Pastoral Visitation of His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe to the Shrine of Our Lady of Matara
From 8th January to 10th January 2012
His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe the Bishop of Galle made his first pastoral visitation for this year to the Shrine of Our Lady of Matara, at the close of the first week of the first month of the New Year 2012. This visitation was very much significant to the Catholic community in Matara since a replica of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Matara which had been sculpted in the USA and brought to Sri Lanka by the Administrator Rev. Fr. Charles Hewawasam, was brought ceremoniously and installed in the Shrine marking the beginning of the Pastoral Visitation of His Lordship to the Shrine.
In addition to the parishioners a considerable number of pilgrims had gathered to participate in the inaugural Holy Mass on Sunday 8th of January 2012. In the homily His Lordship addressed the faithful appealing to them to be rooted in the Sacramental life of the Church. Further he brought to the notice of the faithful that as the infant Jesus manifested Himself to the Magi and as they in turn testified to the Joyful mystery of incarnation, today as we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, we are called to bear the same testimony to that Joyful mystery. By sincere adherence to the Sacred Scripture and to the Sacraments which bring us overflowing blessings and grace one can enter into the same experience of the Magi. With such words His Lordship strengthened the faithful and devotees who had flocked to at the Shrine of Our Lady.
At the end of the Holy Mass the replica of the miraculous stature of Our Lady of Matara was installed inside the left wing of the Church. His Lordship will remain at the Shrine until 10th evening and will meet with different associations and visit houses.
Fr. Jude Sampath Wilegoda
Secretary |
