Sri Lanka

Perpetual Adoration

A true Christian is one who believes that Jesus is alive in the Blessed Sacrament. Our relationship with one another helps us to understand the Heart of God. god, said "My delight is to dwell with you" and so "The word became Flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn.1:14)

St. John tells that His Unfathomable Love is such He instituted the Holy Eucharist that He may come into our hearts in the Blessed Sacrament "The new and everlasting Covenant, in fulfillment of His promise. " Know that I am with you always. Even to the end of the world." (Mt.28:20

Mother Theresa said that in 1963 they were making a weekly Holy Hour together but it was not until 1973 whenever they began their daily Holy Hour that their community started to grow and blossom.

Jesus explain to St. Faustina that each person coming before Him in the Blessed Sacrament represented ALL HUMANITY and win countless graces for many who are far away from God. A Holy Hour saves souls and brings many people to Heaven who otherwise would have been lost.

Jesus calls us to make REPARATION on behalf of all HIS PEOPLE and pray to the Divine Mercy that the Floodgates of His mercy could be opened upon the whole world.

The opportunity to meet Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament became a reality in our parish with the visit of Rev. Fr. Patric J Bary to the Dioceses of Kandy.

On the invitation of Rev. Fr. Anslem Fonseka, our Parish Priest. Fr. Patric J. Bary (MSLBS) of the Missionary Society of Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament addressed the Parish congregation on Sundays, held a series of meetings with coordinators and a decision was taken to set up a Chapel of Perpetual Adoration. Fr. Bary was permitted to have all night Adoration and vigil with the communities in various zones.

The programme began around 9.00PM with Holy Mass, a short homily on the need and urgency to adore Our Saviour in the Blessed Sacrament followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Faithful young, elderly and the children gathered in numbers for the night vigil which concluded at 5.00AM the following day with Holy Mass. Indeed it was a great blessing and a memorable experience for the community to participate in two Holy Eucharistic Celebrations and an all night vigil. Twelve such community programmes were conducted. The contribution received towards the construction of the Chapel was indeed a great encouragement and expression of the Parish Community to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until end of Times.

Jesus wants everyone to be saved. His Divine Mercy will forgive all our sins and He invites us, "Come to me for I will refresh you" Let us be gnerous with our time and going to meet Him in adoration. our Bishop Most. rev. Dr. Joseph Vianney Fernando on February 1st, 2003 inaugurated the Perpetual adoration after blessing the new chapel.

Raymond K. Gnanapragasam

Sacred Heart Church - Katugastota

The missionary zeal of the Benedictine fathers at St. Anthony's College drew them out of the class rooms to cater to the spiritual needs of the few Catholic families living in the vicinity. this was 50 years ago. The college Chapel or a room in one of the houses was their church for celebrating the Eucharist or administering the sacrament. Sensing the great prospects the Diocesan authority deemed it fit to carve out a parish territory and entrusted it to college Fathers. On 24th May 1953 the new parish of Katugastota, under the title of Sacred Heart was born. This year (2003) we celebrate its Golden Jubilee. looking back on the past 5 decades one can see a rapid growth in this parish. From a handful of Christian families to 680 with a rapid population of 2498 souls, from the college chapel to a beautiful church of unique architecture, with a multi storied edifice for various parish activities, enthusiastic and dedicated set of lay leaders, a church full of worshippers on Sundays liturgy, devout adorers of the Eucharistic Lord day and night, I consider myself privileged to be the Pastor of this parish at the jubilee year.

this parish has been served by so many of eminent monks and three diocesan priests, who have left lasting impressions in the hearts of the faithful.

Fr.D. Anslem Fonseka OSB

Parish Priest

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Sylvestro Benedictines in Katugastota

In 1926 the Sylvestro Benedictine Monks relocated the St. Anthony's College from Kandy city to a 25 acre block along the Mahaweli river for a better facilities for students. The school was opened to children of all castes and creeds. But the monks took special interest on the Catholics and their families, for education is to bring them up in faith too. This has to be done in an integral way. Teaching catechism in the classroom has to be supplemented with a Christian environment at home. Being zealous pastors the monks took trouble to visit the Christian families, provide them with Sunday worship and other sacraments.

As the Parish Church was in Kandy and no other churches available the College Chapel served as the centre for their worship.

It was Fr. Victor Rajanayagam OSB who mooted the idea of having a separate church for the public worship and began collecting funds, at the same time looking for a suitable land. With his transfer to the upcountry, there cane Fr. Boniface, who became the official parish priest at the opening of the new Parish on 24th May 1953, Pentecost Day, but there was no church, no mission house or even land to build a church. As there was no Parish church, College Chapel was to be also the Parish church and Fr. Boniface remained in the College. The Baptism registers of the parish show that almost all the Priests in College community were engaged in the Pastoral activities of the Parish, and the sacraments were administered in the College Chapel. Fr. George, who succeeded Fr. Boniface, brought a piece of land (Paddy field) 80 perches on 4th October 1955 for Rs. 8000/- from Mr. W. Alexander, at the entrance to Siyambalagastenna Road and made plans for a Parish Church. Fr. Romuald Balderelli, who had been the Superior Major of the Sylvestro Benedictines in Sri Lanka, completed his term of office in 1957 and was assigned to the Parish of Katugastota. He saw the need of a separate mission house and church. Residing at a rented house, built a parish house. As he had to leave the country to serve the new community in Australia, Fr. Theophane Wickramarathne took charge of the Parish. Almost immediately he began the construction of a church, with the material abandoned by the British Army.

Fr. Theophane was succeeded by another ex-Superior Major of the St. Sylvestre Benedictines - Fr. Gregory Phoebus in 1960. He put up a grotto with his personal patrimony. His sudden death in January 1964 ended the OSB fathers' administration of the parish. Till 1971 the parish was under the care of diocesan fathers - Frs. Felix de Silva and Gregory Fernando.

The next period of Benedictine administration began with Fr.Sebastian coming into the parish in mid 1971. During this period once again the OSB fathers from college community were helping in the running of the parish. It was during this period the congregation entered into an agreement with the diocese for mandated parishes. Katugastota was one of them (Padiwatte & Haputale being the other two) At the end of the period, the diocese wanted back Katugastota, Fr kingsley Silva came into the parish. However after one year, the parish was given back to the Benedictines. Fr. Benedict Jochim took charge of the parish in October 1983. During his tenure as Parish Priest, the church roof was raised, under the direct supervision of Rev. Fr. Theodore Peiris, the Vicar General of the Diocese. The original church built by Fr. Theophane had a unique architecture - symbol of Holy Trinity - Triangles; with the raising of the roof most of the triangles disappeared. Subsequently Paris Priests, brought about many improvements - thus Fr. Wulstan Fernando, built a parapet wall around the church property and began constructing the three-story building for the Sunday School. Fr.Bruno installed a granite alter with a beautiful Tabernacle and blessed it on 5th June 1990. He also made the sanctuary more spacious by removing the alter railings and supplied new satinwood pews. In 2002, rev. Fr. D.Cletus Perera completed the Sunday school building and enlarged the mission house.

OSB father who worked here have rendered yeoman service to the parish both spiritually and materially.

The monks community at St. Anthony's College, Kandy, not only educated the children of our parish, but has always been of assistance to the parish. The monastic community at Katugastota, engaged in both pastoral and educational apostolate has made a very significant contribution to the monastic life in Sri Lanka. It is strange but true that all the Major Superiors of the Sylvestro Benedictines monks in Sri Lanka have either come back or gone from here. The Parish had given two ex-parish priests and received three back from the Prioral seat at Monte Fano.

The congregation is also blessed with one vocation from the parish. We pray that many more monastic vocations well come forth from this parish, where the monks sweated from its very inception.

I.O.D.G.

Fr. Anslem Fonseka OSB