Vol. o1 : Issue. 03. Abide in love

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1 Vol. o1 : Issue. 03 Abide in love October 2014 January 2015

2 From the Editor s Desk Quarterly of the Sylvestro-Benedictines in Sri Lanka October 2014 January 2015 Editor Rev. Fr. Soosai Nathan OSB Editorial Board Rev. Fr. Tyrell Alles OSB Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundera OSB Rev. Bro. Kanishka Perera OSB Address: St. Sylvester s Monastery, Monte Fano Ampitiya (Kandy) Tel: (+94) This bulletin carries a series of significant events both in the Priory and the Church at large. The dawn of New Year 2015 brings along renewed hope and vigor among all Christians in Sri Lanka. More importantly, the Pastoral Visit of Our Chief Shepherd Pope Francis combined with the longour Apostle; Blessed awaited canonization of Joseph Vaz gives us a new impetus for a renewal within. Pope Francis in all his messages urged all Sri Lankans to build peacee and unity among all religions and races. In addition, our Holy Mother Church declaring this Year as the Year of Consecrated Life makes yet an intense call for a review of monastic life within the context of the Church in Sri Lanka. Let us hope that these historic events calling for renewal may not go unheeded on the part of the Faithful. Let me also thank all those monks for their goodwill in sending their contributions by way of news items. montefano@yahoo.com Fb: trobenedictinessrilanka Web: From our Conventual Prior Dear Friends, As we begin a New Year we are filled with hope and enthusiasm. The name "January" comes from the Roman god Janus, the god with two faces, one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. This is indeedd a time to look back at the year that has just ended and to look forward to the New Year ahead of us. How did I spend this one year of my life that has just passed? Did I use it to advance my goals and objectives in life? Did I use it to enhance the purpose of my existence?

3 Could I have done better last year in the way I invested my time between the demands of work, community, friends and society, and the demands of my spiritual life? What things did I achieve last year and what did I fail to achieve? How can I consolidate the achievements of last year while reversing the failures and losses in this New Year? Through soul searching questions like these we find that a review of the past year naturally leads to setting goals and resolutions for the New Year. There are people who tell you that there is no point making New Year resolutions. Do not believe them. We must set goals and make resolutions as a necessary conclusion to our review of the past year. And we do need to review our lives from year to year because, as Socrates says, the unexamined life is not worth living. This year is a year of blessings to all of us Christians as we welcomed the Holy Father, Pope Francis and witnessed the beloved Apostle of our Island, Bl. Joseph Vaz being canonized. We remind ourselves that we are in the Year of the Consecrated Life. Let us never forget the 3 aims of the Year of Consecrated Life proposed to us by the Pope: to look to the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion and to embrace the future with hope. The three key words are Gratitude, Passion, and Hope. A religious and a monk should be a man of gratitude, a man of passion, and a man of hope. Let us make it our primary goal during this year. From these key words I have taken the word passion to guide us during the year Let us be passionate to follow the Lord, passionate to be like Jesus, passionate to spread his love, passionate to evangelize, passionate to be grateful and passionate to be hopeful: nothing great can be achieved without passion (Paschal). May God bless you! Fr. Shamindra Jayawardena OSB Formation Apostolate The Vision and Mission Statement of the Sylvestro Benedictine Monks in Sri Lanka Charism - Motto - Quaerere Deum: We seek God through Solitude, Community and Ministry Ora et Labora Vision Statement - Seeking God, Serving the Church. This means We are monks whose calling is to seek God alone with the most absolute and uncompromising singleness of heart. As the word (monachus) implies, we have one

4 and singular purpose: God, and to remain for Him alone. Therefore we desire only one thing: to give God glory in all things (Ut in Omnibus Glorificetur Deus) We are united by our monastic profession of Stability, Conversion of Manners and Obedience (stabilitate sua et conversatione morum suorum et obedientia) according to the Rule of Saint Benedict as lived by St. Sylvester and the tradition of the Sylvestrine Congregation. We create space for God to act through Solitude, Community and Ministry while endeavoring at all times to start afresh from Christ. We wish to wake up the world by sharing with others the joyful experience of meeting the Lord and by striving to respond to the needs of the Church and challenges of our times while being rooted in the living tradition of St. Sylvester s Priory of Sri Lanka. We stand in awe as we recount the magnificent work God has wrought through the achievements of our pioneering monks now written in glorious pages in the history of the Church in Sri Lanka. We look at the future full of hope and faith in the Lord who invites us to put into the deep (Duc in altum). Our hearts burn with zeal to go forth and evangelize as we look forward doing even greater things with an unwavering eagerness towards a history still to be accomplished. We are committed to the quest for peace, often achieved at a greater cost: through a crown of thorns (pax inter spinas) We are happy to remind ourselves that as monks we are lovers of God, brethren and place (amatores Dei, fratrum et loci) Mission Statement - To spread the Joy of the Gospel through Prayer, Work and Common Life This means We are faithful to the Benedictine Triplet of meditation on the Word (Lectio Divina), Celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours (Opus Dei), and daily work (Opus Manuum) while centering our lives on the Celebration of the Eucharist We aspire to be a caring, a hospitable and a witnessing monastic community by creating stronger bonds of fraternity, mutual respect and forgiving behaviours. We want to be committed educators, inspired by the Benedictine culture of education, empowering the young to appreciate the value of learning and the pursuit of the truth while striving for excellence in all endeavours: academic, sporting and cultural. We wish to be zealous pastors through the ministry of worship (dignified and solemn celebration of the Sacred Liturgy), the ministry of the Word (communicate God s Word) and the ministry of shepherding (evangelization) by refashioning of the Christian community to form a participatory Church which is a new way of being Church that reaches out in love to the fringes (periphery and frontiers) of the human society in search of the lost, the down-trodden and the marginalized.

5 Education Apostolate Felicitation of Five Soldiers at St. Anthony s College St. Anthony's College, Kandy recently felicitated five of their old Antonians who have risen to the rank of Major Generals in the Sri Lanka Army. The felicitation ceremony was held on 30 th September at St. Anthony's College, Kandy. The event was organized to recognize the yeomen services rendered by them to our nation, especially during the war in the past three decades. They were Maj.Gen. S.W.L. Daulagala, Maj.Gen. M.A.M. Dias, Maj.Gen. K.M.U. Wijerathne, Maj. Gen. K.C. Gunawardena and Maj. Gen. P.W.B. Jayasundara. A special guard-of-honour was accorded. It was followed by a special ceremony at the College hall. Mementoes too were presented to the five distinguished Old Antonians by the Rector Rev.Fr. Henry Bernard Wijeratne. A large number of students, special invitees, family members of the five generals, parents, teachers, priests and Old Antonians were present at the function. Parish Apostolate Feast of St. Jude, Galewela The Annual Feast of St.Jude Thaddeus in Galewela, a substation of the parish of Wahakotte was celebrated on 4 th and 5 th October 2014 beginning with four-day preparatory novenas. With the view of enhancing religious harmony among major religions, Fr. Suren Peter, the Priest in Charge organized an Utsava Sabawa (Religious Leaders Get-Together) in which a sizable number of participants were in attendance. The Vespers was presided over by Fr. Yovan Saverimuttu OSB, Parish Priest of Wahakotte and the Festive Mass, by Rev. Fr. Shamindra Jayawardene OSB who was also welcomed by the parishioners as Priorr Major of the Sylvestro- Benedictines.

6 Feast of Our Lady of Rosary, Mahawela The church of Our Lady of Holy Rosary, Mahawela, a sub-station of Wahakotte parish celebrated its annual feast on 11th & 12th Oct This architecturally imposing little church, located at an elevated position, is the envy of many specially the Buddhist community in the vicinity. The church consists of a catholic community of families, mostly occupying the church land and others in little pockets scattered in not too far distance. The Vespers was officiated by Rev. Fr. Yovan Saverimuttu OSB, the Parish Priest of Wahakotte Shrine and Festive Mass by Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundera OSB, Rector of the primary department of St. Anthony s College, Kandy. The Eucharistic Celebration came to a close with a colourful procession, carrying the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Holy Rosary along the street. Feast of St. Joseph Vaz at Wahakotte The parish community of St. Anthony s shrine, Wahakotte celebrated the 1st feast of the newly declared Saint and apostle of Sri Lanka. St. Joseph Vaz on Sunday 18 th January under the patronage of Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy. The Catholic community of Wahakotte owns granite cross believed to be planted by the saint himself in the place where he celebrated the Holy Eucharist. It is also believed that since then the Catholics came there and prayed for the intercessions of the St. Joseph Vaz. This service of thanks giving thus marked their gratitude to the Catholic Church for declaring their beloved Blessed Jeoseph Vaz a saint. This Holy Eucharist which was celebrated on 18 th of January was attended by a number of priests, brothers and parishioners and was conducted by a short procession, carrying the statue of St. Joseph Vaz. In focus Pope Francis officially declares an "Year of Consecrated Life" in the Catholic Church In his Apostolic Letter to all consecrated people, Pope Francis gave an overview of the Year of Consecrated Life: In response to requests from many of you and from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, I decided to proclaim a Year of Consecrated Life on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), which speaks of religious in its sixth chapter, and of the Decree on the renewal of religious life (Perfectae Caritatis). The Year will begin on 30 th November 2014, the First Sunday of Advent, and conclude with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on 2 nd February After consultation with the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, I have chosen as the aims of this Year the same ones which Saint

7 John Paul II proposed to the whole Church at the beginning of the third millennium, reiterating, in a certain sense, what he had earlier written in the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata: You have not only a glorious history to remember and to recount, but also a great history still to be accomplished! Look to the future, where the Spirit is sending you in order to do even greater things (No. 110). Aims of the Year of Consecrated Life 1. To look to the past with gratitude 2. To live the present with passion 3. To embrace the future with hope

8 Feast of St. Sylvester Golden jubilee of Fr. Stephen Abraham OSB

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10 Pope Francis challenges the Consecrated Life. Year of Consecrated Life: Leave your Nests and bring the Gospel to the peripheries Religious men and women are called to leave their nest and bring the Gospel to the peripheries, said Pope Francis in a video message marking the vigil of the Year for Consecrated Life. The Holy Father used the occasion to give thanks to God for the precious gift of the consecrated life to the Church and the world. The video message was delivered on Nov. 29 to members of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, gathered together in Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The Year for Consecrated Life begins Nov. 30, the first Sunday of Advent, and concludes Feb. 2, This is a 'special time' for celebrating, with all the Church, the gift of your vocation and for reviving your prophetic mission, Pope Francis said. He reminded consecrated persons to wake the world up! by placing Christ at the center of your existence, seeking him constantly. Pope Francis recalled how members of the consecrated life allowed themselves to be touched by Christ's hand, guided by his voice, sustained by his grace, acknowledging it is not easy. He called on them to always use the Gospel as their starting point, translated into daily gestures marked by simplicity and coherence, avoiding the temptation to transform it into an ideology. The Gospel keeps your life and mission 'young', thus keeping them current and attractive. Pope Francis reminded consecrated men and women of their call to be 'living exegeses' of the Gospel, which is the foundation and final reference point of your life and mission. Leave your nest, and go out to the peripheries of today's men and women! he said. By allowing oneself to be encountered by Christ, He in turn will push you toward an encounter with others, and bring you to the most in need, the poorest. Pope Francis concluded by invoking the intercession of Mary, women in contemplation of God's mystery in the world and history, ready to help others. May she accompany us in this Year for the Consecrated life, as we are placed beneath her maternal gaze.

11 His Holiness Pope Francis visits His Flock. Welcome to Sri Lanka Our Holy Father, Pope Francis: Our Universal Shepherd His Holiness Pope Francis arrived in the Island on 13th January 2014 amidst much pomp and pageantry. His brief and historic visit to Sri Lanka from 13th 15th is not merely of a pastoral nature but, more importantly a visit coincided with the long-awaited canonization of Our Blessed Apostle Joseph Vaz. It gives immense joy to every Sri Lankan who had been for some time preparing spiritually for this memorable event. Pope Francis is loved by all, both young and old and, above all his predecessors he is known for his simplicity of life and considered a genuine catalyst to transform the image of the Catholic Church in the modern world. His visit to Sri Lanka was preceded by the Presidential Election in which His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena was elected the Executive President of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka. We firmly believe that his historic visit has in fact created an immediate impact not only on the Catholic Church but also on the political arena as well. His Holiness was received at the Banadaranayake International Airport by the incumbent President His Excellency Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister, Honorable Ranil Wickremasinghe, Former President, Honorable Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunge, Members of Parliament, Government Dignitaries, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo and the local bishops. After a brief Welcome Ceremony at the Airport, he was taken in a parade along the Negombo-Colombo Road with people from all walks of life on either side of the road greeting His Holiness waving flags which was indeed a sensational sight to watch. It is believed that the highlight of his Visit: His Holy Mass on 14th in which Blessed Joseph Vaz was canonized the First Saint of Sri Lanka, drew the biggest turnout in the Sri Lankan history, amounting to eight hundred thousand people at the Galle Face Green. Pope s Surprise Visit to a Buddhist Temple in Maradana One of the noteworthy features of His Holiness Pope Francis visit was his surprise visit to Sri Mahabodhi Templee in Maradana on the invitation of the Chief Prelate Most Ven. Banagalaa Upatissa Nayake Thera who had met the Pope at the Airport. Marking his visit, the Chief Prelate along with other monks had a special exposition of the relics of the Lord Buddha s chief disciples. This cordial meeting, along with his meeting with the religious leaders at the BMICH has certainly made an impact on promoting interreligious dialogue the Pope is genuinely interested in.

12 This was followed up by his visit to the hallowed Shrine of Madhu, in the Mannar diocese where three hundred thousand people turned out for the prayer service. His Holiness, entrusting into the maternal care of Our Blessed Mother those faithful who were wounded by tragic incidents of the civil war, assured them of her continued presence in times to come too. The prayer service concluded with the Priest in charge of Madhu Shrine presenting to His Holiness a replica of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Madhu. Sylvestro-Benedictines celebrate their Patronal Feast The Solemnity of Our Holy Patriarch St. Sylvester was celebrated in the Sri Lankan Priory on 25th and 26th November 2014 in a grand scale. Saint Sylvester, renouncing all worldly allurements at his earliest age and seeking solitude and deep communion with God himself founded his first monastery with few disciples in Fabriano in a mystic atmosphere, surrounded with an imposing range of mountains. Inspired by missionary zeal and fervor, Mons. Joseph Maria Bravi, the first Sylvestrine monk, on his arrival in this picturesque Island began his initiatives and endeavors which paved the way for many more dedicated Sylvestrine monks in the course of time to continue the mission in the same vein. With the dawning of the Sylvestrine era, the depleted local church was once again revitalized. The architecturally well designed church buildings and imposing cathedrals especially in the Southern and Central vicariates still carry the age-old memories of those Sylvestrine monks whose tireless service to the local church is beyond comparison. Hence, it is apt that we, the Sylvestrine monks as one family pay our homage to our Founder whose monastic charism still recurs in the hearts of all of us. The preparation for the feast took off with a triduum(three days) liturgical service, conducted by three young monks of the Priory and then, in keeping with our monastic tradition, it was followed up with the solemn singing of Vespers in Latin. The significant feature at Vespers was the inauguration of Year of Consecrated Life on a congregational level by Very Rev. Fr. Shamindraa Jayawardena OSB, Prior Major. The Festive Mass commenced with Prior Major, welcoming His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, The Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka, at the entrance to the Monastery, accompanied by Kandyan dancers. The concelebrated Eucharist was officiated by His Excellency, assisted by their Lordships: Bishop Vianney Fernando and Bishop Cletus Perera OSB and priests, both diocesan and religious along with the participation of religious nuns and lay faithful. Let us pray that through the powerful intercession of St. Sylvester, we, the Sylvestro-Benedictine monks at present may strive more intensely to conform to his way of life. Rev. Fr. Stephen Abraham OSB reaches another Milestone. Rev. Fr. Stephen Abraham OSB, an eminent Sylvestrine monk, reached another milestone as he approached the Altar of God to celebrate the Holy Eucharist on his Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination on 17 December 2014 at St. Sylvester s Monastery, Ampitiya, Kandy. Fr. Stephen, hailing from a devout catholic family from Dematagoda,had his early education at Dematagoda and secondary at Joseph s College, Maradana and on completion of

13 his education, his family situation compelled him to be employed at Directorate of Civil Aviation and then at Bank of Ceylon as a Clerk. With all his experience outside in the world, he was able to discern his vocation to Religious life at a later stage of his life and thus entered St. Sylvester s Monastery, Ampitiya in Having completed both his philosophical and theological studies in the National Seminary, Ampitiya, he was ordained priest on 17 December 1964 at the hands of Most Rt. Rev. Dr. Bernard Regno OSB, then the Bishop of Kandy. Since then, he has served in the congregation in various capacities and more importantly in the field of education. His tenure of office at St. Anthony s College. Kandy, as its Principal was the crux of his priestly ministry which is beyond comparison. Pupils both young and old still recall their past memories of their association with him. Being a strict disciplinarian and educationist he was able to guide the destinies of this leading institution in Kandy for fifteen years. Amidst great challenges and difficulties of his time, his sheer determination and power earned him innumerable admiration from the people. Hence, it is apt that we felicitate a monk of this caliber: a gift of God both to the Sylvestro -Benedictine Congregation and the Local Church. The day s agenda took off with a concelebrated Eucharist with a large crowd in attendance comprising of His Lordship bishop Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy, priests, religious and the family members and his well wishers and then it was followed up with a felicitation ceremony organized by the Priory. The envisaged programme was unfortunately hampered by the inclement weather all throughout the day. In paying their deepest respect and love to Fr. Stephen, the Old Boys of St. Anthony s College organized separately a series of celebrations marking his jubilee. We wish Fr. Stephen many more years of good health and service to the Lord. Christmas Get-together The Priory Christmas Get-Together was organized on 17th December 2014 at 6.30 p.m, with almost all the monks in attendance. Such a sensational atmosphere of our joining the Holy Angels of Heaven singing praise to God for the gift of his Son in human flesh gives us innumerable assurance of how much God loves us as one Priory. The monks joined hands with one another in singing in unison and proclaiming the message of truth to the world. It was a wonderful atmosphere of love and unity when they exchanged Christmas gifts with one another sharing the message of Christmas. The program ended with a festive dinner. Fr. Anselm Fonseka OSB, appointed Justice of Peace Fr. Anselm Fonseka OSB, the incumbent Parish Priest of Rajagiriya was sworn in on 18th Sept as Justice of Peace by the Minister of Justice, Honorable Rauff Hakkeem. We wish him all success in his new responsibility.

14 Two of our Monks on Vacation: Rev. Frs. Bernard Ramenaden OSB and Louis-Marie Navaratne OSB who serve in the USA, one as the Parish Priest of St. Gaspar s Church, Fort- Wayne, Indiana and the other as a member of the Holy Face Monastery in New Jersey are in Sri Lanka on a short vacation. We wish them a pleasant stay in the Island. Fr. Sylvester Returns: Fr. Sylvester Jayakody OSB returned to the Island on 15th Nov after a successful mission overseas during which he visited some of our long-standing monasteries. Consecrated Life in today s Church Gospel, Prophecy, Hope. Presentation of the Logo for the Year of Consecrated Life A dove supports on one wing a polyhedral globe, and while resting on with the other wing three stars that arise from the water. The Logo for the Year of Consecrated Life expresses through symbols the fundamental values of consecrated life. In it we recognize the unceasing work of the Holy Spirit, who in every age shows forth the richness of the practice of the evangelical counsels through a multiplicity of charisms. In this way too he makes ever present in the Church and in the world, in time and space, the mystery of Christ (VC 5). In the lines that outline the form of the dove one can intuit the word Peace in Arabic: this is a reminder that consecrated life is called to be the model for universal reconciliation in Christ. The symbols of the Logo the water, it safeguards The dove on the water - The dove is the classical symbol of the action of the Holy Spirit, who is the source of life and the inspirer of creativity. This is a flash-back to the origin of history: in the beginning the Spirit of God moved on the waters (cf Gen 1,2). The dove, gliding above a sea

15 swollen with yet unexpressed life, symbolizes a patient and hope-filled fecundity, while the symbols around it reveal the creative and renewing action of the Spirit. The dove also evokes the consecration of the humanity of Christ through baptism. The water is made of mosaic fragments; they indicate the complexity and the harmony of the human and cosmic elements that are made to groan by the Spirit according to God s mysterious plans (cf Rom 8, 26-27) so that they may converge into the hospitable and fruitful encounter that leads to a new creation. The dove flies among the waves of history, above the waters of the deluge (cf Gen 8, 8-14). The men and women, whose consecration was marked by the Gospel, have always been pilgrims among the nations; they live their various charismatic and diaconal presence like good administrators of the multiform grace of God (1Pt 4,10); they are marked by the Cross of Christ, even unto martyrdom; they journey through history equipped with the wisdom of the Gospel; indeed, a Church that embraces and heals all that is human in Christ. The three stars - These stand for the identity of consecrated life as confessio Trinitatis, signum fraternitatis e servitium caritatis. They express the circular relationships found in the Trinitarian love, which consecrated life is called to live daily in the world. The stars also hint to the triple halo used in the Byzantine iconography to honor Mary, the Mother of God, the first disciple of Christ and model and patron of every consecrated life. The polyhedral globe - The small polyhedral globe symbolizes the planet with its myriad variety of nations and cultures, as explained by Pope Francis (cf EG 236). It is the breath of the Spirit that sustains it and leads it towards the future: an invitation to all consecrated persons to become bearers of the Spirit (pneumatophoroi), authentically spiritual men and women, capable of endowing history with hidden fruitfulness (VC 6). The Headword - The headword provides a further highlighting of the identity and prospective, experience and ideals, grace and journey that consecrated life has lived through and is still living within the Church as people of God, as it journeys together with the different nations and cultures toward the future. Evangelium ( Gospel): this indicates the fundamental rule of consecrated life, which is the sequela Christi as taught by the Gospel (PC 2a). First of all as a living memorial of Jesus' way of living and acting (VC 22), and then as vital wisdom in the light of the multiple counsels that the Lord gave to his disciples (cf LG 42). The Gospel shows the way ahead and is a source of joy (EG 1). Prophetia (Prophecy): reminds us of the prophetic character of consecrated life, which takes the shape of a special form of sharing in Christ's prophetic office, which the Holy Spirit communicates to the whole People of God (VC 84). This is an authentic prophetic ministry that is born from the Word and is nourished by the Word of God when this is welcomed and lived out in the various circumstances of life. This function is carried out through courageous denunciation and in announcing new visits by God; also, through the exploration of new ways to apply the Gospel in history, in expectation of the coming of God's Kingdom (ibid.).

16 Spes (Hope): reminds us of the ultimate fulfillment of the Christian mystery. We are living through an era that is characterized by widespread uncertainties and a lack of projects with a long-term vision: hope is needed in a context of cultural and social fragility, at a time when the horizon is dark because it often seems that the signs of God's presence have been lost from sight (VC 85). Consecrated life is permanently projected toward the eschatology: it witnesses that every hope will eventually have its definite fulfillment, and transforms the waiting in work and mission, that the Kingdom may become present here and now (VC 27). As a sign of hope consecrated life needs to be close to people and to show mercy; to be a paradigm of a future free from all kinds of idolatry. Encouraged by the charity that the Holy Spirit pours in our hearts (Rom 5.5), the consecrated persons are therefore called to embrace the universe and to become a memorial of the Trinitarian love, catalysts of communion and unity, praying sentries on the peak of history, and to become one with humanity in its anxieties and in its silent search for the Spirit.