Executive Secretary of the Office of Theological concerns of the faBc] of the respective Conferences. The participants at such Assemblies not only deliberate, discuss and decide, but more importantly, they pray together for the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to do so. Each day of such meetings is studded with the Eucharistic celebration and morning and evening prayer sessions. But such meetings also serve as a forum for the Asian Bishops scattered all over this vast continent to meet and familiarize themselves with each other. The chairing bishops of each FABC Office are also ex-ufficio members while the Executive Secretaries of those Offices also participate as observers in the deliberations at such Assemblies. Such a gathering in the form of a “Plenary Assembly” which meets in ordinary session, every four years or so, is truly an “assembly”, a “gathering” of the Asian Churches, attended by about 120 participants, with the Bishop representatives of various member Conferences forming the bulk of this number. The rest is made up of officials of various FABC Offices, theologians, resource persons, grassroots level workers in the pastoral field and other special invitees (all of whom are either appointed or recommended by the member Episcopal Conferences). However, at a Plenary Assembly, only the bishop-delegates have a vote, and as such, the recommendations and statements of such Assemblies are truly Episcopal acts though they do not have strict juridical/binding authority over any of the local Churches. Consequently, it is these Plenary Assembly statements which provide the general orientations and foundational theological positions for later elaboration and systematization, in the years that follow each Plenary Assembly. M.M.Quarta (who made a special study of the FABC) is of the opinion that the Plenary Assemblies “hold the first place” in the FABC’s hierarchy: “They mark the beat of the Federation’s journey, following a route that is not predetermined but open to seizing the opportunity of the hour, according to the signs of the times, and often in consonance with the problems of the Universal Church,” says Quarta. They form a sort of a ‘blue print’ for the Churches in Asia in the years that follow a Plenary Assembly with regard to pastoral action and even in theologizing.

The First Plenary Assembly (Taipei, Taiwan, April 1974): ‘Evangelization in Modern Day Asia’. • The Second Plenary Assembly (Calcutta, India, November 1978): ‘Prayer Life of the Church’. • The Third Plenary Assembly (Bangkok, Thailand, October 1982): ‘Church as Community of Faith’. • The Fourth Plenary Assembly (Tokyo, Japan, September 1986): ‘Vocation and Mission of the Laity’. • The Fifth Plenary Assembly (Bandung, Indonesia, July 1990): ‘New Way of Being Church’. • The Sixth Plenary Assembly (Manila, the Philippines, January 1995): ‘Discipleship as Service to Life’. • The Seventh Plenary Assembly (Sampran, Thailand, January 2000): ‘Renewed Church – Mission of Love and Service’. • The Eighth Plenary Assembly (Daejon, South Korea, August 2004): ‘Asian Family towards a Culture of Integral Life’. • The Ninth Plenary Assembly (Manila, the Philippines, August 2009): ‘Living the Eucharist in Asia’ faBc Teachings • The Tenth Plenary Assembly (Xuan Loc, Vietnam, FABC teachings are not to be found in one given December 2012): ‘FABC at Forty Years: Respondtext or in a systematic series of documents. They are ing to the Challenges of Asia’. scattered in many of its statements. The proceedings It is the Eleventh Plenary Assembly that is to be held and statements from the FABC Plenary Assemblies and in Negombo in November/December this year, and its the programs and workshops of various FABC Offices theme is: ‘The Asian Catholic Family: Domestic Church are published by the FABC Central Secretariat in Hong of the Poor on a Mission of Mercy’. A careful combing Kong as FABC Papers. Moreover, the Office of Theothrough of the special themes taken up by the Asian logical Concerns (known as the OTC which consists of bishops at their Plenary Assembly deliberations so far bishop-members and theologian-members appointed would clearly indicate that they are in direct harmony by the different member Conferences of the FABC) has with the concerns of the Universal Church at the particu- issued their own group reflections on various relevant lar time of their respective meetings. Thus, for example, topics for Asia. These reflections are an effort to deepen the special theme chosen for this year’s Plenary Assem- the FABC teachings enunciated by the bishops. As Edbly is in direct relation to what the two recent Synods in mund Chia points out, most of the FABC documents “are Rome discussed and also with the special concerns of a potent force for change and transformation, not only the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis. In other words, the of the Church but of the Asian society as well.” For many FABC is not a parallel ecclesiastical organization to the Asians, they have become locus theologicus (a source of Universal Catholic Church, but it is in total communion theology) especially in the pastoral field. and harmony with the Universal Catholic Church and her Another important characteristic of the emergconcerns. The FABC and its works would thus boil down ing theology of the FABC teachings is that there is no to contextualizing the universal ecclesiastical teachings logical or classically deductive development of its and concerns to the particular Asian contexts. thought, as in Western classical theology. The method used in FABC teachings often is basically inductive than What is a Plenary assembly? deductive, keeping to the traditional Asian way of holisSince a Plenary Assembly of the FABC is the highest authoritative body within the Federation, they tic perception of reality. As James Kroeger says:“To explore these FABC are of paramount importance. In fact, according to the Papers is to journey with the community of Churches Statutes of the FABC, a Plenary Assembly is the “supreme body” of the FABC. Such an Assembly is attended in Asia and to witness the diverse concerns that FABC by the respective Presidents of the member Episcopal has addressed – all under the propitious guidance of the Conferences of the FABC and by the elected delegates Holy Spirit”. To be continued

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The Messenger

Brothers of Jesus - Are they the children of Mary?

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ary, who freely cooperated with God in the brothers would never dare to correct him or give work of man’s salvation through her faith and advice to him. We know that Jesus is the first born obedience, ought to be highly venerated by all of Mary (Lk 2:7). Thus, the brothers referred to in mankind because she is the Mother of Jesus the Saviour. John 7:5 can never be the real younger brothers Christians in particular should have a deep love for the of Jesus. Mother of Jesus. Catholics and the Orthodox Christians From the above we can safely conclude that James and who have a deep love and devotion to her, firmly believe (Joseph) Joset (Mt 13:55 and Mk 6:3) are the that Mary remained a virgin before, during and after the sons of Mary (the wife of Cleophas) who is a close birth of Jesus. We believe that Mary is the ever virgin relative of Mary the Mother of Jesus. As regards Mother of God. Sadly, some Christians have literally inJudas and Simon, there are no explicit scriptural terpreted two Gospel passages (namely Mathew 13:55 references to their family. They could either be and Mark 6:3) and come to the wrong conclusion that the real brothers of James and (Joseph) Joset or those mentioned in these passages are the children of their relatives. Certainly, the four of them are not Mary. children of Mary the Mother of Jesus. Thus the only conclusion we could arrive at is that Jesus The Catholic and the Orthodox Christian belief that was the only child of Mary. James, Joset, Judas and Simon mentioned in Mathew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 are not brothers of Jesus in the real It is interesting to note the following:sense (i.e, they are not the children of Mary) but are (a) The name Cleophas in Aramaic is the same cousin brothers, is based on the following:as Alphaeus in Greek. (b) One of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ 1. According to Jewish tradition, the word “brother” is “James the son of Alphaeus (Mt. 10:3) who later on / “sister” has a much wider meaning which inbecomes the leader of the Church in Jerusalem (cf.. cludes members of the extended family. That is Acts 12;17 and Acts 15:13). This James is also known how in the original Hebrew text of Genesis (14: as “James the younger” (Mark 15:40) and is different 14),Lot who is the nephew of Abraham is referred from the other Apostle James the son of Zebedee - the to as his brother, and Jacob the nephew of Laban brother of John (Mt. 10:3). is referred to as his brother (Gen 29:1-5). (c) Based on (a) and (b) above, we could come 2. The names mentioned in Mark 6:3 are also found in to the conclusion that the Apostle James the son of Mathew 13:55, However a careful study of Mt Alphaeus (Mt. 10:3) is the same James mentioned in 13:55 along with Mt 27:56 and Jn 19:25 clearly Mt.27:56 and Mk 15:40 as the son of Mary who is the shows that James and Joseph (Joset) are the sons wife of Cleophas (Jn. 19:25) and therefore is a close relof another Mary (wife of Cleophas) who is also re- ative (cousin brother) of Jesus. ferred to as a sister of Mary the Mother of Jesus. (d) This conclusion is further strengthened by 3. John 19: 25 refers to “His mother’s sister Mary who the fact that St. Paul refers to him as “James, the Lord’s was the wife of Cleophas.” If they were sisters brother” (Gal 1:18-19). in the real sense they would not have the same The “brothers of Jesus” (mentioned in Matthew name (Mary). 13:55 and Mark 6:3) and all of us are indeed, children of Mary. It is so because her only child Jesus Christ just 4. If Mary the Mother of Jesus had other sons and daughbefore His death entrusted all of us to her through His ters there was no necessity for Jesus to entrust beloved disciple John - (John 19:26-27) her to His beloved disciple John. We are told that May all Christians, honour and venerate Mary, “from that moment the disciple took her to his the ever-virgin Mother of Jesus for her unique role in home” (Jn 19:26-27) God’s plan of salvation. 5. As any relative in Hebrew was called “brother” / “sister,” the Jews used clearer forms to avoid confu- “I’ll sing a hymn to Mary, . sion. Thus, if the Gospel meant they really were The Mother of my God, brothers of Jesus (Mk 3 :32), on mentioning them The Virgin of all virgins, it should have said, “Your mother and the oth- Of David’s Royal blood er sons of your mother are here.” Nowhere are O teach me, Holy Mary, those “brothers of Jesus” referred to as the “sons A loving song to frame, When wicked men blaspheme thee, of Mary.” To love and bless thy name.” 6. John 7:5 tell us that the brothers of Jesus advised Him May Mary, the “tainted human nature’s solitary to go to Judea and also that they did not believe boast” lead us to her Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ! in Him. According to Jewish tradition the eldest Victor Silva brother was held in high esteem and the younger

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A light in the darkness

late evening in December. It was already dark and with the addition of heavy snow, visibility was very poor. Walking was difficult. Driving was nearly impossible. There were many people at the station. They had alighted from the train and were waiting for some means to get home. A couple in the group was showing great haste to get home. They could hardly see the road ahead. Somebody then asked them, “Where do you want to go?” They mentioned a suburb of that city. He asked them to hold his hand. The confidence in his voice surprised the couple. They held his hand and they started walking and within a short time the man took them to their home. When the couple asked their helper how he could see the way in such darkness and snow, he said. “My dear friends, light and darkness are equal to me. I am blind! All these streets are familiar to me. That is why I came to the station to help.” In that extremely inclement weather, the blind man was helping the people in need. The entire night the blind man helped different people to reach their destinations. This is real service. He was following the advice of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (In 8:12). Let us become the light in the life of others.

A small help from our part might change their lives. A kind smile, and comforting word etc. can go a long way in changing the life of somebody. There may be students who have no money to pay their fees. There are people who have no money to buy food and clothes. Let us help them in our own humble ways. “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good” (Lk 6:45). Gandhiji had said that it was the Bible that helped him to formulate his non-violent creed. The teachings of the Bible influenced him, Instructions like. “Don’t hate your enemy,” “If somebody slaps you on one cheek, show him the other,” “Love your enemies,” “Pray for those who persecute you,” etc. impressed him greatly. “Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light” (1 Jn 2:10). (Courtesy: Vachanolsavam)

November 6, 2016

Do you take miracles for granted? There is a fable about a man who was riding through a desert in the night. As he was riding, in the middle of the desert he heard a deep voice ordering him to get off his animal and pick some gravel. He did as the voice had ordered him. Then the voice came again and asked him to mount and start riding again. “Tomorrow morning you will feel happy,” the voice said. “But if you don’t think, you will feel sad.” The voice added. The traveller did not bother to think about anything and started on his journey again. After a long weary night across the desert he saw the early rays of the rising sun. Gradually as the sunlight became bright enough to see things around, he looked at the gravel he had picked. Then only he realized that he had picked not gravel but very precious gems of a rare variety. He was elated, but instantly felt very sad for not bringing more gems with him. It was too late and too far for him to go back and fetch the gems in the desert. Are not we also sometimes like that traveller? See how many things we lose and miss out in life because we do not think about the wonder of life. We are surrounded by miracles but we do not appreciate them. We do not even notice them for we are blinded by our busy schedules. Yes, we are experts at taking things for granted. Taking things for granted is like treading on gems thinking they are gravel. Just take a pen and scribble the things, opportunities and people you take for granted in this journey of life. Your loving parents, who took care of you, fed and nourished you and sacrificed their very best of everything to bring you up to what you are today! Your loving husband or wife who is with you through thick and thin, loving you, supporting you and sharing your life! Your children who stand by you to strengthen you and console you when you are week and feeble! Think of your job, whatever it may be, that helps you have food on your table. Think of your talents, abilities and special skills. Think of your home, your bed that gives you rest, the flowers and birds in your front yard, the smell of tea in the morning. Your teachers, family members, kith and kin, friends and even acquaintances! Do you take time to think of them, appreciate them, or are you simply taking them for granted? All these things are miracles sent by God. If you are blind to see these miracles and continue to take things for granted, you will be sad like the traveler in the desert. Recognize the gems in your life, appreciate them and give due respect, love, and care. Don’t leave room for sadness. Start now, you will be happy. Mind you, tomorrow may be too late. Michael Angelo Fernando

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Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength

to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. (Lk. 21:36)



First Reading. 2 Macc. 7:1,2,9-14. A mother and her seven children are arrested and are tortured. The mother encouraged her children to remain faithful to God, and the children willingly offered their lives for their faith. Second Reading. 2Thess.2:16-3:5. St. Paul prays for the converts that their faith may be safeguarded and that the Lord who called him would continue to shower His blessings upon them so that they would continue to shower His blessings, upon them so that they would continue to serve Him.

Gospel. Lk. 20:27, 34-38. The Sadducees who did not accept the resurrection questioned Jesus about the seven brothers who got married to the same woman after the death of their brothers. “To whom does the wife belong after the resurrection?” They asked. They do not realize that the state of the life after is completely different from the present one. For, they do not die any more.

Reflection. Today’s readings endeavor to prepare us for the life after. This life is much more valuable than the present one on earth. But this has to be won by sweat and blood. It is unlike the life here on earth. It is much more different and is worth dying for it. St. Paul in the second reading prays and begs God to shower this grace as coming down from heaven. He prays for the converts and in turn requests them to pray for him, in order that he will be strong enough to fight the evil one. For, it is the evil one that can destroy the relationship between God and man. Once this relationship is destroyed there is no way of attaining eternal life. Therefore constant prayer is needed if one were to remain faithful to God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ His Son. Therefore let us pray that the Lord will save us from the evil one and give us eternal life where every tear will be wipe away and death will not have power.

November 6, 2016

Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

But this eternal life cannot be had free; we have to sweat and labour for it. In other words we have to get it the hard way. At times we will have to be totally dedicated and even offer our lives for it. In the First Reading we see the mother of the Maccabee brothers asking them to offer their lives to gain eternal life. The Maccabees were asked to eat flesh of swine which was then forbidden by their religious law. They preferred to offer up their lives rather, than become unfaithful to God, thus securing a place in heaven. The cost of faith here was death. Anything is worth as long as it gives us eternal life. Therefore let us too seek eternal life rather than pleasure on earth. Let us do it the hard way. The life hereafter is quite different from the life here on earth. We do like to live our earthly lives. But the fruits of the life after death are great and are much more valuable. People here on earth get married and give in marriage but in heaven it is quite different as in heaven people neither marry nor give in marriage; for they do not die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God. Being Sons of the resurrection and as our God is a living God. Living with Him is much more valuable than living on earth with our dear and loved ones. That is the reason why we ought to live a life worthy of the Lord, so that we will be able one day to live in the presence of God as that life is eternal. Let us do it by living a life faithful and a witnessing one. Aid Story 1. Two Christian women brought before a Roman prefect were ordered to renounce their faith and worship the gods. They courageously refused and the prefect had a brazier lighted before the gods and said to them, “either you burn incense before our god or you will be burned in this fire.” The two martyrs replied without one moment’s hesitation. “We do not fear this fire which will soon go out, but we do fear hell’s that will never be extinguished and so as not to end up there we detest your idols and worship Jesus Christ.” Both

women suffered martyrdom in the year 258.

Aid Story 2. There is nothing to worry about the life after. Everything that, you worship. Pray for and cherish or become slaves of while on this earth will be freely available in your life after. There will be money bundles and bundles you only have to grab them to find that the amount is not printed, There will be vehicles you only have to get in and put the key and start only to find that there is no engines, there will be big houses, you only have to open the front door to find only the front wall is there. Racks and racks of different kinds of liquor bottles you only have to take the kind you love to find the bottles are without a bottom. That will be the burning; the hells fire for those who live a sinful and a slavish life of the world. Rev. Fr. Ciswan De Croos

“He is not God of the dead, but of the living”

By Rev. Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi

1. “Some Sadducees…” The Sadducees are the heads of the people. They take their name from Zadok, a priest of David. They are from the priestly aristocratic class, centred in Jerusalem. The Sadducees accept as divine revelation only the Writings of Moses – that is, the Pentateuch, the first five Books of the Old Testament. They deny the gradual development of the biblical revelation – that is, the other books of the Old Testament. The Sadducees deny the resurrection of the dead because, according to them, this object of faith doesn’t make part of the Pentateuch. They believe that with death the person is totally destroyed and hence, there is no life after death.

2. “Moses wrote for us…” To ridicule the faith in the resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees quote the Levirate marriage in Deuteronomy 25, 5-10. According to the law of the levirate, the brother or the next of kin of the deceased without children has to marry the widow. Why? That is to assure to the deceased a descent (his children are considered legally the children of the dead one) or to continue the family line of the dead brother; to assure a husband to the woman since women depend on their husbands for their sustenance; and to assure that the family property is preserved in the same family. This Levirate law was exercised in the cases of Tamar (Genesis 38), Ruth (Ruth 4) and Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, widow of seven husbands whom Tobiah of the same tribe marries finally (Tobit 7). The case proposed to Jesus by the Sadducees reminds us of this story of Sarah. 3. “The coming age” Jesus chides the Sadducees for knowing neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. He rejects

their naïve understanding regarding the resurrection. He argues that the life of those raised from the dead would not be essentially a continuation of the type of life they had before death. The sexual relationships of this world will be transcended. The risen body will be the work of the creative power of God.

4. “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob…” T he Sadducees underline their point of view quoting Moses that they accept as the Sacred Writing. It is quoting Moses that Jesus disproves their matter and confirms the reality of the resurrection. In Exodus 3, we find that the Lord reveals Himself to Moses with these words, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Hence the Patriarchs, who died centuries ago, live on in God and for God, the God of the living. Thus Jesus rightly demonstrates from the Scriptures, accepted by the rival Sadducees, the fact of the resurrection of the dead.

5. A little girl bounced excitedly up the airport ramp to board a plane. “Where are you going?” her mother asked. Without missing a bounce, she said, “To Granny’s! To Granny’s! To Granny’s!” The girl’s answer illustrates Jesus’ point about the afterlife. What is afterlife? It is more than a place. It is a Person – the ‘Three Personned God’ (in the poetic words of John Donne in ‘Batter my heart, Three Personned God’). “He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” We go to Him, the living God and God of the living. That’s what happens after death. That’s what the afterlife is.

6. Materialism and nihilism – the modern day Sadduceism – may deny the afterlife. But we strongly believe in it and our faith is rational and intelligible. Jesus rose from the dead. He appeared to His disciples. The Eucharistic Miracles have taken place all over the world and all over the centuries. Mary and other Saints have appeared to many from time to time. People have gone through NDE (Near Death Experience). They have also experienced God’s help in their dire difficulties through the intercession of Saints, so near and dear. All these

(Luke 20, 27-38)

point to the intelligibility of what we believe as Catholics – life after death. Jesus is alive. So are Mary and other Saints. “He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

7. This was how Rev. Fr. Claver Perera, our Magister Spiritus in the National Seminary, Kandy, saw afterlife in his poetic and intuitive insight (Seasoned Timber, 341): “Moving beyond boundaries That remove entrenched fence, The time grows short: The arms of love Stretch out to embrace, The kiss plants youth upon the soul. The dreams of childhood Break into radiant outlines: Fluctuations stretched out Into home forever bright” Liturgical Calendar Year C 6th Nov. - 13th Nov. 2016

Sun: 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2 Mac. 7:1-2,9-14; 2 Thes.2:16-3:5; Lk.20:27-38 (or 27:34-38) Mon: Tit. 1:1-9; Lk.17:1-6 Tue: Tit.2:1-8, 11-14; Lk.17:7-10 Wed: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Ex. 47:1-2,8-9,12 or 1 Cor. 3:9c-11,16-17; Jn. 2:13-22 Thu: Memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope & Doctor Phm. 7-20; Lk.17:20-25 Fri: Memorial of St. Martin of Tours, Bishop 2 Jn. 4-9; Lk. 17:26-37 Sat: Memorial of St. Josephat, Bishop & Martyr 3 Jn.5-8; Lk.18:1-8 Sun: 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Mal. 3:19-20a; 2 Thes. 3:7-12; Lk.21:5-19

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Children / Youth

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November 6, 2016

With God alone christian unity is possible, Pope says in sweden

Hours after landing in Sweden Pope Francis said that without God we can do nothing, but with him Catholics and Lutherans can work toward greater unity – not in order to forget the past, but to heal it so all Christians can be better witnesses of God’s mercy. Jesus reminds us: ‘Apart from me, you can do nothing.’ He is the one who sustains us and spurs us on to find ways to make our unity ever more visible,” the Pope said. “Certainly, our separation has been an immense source of suffering and misunderstanding, yet it has also led us to recognize honestly that without him we can do nothing; in this way it has enabled us to understand better some aspects of our faith.” The Pope’s homily was made jointly with a sermon by Rev. Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, during a common prayer service between Lutherans and Catholics at the Lund Cathedral in Sweden. Pope Francis was in Sweden from October 31-November 1, as part of a joint commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The contd. from Pg. 10

event also marks 50 years of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation. It is the first time a Pope has traveled to Scandinavia since St. John Paul II’s 1989 visit. Though only two days, following the ecumenical prayer at Lund’s Lutheran Cathedral, the trip also included a larger, primary ecumenical event at the Malmö Arena in Malmö. The two ecumenical events was followed by an outdoor Papal Mass the next day at the Swedbank Stadium in Malmö marking All Saints Day. The common prayer service included religious songs, scripture readings and prayers by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Pope Francis, alongside Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan, President of the Lutheran World Federation and Rev. Junge. During the service Catholics and Lutherans also read out five joint ecumenical commitments, including the commitment to always begin from a perspective of unity. Pope Francis and Bishop Younan then signed a joint statement together.

challenges to... Pope Francis in this encyclical appeals to governments and all agencies of good will and the Church organizations to help to preserve the fabric of family life, the smallest cell of the society from extinction. People of goodwill are invited to “make an effort to strengthen contd. from Pg. 3

The Pope’s sermon reflected on the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John, where it likens God the Father to the vine grower, “who tends and prunes the vine in order to make it bear more fruit.” Both sermons spoke about the image of the vine as indicating Christ’s desire for unity among his people. Just as Jesus, the “true vine,” is one with the Father, in order to bear fruit we must also be one with him, Pope Francis said. “The Father is constantly concerned for our relationship with Jesus, to see if we are truly one with him,” Pope Francis said. “He watches over us, and his gaze of love inspires us to purify our past and to work in the present to bring about the future of unity that he so greatly desires.” The words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper, “abide in me as I abide in you,” allow us to “peer into the heart of Christ just before his ultimate sacrifice on the cross,” he said. “We can feel His heart beating with love for us and His desire for the unity of all who believe in Him. He watches over us and His gaze of love inspires us to purify

Pope Francis met Sweden's Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf in Lund

our past and to work in the present to bring about the future of unity that he so greatly desires.” We must recognize, the Pope reminded, that the division existing between Catholics and Lutherans since the Reformation has been perpetuated throughout history by the powerful, while the intuition of the faithful is to yearn for unity. “Certainly, there was a sincere will on the part of both sides to profess and uphold the true faith, but at the same time we realize that we closed in on ourselves out of fear or bias with regard to the faith which others profess with a different accent and language.” Quoting St. John

mony the world expects from us,” the Pope said. As Christians we can only be credible witnesses of mercy to the extent that “forgiveness, renewal and reconciliation are daily experienced in our midst.” “This is what comforts us and inspires us to be one with Jesus, and thus to pray: ‘Grant us the gift of unity, so that the world may believe in the power of your mercy,’” he said. “Together we can proclaim and manifest God’s mercy, concretely and joyfully, by upholding and promoting the dignity of every person. Without this service to the world and in the world, Christian faith is incomplete.” CNA

the marriages to help married couples to overcome contd. from Pg. 9 their problems, to assist them in raising their children …and to encourage the stability of the marriage bond” (AL52). study the original surface of what is considered the (This is a summary of Chapter Two of the Papal encycli- most sacred site in Christianity". cal ‘Amoris Laetitia’ of Pope Francis, discussing the chalMajor restoration projectlenges facing the family) "My knees are shaking a little bit," Fred Hiebert,

and in helping them confront human weakness so that grace can deliver, give new life and heal.” The Pope called the unbreakable bond between theological ideal of matrimony that is too abstract, al- the Church and its sons and daughters the clearest witmost artificial, far from the concrete situation of fami- ness we have of God’s faithful and merciful love. lies and from what they are capable of in their day-toThe John Paul II Institute is tasked with supday lives. This excessive idealization, particularly when porting “the necessary openness of intelligence formed we haven’t reawakened any trust in grace, hasn’t made by faith in the service of the pastoral mission of Pematrimony more desirable and attractive, it has made ter’s Successor,” he told them, recalling the importance it less so. of pastors – and theologians – of “smelling like the The justice of God shines forth in His faithful- sheep”. ness to his promise, and the splendor of that faithful“Theology and pastoral care go hand in hand,” ness … is the mercy He bestows, Pope Francis com- he said. “Theological doctrine that doesn’t let itself be mented. directed and formed by its evangelizing purpose and by He stated that the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Church’s pastoral concerns is no less unthinkable the Family were in agreement about the need to broad- than pastoral activity that doesn’t know how to use reven the Church’s understanding of and love for the mys- elation and tradition to better understand the Faith and tery of human love that reveals God’s love for everyone preach it as Jesus commands.” and that Amoris laetitia mphasizes this wider underPope Francis concluded his address, saying the standing of love and calls on the whole People of God to Church's mission “must be rooted in the happiness that make the family dimension of the Church more visible faith brings and in the humility that marks joyful serand more effective. vice to the Church. The Church that is, not imaginary “Christian families should become proud of churches that we think should be. putting grace at the service of all those who, poor and “The living Church in which we live, the beautiabandoned, despair of ever finding it, or getting it back. ful Church to which we belong, the Church of the one Pastoral discourse today isn’t just about how far many Christians are from the ideal and the practice of the Lord and one Spirit to which we commit ourselves as Christian truth about matrimony and the family,” he servants who are 'worthless' but who offer their best to the Lord, the Church that we love so that all can love it, said. “Much more important is the idea of the the Church in which we feel ourselves loved more than Church’s 'closeness' – closeness to new generations of we deserve, and for which we are ready to sacrifice with married couples in making the Church’s blessing of the perfect happiness!” He said. EWTN matrimonial and family ever more central to their lives,

Theology and...

Paul II, Pope Francis said, “We must not allow ourselves to be guided by the intention of setting ourselves up as judges of history but solely by the motive of understanding better what happened and of becoming messengers of truth.” We shouldn’t be resigned to “division and distance,” but instead take this opportunity to mend a “critical moment” in Lutheran and Catholic history by moving beyond “controversies and disagreements,” he said. “Jesus intercedes for us as our mediator before the Father; he asks him that his disciples may be one, ‘so that the world may believe.’” “This is the testi-

Jesus's tomb...

an archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, said in a video on the magazine's website during the work at the shrine. A shrine was built in the 19th century over the site of the cave where Jesus is believed to have been buried before his resurrection and it is visited by throngs of tourists and pilgrims each day. Earlier this year, a major restoration project began on the site, surrounded by a structure called an edicule and located at the centre of the church in Jerusalem's Old City, underneath its dome. The project required the agreement of the various Christian denominations that share the church, which also contains the area where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and his body anointed. The restoration project is expected to be completed around March 2017, in time for Easter, and the site has remained open to visitors for nearly the entire time, although the ornate aedicule has been surrounded by scaffolding. Its marble slabs have weakened over the years, caused in part by the thousands of people who visit daily. The shrine is being painstakingly dismantled and rebuilt, the Custody of the Holy Land, which oversees Roman Catholic properties in the area, has said previously. Broken or fragile parts are to be replaced while marble slabs that can be preserved will be cleaned, and the structure supporting them will be reinforced. The work is being funded by the three main Christian denominations of the Holy Sepulchre -- Greek Orthodox, Franciscans and Armenians -- and by public and private contributions.

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Children / Youth

the Messenger

November 6, 2016

Mercy friday with children

a lollipop for the Pope

ope Francis chose to spend his 10th 'Mercy Friday' by surprising the children and young people hosted in a community for disadvantaged youth. At 3 PM on Friday, 14 October, the Holy Father gave quite a surprise to the young guests of the 'SOS Village' in Rome. The Pope learned that since 1987 the facility has provided temporary shelter to "children in conditions of personal, familial and socially disadvantaged conditions, on the recommendation of social services and the court". The youngsters did not hide their astonishment and joy at seeing the pope enter their home. The unexpected celebration unfolded without protocols, in an atmosphere of simple familiarity, In fact a two-and-a- half-year-old boy offered Francis his lollipop. The Pope who was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella - visited the facility, as the littlest guests took his hand to show him their rooms and even their favourite toys. Then they even took him outside, where there is a small soccer field and a playground. Francis took the opportunity to

encourage the teachers. "Your work is extremely important and special, because no child is born to grow up alone", he said. The Pope also asked about the assistance offered to the children and their families, and wanted to personally hear the story of each guest before embracing them. The director of the home stated that for everyone, "the Pope's visit was a great recognition after years of work and effort, and it was wonderful to feel chosen just for the real meaning of our work". The president of the association stated: "We are moved by the encounter with the Pope. He has given a tremendous gift to our children and young people, and this will be an unforgettable memory for them". The administrative staff explained that the Village "is comprised of five houses, in each of which are a maximum of six boys and girls up to the age of 12, along with a supervisor called an 'sos mom'". Basically, they told Francis, "the Village is structured so as to be able to follow and support the children as they grow, accompanying them like a real family through the various

Pannipitiya Youth cricket

A six-a-side cricket tournament for Pannipitiya Parish Youth teams was held recently at the Christ King College grounds. Youth teams from Pannipitiya, Homagama, Rakmalgama, Mattegoda, Dichethakma and Hokandara participated. The tounament was organised by the Pannipitiya Youth Movement. Homagama youth team became champions, they were awarded the Rev. Fr. Francis Fernando Memorial Trophy. Hokandara youth team became the runners-up. Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Tyrone Perera and Assitant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Chrishan Fernando distributed the awards.

Maris stella, st. Benedict's, st. Joseph's, champions

Maris Stella College Negombo emerged overall boys champions at the All Island School Games 2016 concluded recently in Kandy. Maris Stella scored 100 points to win the championship. In the recent school Athletic meets Maris Stella did well and won many championships. Maris Stella College has a good set of athletes backed by a dedicated coaching staff. This is the seventh successive year Maris Stella became overall champions. In the same games, St. Benedict's College, Kotahena became runners-up scoring 87 points. St. Benedict's most often dominated the boys relay events. They too have a proper training programme, with the coaching staff to guide the boys well. St. Joseph's College, Colombo is the champion school in major swimming meets this year. They achieved a rare fete by winning eleven swimming meets and became the first school in Sri Lanka to do so. Ruwan Manawadu head coach and manager should be commended for this success. Christoper Ranasinghe.

stages of growth and integration into society". The children are "accompanied to school, attend the parish and play sports". To accomplish this, "the professionals, residents, non-residents and volunteers who work in the centre follow the children for a period of several years, contributing to the creation of stable human relationships, which help them to achieve appropriate autonomy".

It is also significant that some of the young people choose to remain close to the structure, not only to have a reference point, but also to give a hand in the daily activities. One Eritrean boy said: "By now this is my home: I've been here for a long time. I never want to leave. I really love the people who work here". Courtesy: L'Osservatore Romano

JOHN PAUL THE SECOND

John Paul the second a pope who travelled far and wide, our heavenly Mother Mary was his loving model and guide. he gave great prominence to the Holy Rosary with delight, now we have the Luminous mysteries, the mysteries of the Light. Pilgrim Pope, Peace Pope, Pope John Paul II was lovingly called, appreciated even by people of other religious, young and old. Underwent great suffering in sickness and pain but yet, Lovingly forgave the man who shot him with a bullet. Taking the forgiving lesson taught yesterday, he wants us to live amicably today. eagerly caring and sharing for Christ everyday.

soft spoken Pope John Paul II great things he had dared. eucharistic year 2004 October to 2005 October he had declared. conscienciously he carried out his mission for twenty six years. objected strongly to abortion without any fear. nobly he lived and suffered and worked with ease Dear Lord in your love and mercy grant him eternal peace.

Emilda S. Douglas

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Children / Youth

the Messenger

November 6, 2016

Young World

first Place in inter school short film competition

Students of Grade 13 (Arts) of Good Shepherd Convent Panadura obtained the first place in the Inter School Short Film Competition, organized by Holy Family Convent, Kalutara for their short film ‘Ape Selvi’ (Our Selvi) created under the theme “We are human beings.” A special programme based on ‘Inculcating Human Values’ was held to mark the victory achieved by these students, on November 2. Sr. Sujani

annual Prize-giving of st. Benedict’s college, Kandy

a Day with the senior citizens To conclude the month of the Rosary the Legion of Mary of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo conducted a Rosary Meditation at St. Mary’s Home for the Elders in Maradana on October 28. Avishka M. Senewiratne-SJC

st. Joseph’s college celebrate rectors Day The Annual Prize Giving of St. Benedict’s College, Kandy was held recently under the patronage of the Chief Minister and Minister of Education of the Central Province Hon. Sarath Ekanayaka. The Guests of Honour were Their Lordships Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy and Rt. Rev. Dr. Cletus Perera OSB, Bishop of Ratnapura and Very Rev. Fr. Shamindra Jayawardene OSB, the Conventual Prior of the Sylvestro Benedictines in Sri Lanka. Rev. Fr. Clement Gnanapragasam OSB, the Rector of the College said in his address that the problem of school children visiting undesirable places after school or during school hours have to be taken note of by the parents. In some places children are prone to fights. The parents have to guide their children in a better way and prepare them to be future leaders, he said. Dilan M. G

The third Rector’s Day celebration of Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel as the 13th Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo took place recently. The preacher, Rev. Fr. Freely Muthukudaarachchi, Rector of St. Aloysius Seminary, Borella spoke on Fr. Travis’s service towards education for the past three decades and his care to the students.

After the Eucharistic celebration a band show took place in the

hfc Bambalapitiya, shines

All Island School Games 2016

National Youth Basketball Team

Manthila Gallassage and Dilumi Goonewardena

Koshila Amarasinghe of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya was placed first in the High Jump clearing 1.58 metres. in the Under 17 category, out of 38 schools participating at the All Island School Games 2016 held at the Bogambara Grounds in Kandy last month.

College Quadrangle. Avishka Mario Senewiratne SJC

were selected to represent the National Youth

Basketball Team. Manthila Gallassage was selected as

vice captain of the team. They will be playing for

the Under 18 FIBA Basketball Championships for women to be held in Thailand this month from the 13th-20th. They were selected from 80 players after 3 rounds of selections. This is the second year they have been selected to play for the National Youth Team.

MAGIS Trophy 2016 –Inter School Basketball Tournament Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya, emerged champions in the Under 14 category held last month held at the Jesuit Youth Centre, St. Xavier's Residence Akkarapanaha, Negombo.

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The Messenger Messenger

Children / Youth

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November 2016 November 06, 6, 2016

Language Study & English Grammar

�

Dear Readers, In our eighth lesson of this series of lessons let’s learn the poem When I Stop And Pray. The poet, William Robinson, in this poem shares his experience in prayer. The vocabulary is given to facilitate the reader to understand this wonderful poem. Activities are given with answers to make the reader familiar with the message of the poem. Comments made by some who appreciate this kind of poetry are edited and simpli�ied for the reader to be inspired by poems of this nature of having absolute faith in God. Do the activities suggested and learn how to appreciate a poem. Your comments are highly appreciated NJ

Figurative expressionist painter William Robinson is considered one of Australia’s foremost living artists. He is recognised for his unique interpretation of the Australian landscape as well as his whimsical portraits and narrative scenes. Robinson was born in Queensland in 1936 and began painting in the 1960s. His broad, detailed images of the Australian bushland emphasising the skewed perspective of the beholder are among the William Robinson. most recognisable images of the Australian landscape. His humorous and imaginative self-portraits were awarded the Archibald Prize in 1987 and 1995. A major retrospective of his work was held in 2001 at the Queensland Art Gallery. A monograph of his work was published in the same year. In 2009 the William Robinson Gallery was opened at the QUT campus in Old Government House

And my faith is ebbing low-When my trusted friends betray me, And my heart is aching so-When the night seems black and endless, And I long for light of day-Then I �ind a silver dawning, When I simply stop and pray. There are things beyond the heavens I can't begin to understand, But I know that God is living, And I know He holds my hand. Yes, I know He watches o'er me All the night and all the day-And He's always there to hear me When I simply stop and pray.

Vocabulary Storm – tempest, hurricane, gale Boil swelter, blister, simmer Lightning –sudden, electrostatic, discharge, that occurs, during, an electrical, storm Splitsruptures, breaks, rifts, rips, cracks Howlingviolent, whistling, wailing Assailsattacks, assaults, storms Rollingprogressing, continuing Filledfull, complete, packed Terrorfear, dread, fright, alarm Fearsworries, dreads, qualms Allaydispel, relieve, calm Confoundconfuse, muddle, stun Ebbingretreating, subsiding , receding Figurative- ˈfɪɡ(ə)rətɪv,-ɡjʊ-/adjective imaginative, fanciful, poetic, ornate, , literary, Trustedright-hand, reliable, principal symbolic, allegorical, representative, non-literal, , emblematic, metaphorical Betraydeceive, let down, grass Achingthrobbing, stinging, hurting Expressionist - An expressionist is an artist, writer, or composer who uses the style Endlessboundless, in�inite, limitless of expressionism and expressionism is a style of painting, music, or drama in which Dawningbeginning, start, emergence the artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality. Considered – ForemostArtistsRecognized – UniqueInterpretationLandscapeWhimsicalPortraits – NarrativeSkewed,PerspectiveBeholderHumourousAwarded- given, RetrospectiveMonograph-

regarded, viewed, leading, top, performers, entertainers renowned, accepted, sole, distinctive, clari�ication, explanation scenery, setting, quirky, unusual, representations, sketches, descriptive, evocative, tilted, twisted, viewpoint, standpoint, seer, viewer, funny, amusing, bestowed , presented re�lective, nostalgic, book, paper,

watched principal,

known exceptional

backdrop creative depicts vivid cockeyed angle observer, hilarious

primary

onlooker

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1.What is William Robinson recognised for? 2.Where was he born? 3.When did he begin painting? 4.William was awarded the Archibald Prize twice. When was it? 5.What was held in 2001? Images of when I stop and pray

Activity 2 Read the poem and do the activities recommended

When the things of life confound me,

1. When the poet is extremely sad where does he �ind comfort? 2.When the poet is confused and when his trusted friends betray him and his heart aches and the night seems to be black and endless when will he �ind a silver dawning? 3. What does the poet know about God? 4. In each stanza one line does not rhyme with any other lines of the same stanza. What are they?

Activity 3- Gere are some of the comments about this poem made by outstanding critics. Read them and make your own comment.

Activity 1 – Read the text and answer the questions

WHEN I STOP AND PRAY William Robinson. When the storm clouds boil around me, And the lightning splits the sky--. When the howling wind assails me, And life's sea is rolling high-When my heart is �illed with terror, And my fears, I can't allay-Then I �ind sweet peace and comfort, When I simply stop and pray.

Activity 2- Read the poem and answer the questions given

1. Sometimes I still have to go back to this poem and read it again and again. This is one that has gotten me through the toughest times in my life. I really appreciate this. It is truly a blessing to me and to others that I have shared it with. 2. This is beautifully serene; I read this and feel its sincerity and calm. I miss your kindness, wisdom, and integrity. You are a loved and cherished founder of this community. 3. William, I enjoyed your poem. You write the poetry of faith and love. What would we do without prayer? How could we survive without the direction and love of God? 4.The simplicity of thought of this poem and the reality of the answer to stop and pray as the solution is what I appreciate in this poem 5. When I am overwhelm and feeling sad I pray. Prayer is the key and faith unlocks the door. Prayer is a powerful weapon and thanks so much for reminding me of that 6. What an excellent piece of verse! Indeed...what an excellent prayer this would make in itself. 7 An inspiring poem, effortless rhyming worth, memorising would come in handy when low in spirit 8. A lyrical and enthralling poem. I couldn't get enough of reading it. I will for sure come back to it over and over again 9. What an inspiring, interesting and moving poem! Great piece of art 10. A lovely piece of art , thoughtful and well-constructed Activity 1 answers – (1) He is recognised for his unique interpretation of the Australian landscape as well as his whimsical portraits and narrative scenes. (2) Robinson was born in Queensland. in 1936 (3) He began painting in the 1960s. (4) in 1987 and 1995 (5) A major retrospective of his work was held in 2001.

Activity 2 – answers (1) he �inds comfort in prayer (2) When the poet is confused and when his trusted friends betray him and his heart aches and the night seems to be black and endless he will he �ind a silver dawning when he simply stops and prays. (3) He knows that God is living, He holds my hand. He watches o'er him all the night and all the day and He's always there to hear him (4) Fist Stanza �ifth line and seventh line, Second stanza �ifth and seventh line and the third stanza �irst line and third line

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Compiled by Noel Jayamanne