Bishop’s Monthly Letter

 

My dear Fathers,
The diamond jubilee celebrations of Fr.Giuseppe was held on a low key in
Mercogliano ,due to the unexpected deterioration of his health. For a few months already detailed
programs had been drawn up but one week before the anniversary Fr.Giuseppe suffered a heart
attack. Even though it happened at two o’clock on the morning, timely medical attention saved his
life. The doctors had to put in three stents and, thank God, he is well on the way to recovery.
However at his age ,he will not be able to keep up his pace of activities. In all likelihood he will retire
from active ministry in a couple of months, if not sooner. Fr Giuseppe presided over the
Concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass on the 24th of July with two Bishops and a number of his priestfriends
attended by a large gathering of his parishioners.
I spoke after Holy Communion and paid him a fitting tribute for his amazing missionary
solidarity with our diocese and thanked God for the gift of Don Giuseppe to his beloved parishioners
and to so many of our children and deserving people in our diocese over the past three decades. His
tremendous zeal and indomitable enthusiasm has not waned, and even in his time of convalescing he
is continuing to dream of continuing his work for the education of poor children, through the “Distant
Adoption Scheme-Adozione a distanza”‘,with the help of an Association, which he has founded. He
hopes to run an office for this purpose when he retires from parish ministry in the near future.
Fr.Giuseppe was very touched to receive the congratulatory message signed by all of you assuring
him that each of us would celebrate a Holy Mass of thanksgiving for his jubilee. He conveyed his
profound gratitude to each one of you, for your thoughtfulness, in offering a Holy Mass and for
praying for his speedy recovery.
The annual Retreat will be held as scheduled from the 1st to 6th of August at Fatima Retreat
house at Lewella. If any of you wish to arrive at the Retreat house already on Sunday night, please
inform the Superior accordingly.
We convey our heartfelt congratulations and prayerful wishes to Fr.Colvin Fernandopulle on
the occasion of his silver jubilee of priestly ordination. We thank him for his dedication and priestly
commitment and wish him “Ad multos felicissimos et fructissimos annos”!!
We are also happy to welcome ,our newly ordained brother in the priesthood, Fr.Dilan Perera,
to our Priestly fraternity in the diocese.
Our congratulations to Fr.George Sigamoney, as he assumes the responsibility of being one of
the four directors of Caritas Australia. Caritas Australia made a request from our diocese for the
services of Fr.George Sigamoney and with the consent of our Episcopal Council, I have granted
permission to,Fr.George to serve one of our leading Partner Agencies ,namely Caritas Australia on a
contract basis. He will reside in a parish in the diocese of Paramatta and carry out his
responsibilities. We wish him well and God’s blessings in this challenging apostolate.
At last we have received the official Decree of Canonisation of our beloved Apostle St. Joseph
Vaz, personally signed by our Holy Father Pope Francis, with his Official seal. It is a six page book
with the decree written on parchment. I brought it along from Rome as it had been officially handed
over to our Postulator, Fr.Thomas Klosterklamp OMI. It is very precious document and it will be
placed in our permanent exhibition on St.Joseph Vaz at Getambe in a well secured glass-enclosure.
With the issuing of the decree by the Holy Father, with his personal signature, the Cause of
Canonisation is thus officially concluded. We thank God, once again, for the gift of St.Joseph Vaz,
who saved the faith of our forefathers, at a time of bitter persecution, which lasted 150 years.
With prayerful wishes and blessings,
Yours devotedly in the Lord,
+Bishop Vianney Fernando
Kandy

Bishop’s Engagements in August
1st – 6th -Clergy Annual Retreat at Lewella
7th – 9.30 a.m -Silver Jubilee of Osborn Chapel—Hatton Parish
8th – 11.30 a.m -The feast of St. Mary Vianney, the patron of our Clergy House and the
requiem Mass for Late Dr & Mrs Daviot ( donors of Clergy House)
13th – 15th -Madu– Feast of Our Lady
17th – 19th -CBSCL meeting in Colombo
20th – 10.00 a.m -Confirmation Service at Kawlehena Parish
21st – 8.30 a.m – Feast of Our Lady – Ampitiya Parish
22nd – 7.00 a.m – Congregation feast of Missionary of Charity- Daya Niwasa
27th – 10.00 a.m – Confirmation Service at Hatton Parish
28th – 10.00 a.m – Confirmation Service at Kadiyalenne Parish

 

Kandy Vicariate
Ongoing formation
Date & Time ; 13th of August 2016 at 9.00 a.m
Place ; St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy
1st year Seminar
Date & Time ; 18th of August 2016 at 9.00 am to 20th of August 2016 at 2.00 pm
Place ; Seminar Centre at Kadugannawa
Fr. Camilus Janzs
Diocesan Director—Catechetical Apostolate

Programme for August
Holy Childhood Animators Programme
Date: 1th Noon to 13th morning
Venue: Hatton pastoral Centre
Conducted By The National Office
Note: specially for Nuware Eliya deanery
Fr. Thimothy Gnanapragasam
Diocesan Director— Holy Childhood

 

(From 1st to 6th of August)
Venue: Fatima Retreat House – Lewella
Preacher : Rev. Fr. Vimal Tirimanna CSsR

 

Feast St. John Vianney
The patron saint of all the parish Priests
on 4th August 2016
A man with vision overcomes obstacles and performs deeds that seem impossible. John
Vianney was a man with vision: He wanted to become a priest. But he had to overcome his
meager formal schooling, which inadequately prepared him for seminary studies.
His failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to discontinue. But his vision of being a priest
urged him to seek private tutoring. After a lengthy battle with the books, John was ordained.
Situations calling for ―impossible‖ deeds followed him everywhere. As pastor of the parish at Ars,
John encountered people who were indifferent and quite comfortable with their style of living. His vision
led him through severe fasts and short nights of sleep. (Some devils can only be cast out by prayer and
fasting.)
With Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he established La Providence, a home for girls.
Only a man of vision could have such trust that God would provide for the spiritual and material needs of
all those who came to make La Providence their home.
His work as a confessor is John Vianney‘s most remarkable accomplishment. In the winter months
he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the summer months this time was
increased to 16 hours. Unless a man was dedicated to his vision of a priestly vocation, he could not have
endured this giving of self day after day.
Many people look forward to retirement and taking it easy, doing the things they always wanted to
do but never had the time. But John Vianney had no thoughts of retirement. As his fame spread, more
hours were consumed in serving God‘s people. Even the few hours he would allow himself for sleep were
disturbed frequently by the devil.
Who, but a man with vision, could keep going with ever-increasing strength? In 1929, Pope Pius
XI named him the patron of parish priests worldwide.
Indifference toward religion, coupled with a love for material comfort, seem to be common signs of our
times. A person from another planet observing us would not likely judge us to be pilgrim people, on our
way to somewhere else. John Vianney, on the other hand, was a man on a journey with his goal before
him at all times.
Recommending liturgical prayer, John Vianney would say, ―Private prayer is like straw scattered
here and there: If you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and
light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.‖
From: Saint of the day
Procedural rules for dealing with causes of nullity of marriage.
The III General assembly of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops, held in October 2014, examined the
difficulties the faithful faced in approaching church tribunals. Since the bishop, as the good Shepherd, is
to attend to those of his faithful who need particular pastoral care, and given the sure collaboration of the
successor of Peter with the bishops in spreading the knowledge of the law, it has seemed opportune,
together with the prescribed norms for carrying out matrimonial processes, to offer some aids for the
work of the tribunals enabling them to respond to the needs of the faithful who are asking that the truth
about the existence or not of the bond of their failed marriage be declared.
Art 1. The bishop, in accordance with the provisions of can. 383 , §1, is to accompany with an apostolic
spirit those separated or divorced spouses who, possibly, because of their condition, have abandoned
religious practice. Thus he shares with the parochis (cf. Can, 529, §1) pastoral solicitude for these faithful in
difficulty.
Art 2. The pre- judicial or pastoral inquiry, which according to diocesan or parish structures receives
those separated or divorced faithful who have doubts regarding the validity of their marriage or are
convinced of its nullity, is directed to understanding their situation and to gathering elements
useful for the eventual judicial process, either the ordinary or the shorter one. This inquiry will take
place within a unified diocesan pastoral care of marriage.

Art 3. This inquiry is entrusted by the local ordinary to persons deemed suitable, having the
appropriate expertise, though not exclusively juridical-canonical. Among them in the first
place is the parochus or the person who prepared the spouses for the wedding.
One diocese, or several together, according to existing groupings, can form a stable structure
through which this service is provided and, if appropriate, compose a handbook (Vademecum)
containing the elements essential for the most appropriate way of conducting the inquiry.
Art 4 The pastoral inquiry will collect from the spouses or possibly their advocates, elements useful for
the introduction of the case before the competent tribunal. It is necessary to determine whether or not the
parties are in agreement about petitioning nullity.
Art 5 All elements having been gathered the investigation culminates in the libellus which, if
appropriate, is presented to the competent tribunal.
Art 6 Since the code of canon law must be applied in all matters without prejudice to special norms, even
in matrimonial processes in accord with can. 1691. § 3, the present ration does not intend to explain the
entre process in detail, but rather to illustrate more specifically the principal legislative and, where
appropriate, to complete them.
Title I – The Competent Forum and the Tribunals.
Art 7 § 1. The titles of competence in can. 1672 are equivalent observing as much as possible the principle
of proximity between the judge and the parties.
§ 2 Through cooperation among tribunals as mentioned in can. 1418 care is to be taken that everyone,
parties or witnesses can participate in the process with a minimum of cost.
Art 8 § 1. In dioceses which lack their own tribunals, the bishop should take care that, as soon as possible,
even through courses in well-established and on-going institutes sponsored by the diocese or offered in
cooperation with groupings of dioceses and with the assistance of the Apostolic. See persons are formed
who can zealously assist in setting up matrimonial tribunals.
§ 2 The bishop can withdraw from an inter-diocesan tribunal constituted in accordance with can 1423.
Title II – The Right to Challenges a Marriage.
Art 9 If a spouse dies during the process with the case not yet concluded the instance is suspended until
the other spouse or another interested party insists upon its continuation in this case a legitimate interest
must be proven.
Title III – The Introduction and instruction of Cases.
Art 10. The judge can admit an oral petition whenever a party is prevented from presenting a libellus
however, the judge himself orders the notary to draw up the act in writing that must be read to the party
and approved by him or her, which for all purposes of law, takes the place of the libellus written by the
party.
Art 11 § 1 The libellusis presented to the diocesan or inter-diocesan tribunal which was chosen according
to the norm of can 1673 § 2.
§ 2 The respondent who remits himself or himself to the justice of the tribunal or when property
cited once more makes no response is deemed not to object to the petition.
Title Iv – The Sentence, its Challenges and effect
Art 12 To achieve the moral certainty required by law, a preponderance of proofs and indications is not
sufficient, but it is required that any prudent positive doubt of making an error, in law or in fact is
excluded even if the mere possibility of the contrary is not removed.
Art 13. If a party expressly declares that he or she objects to receiving any notices about the case, that
party is held to have renounced the faculty of receiving a copy of the sentence in this case, that party
may be notified of the dispositive part of the sentence.
Title V- the Shorter Matrimonial Process before the Bishop
Art.14 .1. Among the circumstances of things and persons which can allow a case for nullity of marriage
to be handled by means of the shorter process according to can. 1683-1687, are included, for example: the
defect of faith which can generate simulation of consent or error that determines the will; a brief conjugal
cohabitation; an abortion procured to avoid procreation; an obstinate persistence in an extra conjugal
relationship at the time of the wedding or immediately following it; the deceitful concealment of
sterility, or grave contagious illness,

2. Among the documents which support this petition are included all medical records which
can evidently render useless the requirement for an ex officio expert.
Art.15. If the petition to introduce the case in the ordinary process is presented, but the judicial vicar
believes that it can be treated in accordance with the shorter process, he is, in the notification of the
libellus according to can. 1676, 1, to invite the respondent who has not signed the libellus to make knows
to the tribunal whether he or she intends to take part in the process. When necessary, he invites the
party or parties who have signed the libellus to complete it as soon as possible according to the norm of
can. 1684.
Art. 16. the judicial vicar can designate himself as an instructor; but to the extent possible, he is to name
an instructor from the diocese where the case originated.
Art.17. In issuing the citation in accordance with can.1685, the parties are informed that, if possible, they
are to make available, at least three days prior to the session for the instruction of the case, those specific
points of the matter upon which they or the witnesses are to be questioned, unless these are already
attached to the libellus.
Art.18. 1. The parties and their advocates can be present for the examination of other parries and
witnesses unless the instructor, on account of circumstances of things and persons, decides to proceed
otherwise.
2. The responses of the parties and witnesses are to be rendered in writing by the notary, but in a
summary way, referring only to those things which refer to the substance of the marriage being
considered.
Art.19. If the case is instructed at an interdiocesan tribunal, the bishop who is to pronounce the sentence
is the one of that place according to the competence established in accordance with can. 1672. If there are
many, the principle of proximity between the parties and the judge is observed as far as possible.
Art. 20. 1. The diocesan bishop determines according to his own prudence the way in which to
pronounce the sentence.
2. The sentence, signed by the bishop and certified by the notary, briefly and concisely explains the
reasons for the decision; ordinarily, the parties are notified within one month of the day of the decision.
Taken from: National Catholic Register
Clearing the Air on Women Deacons
What Is — and Isn‟t — Possible
The phone at the Women‟s Ordination Conference (WOC) office rang off the hook for days after Pope
Francis reportedly said he would consider studying the question of women deacons.
“We‟ve heard from [former] members who haven‟t been members in a long time,” said Erin Saiz
Hanna, co-executive director of the group, which wants to see women ordained as Catholic priests,
deacons and bishops. “There is an incredible amount of energy about this possibility.”
Despite the excitement generated in some quarters by media reports of the Holy Father‟s May 12
comments to members of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), it seems unlikely that
further study of the diaconate would lead to ordaining women as priests or even deacons The day after
news reports reverberated with the enthusiasm voiced by the WOC‟s Saiz Hanna, Father Federico
Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, told the Italian news service La Stampa, “The Pope says
he is thinking of establishing a commission that can look into these questions, offering a clearer picture.
But let us be honest: The Pope did not say he intends to introduce the ordination of women deacons;
much less so did he talk about ordaining female priests.”
Even the WOC, though encouraged by Pope Francis‟ openness to talk about women deacons,
acknowledged that the Holy Father already has restated the Church‟s position about not ordaining
women as priests. Sister Carmen Sammut, a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa and USIG
president, said the question posed to the Pope about a study of women deacons was one of several that
came from delegates to the group‟s plenary assembly. She said members were surprised by media
reaction, which she said dealt solely with the deacon question and “sometimes distorted both the question
and the answer.”
Her hope, she said, is that a new study of women deacons requested by her group and done by those who
understand the needs of a Church with a shortage of priests could lead to a fruitful conclusion.
or children from a previous relationship, or incarcerations; a cause of marriage completely
extraneous to married life, or consisting of the unexpected pregnancy of the woman, physical
violence inflicted to extort consent, the defect of the use of reason which is proved by medical
documents, etc.

The deaconess then received and placed a chalice back on the altar, signifying that she
would not be distributing the Eucharist at the liturgy, but only taking it to housebound
women; the deacon, by contrast, received the chalice and then went forth to give
Communion to the faithful.
Tkacz said some scholars insist that the rites and roles of deacons and deaconesses were
the same. “They claim that, for the Church today to ordain women as deacons, that would
„restore‟ past practice, which is false. ”Furthermore, she said, the cultural context in which
deaconesses served has changed so that most Catholics are baptized as infants, and it is not
considered scandalous for a priest to take the Eucharist to a woman in her home: “To begin now to
ordain women as deacons would not be a „restoration,‟ but a radical innovation.”Tkacz believes the
ultimate goal in claiming it would be a restoration is the ordination of women as priests, a notion that
she said is not sacramental, but egalitarian.
Indeed, Saiz Hanna, whose group applauded the USIG for posing the question about women
deacons to Pope Francis, said, for her and advocates of women‟s ordination, it‟s all about God having
created men and women equal.“We feel that it‟s limiting God to say that God can‟t work through
women,” she said. “We know there are women who are called to be priests. That call is stronger than
anything else, and that call is denied — so it still comes down to equality.”
Dominican Father Giles Dimock, who holds a licentiate in liturgy and teaches novices at St.
Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, said advocates of women‟s ordination have sometimes used the slogan,
“Don‟t baptize me if you‟re not going to ordain me.” But he said this reflects a misunderstanding of
the Church. “There are many different roles in the mystical body, and all complement and need one
another,” he said. “This whole notion of complementarity needs to be rediscovered.”
That said, Father Dimock added, it may be valid to explore new modes of service that are
particularly germane to women, without necessarily restoring deaconesses in the Church. Even if the
role of the deaconess were revived, he said, it would not be the same as that of a male deacon. “And I
guess there‟s the problem. What would it mean?”
The UISG‟s Sister Carmen said although media reports focused on the question to Pope Francis about
women deacons, the group also asked him about the absence of women from the decision-making
processes of the Church.
“He was very strong about the fact that women should be in the decision-making processes
and the decision-making positions of the Church and that this should not be linked solely with
priesthood or sacramental status,” she said in a video statement.
Pope Francis, she added, spoke about the dangers of both feminism and clericalism, telling the sisters
they should not want certain positions just because they are women and saying that being a priest or
bishop does not give someone an exclusive right to make decisions. That right, she said the Pope told
the sisters, comes from baptism, so that all baptized Catholics should be involved in decision-making
at the parish and higher levels.
Catholic University‟s Pecknold said he, too, noted the Holy Father‟s references to clericalism
in his audience with the UISG. “It‟s one of the least reported and indicates his own mind on the
question.”Pecknold said in reviewing what Pope Francis had said before news reports about the
audience emerged, “I read that the Pope was very gently indicating that he has no intention of
ordaining women to the permanent diaconate. “What I heard in Pope Francis‟ words was [his
intention of] reminding them that their dignity is actually great in itself, and they shouldn‟t ask to be
clericalized, because that view of priestly vocation, diaconal vocation misunderstands the distinctions
between orders and states,” he said. “The dignity inherent in service to the Church is always by
virtue of our baptism. We‟re not going to gain some greater dignity from serving in an office other
than what we‟re called to.”
Sister Carmen added: “Religious do not want to become deacons to have an honorific title. We
don‟t need that. We want to be enabled to give better service to the people of God to whom we belong.”
Nonetheless, there is some concern that even by raising the question and studying it further,
advocates of ordaining women as deacons and priests could seize the discussion and use it to further
their own agendas, as they have done with the Pope‟s May 12 response.
In the Anglican Church, Pecknold said, arguments for women deacons led to the ordination of women
priests.However, Sister Carmen said she does not see discussions about women deacons as a path to
priesthood for women. “I think ordination to the priesthood is another discussion, and the Pope has
already spoken about it.”
Taken from: Judy Roberts writes from Graytown, Ohio.

 

After Joseph Vaz,
the Goa Church
wants another Sri Lankan saint
Goa (Asia News/Agencies) – The Catholic Church in Goa (India) is considering the
possibility of starting the cause of canonization for Fr Jacome Gonsalves, who was a fellow missionary
with Saint Joseph Vaz in Sri Lanka in the 18th century.Declared a saint on 14 January by Pope Francis
during his trip to the island nation formerly known as Ceylon, the Indian-born Vaz is considered a model
of evangelization for all of Asia.
Fr Eremita Rebello, former vice-postulator for the cause of canonization of Joseph Vaz, is studying
Fr Gonsalves’ life to see whether he too might be destined for sainthood.Born on 8 June 1676 in Divar,
Gonsalves joined the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri (the Oratorians) as a novice on 2
November 1700 in Cruz dos Milagres (Old Goa). Described as figure with many aspects to his
personality, the priest was also a linguist, a poet and a writer. After arriving in Ceylon, Vaz asked him to
write Christian texts so that he could bring the Word of God to the island. His large output includes,
among other things, 42 works written in Tamil and Sinhalese, a first for the country, as well as a
catechism of the Catholic Church. Nicknamed the “father of Sinhalese Christian literature,” he died at
Bolawatte on 17 July 1742.
I n his book on Gonsalves, the famous Church historian SG Perera said that both he and Vaz stand
out in the history of the Catholic faith in Sri Lanka. “Father Vaz did the planning, Father Gonsalves
watered the vineyard of Ceylon, and God made it grow. The modern Church of Ceylon owes its existence,
numbers, traditions and literature to these two priests.”
Taken from: http://www.asianews.it/news

 

God is Merciful.
A king had a large orchard. He had got a variety of fruit trees planted there. He
employed a skilled gardener to take care of the fruit trees.
One day, the gardener would pick the ripe and juicy fruits from the various trees and
gather them in a basket. Every morning when the royal court was in session, the gardener
would go and give the fruits to the king.
One day, the gardener collected some cherries and took them for the king. The king
was in a bad mood. When he picked a cherry to taste, it was sour. So he went out his anger on
the gardener. In anger, he threw a cherry at the gardener. It hit him on the forehead but the
gardener said, “God is merciful!”
The king enquired, “You must be hurt and angry but you say God is merciful. “‘. Why?”
The gardener said, “Your Majesty, I was going to bring pineapples for you today. But I
changed my mind. If you had thrown a pineapple at me, I would have been badly hurt. God was
merciful for having changed my mind.”

 

This Monkey Found a Homeless Puppy Living on the Street and
Decided to Adopt Him as His Own!

In Rode, India, locals were touched by the compassion of a Rhesus macaque monkey who had
adopted a homeless puppy.
The monkey cares for the little puppy and keeps the little one close as if he were
caring for his own baby.
The details of how the two met are unclear, but the puppy, who was likely born on
the streets, seems well taken care of.
The monkey doesn‘t let the puppy out of his sight for a moment and has even
defended him from other street dogs.
When villagers, started to leave food out for the pair, the monkey always allowed the
puppy to eat first.
Zee News reports: ―Their undying affection gives us a valuable lesson about
relationships.‖
It‘s remarkable that a difference in species didn‘t keep this monkey from becoming a
responsible parent to a puppy who otherwise would not have had anyone to care for him.
That just goes to show you that God’s compassion has no limit over man and
animals!

 

Argentinian Nun,
Rev. Sister Cecilia Maria,
Dies While Smiling
Argentinian nun, Rev. Sister Cecilia Maria, shocked many Christians when she died while smiling, contrary
to human nature. The sister, who was suffering from cancer, took her last breath in a hospital bed but while
she was dying a smile registered on her face, and she closed her eyes. Sister Cecilia Maria lived in Saints
Teresa and Joseph Monastery in Santa Fe, Argentina dedicated to prayer and the contemplative life. She
passed away early on June 22 at age 43.After graduating as a nurse at 26 years of age, Sister Cecilia Maria
made her first vows as a discalced Carmelite. In 2003, she made her final profession. Six months ago, she was
diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and the disease metastasized into her lungs. The disease ate her to a point
where she could not report to duty. During her good days, she would smile all day-she was a jovial-dedicated
servant who didn‘t discriminate.
From: Facebook

 

Health benefits of Papaya
Refreshingly sweet in taste, papayas are bright, pear-shaped, exotic fruits that you‘ll easily find
in the market throughout the year. Enclosing hundreds of black, rounded gelatinous seeds, the
soft, edible orange flesh of papayas is actually nutritious, offering numerous health benefits.
Here‘s why you need to include these ‗fruits of angels‘ in your diet.
1. Lowers cholesterol: Papayas are rich in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants that prevent cholesterol build
up in your arteries. Too much cholesterol build-up can block the arteries completely, causing a heart
attack. Papaya extracts have also found to reduce lipid and triglycerides in diabetic rats.
2. Helps weight loss: One medium sized papaya contains just 120 calories. So, if you‘re planning to lose
weight, don‘t forget to add this light fruit to your diet.
3. Boosts your immunity: Your immune system acts as a shield against various infections that can make
you really sick. A single papaya can fulfill more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C,
making it great to build a stronger immune system.
4. Good for diabetics: Despite being sweet in nature, papayas are low in sugar content (8.3 gm in one cup
of sliced papaya) as well as glycemic index. This property makes papayas excellent fruits for diabetics.
The vitamins and phytonutrients present in them prevents development of heart disease in diabetes.
5. Great for your eyes: Papayas are rich in Vitamin A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, zeaxanthin,
cyptoxanthin and lutein which keep the mucus membranes in the eyes healthy, preventing them from
damage. Vitamin A in them also prevents the development of age-related macular degeneration.
6. Protects against arthritis: Arthritis can be a really debilitating disease and people who have it may find
their quality of life reduced significantly. Eating papayas are good for your bones as they have antiinflammatory
properties along with Vitamin C which helps in keeping various forms of arthritis at bay.
7. Improves digestion: In today‘s times, it is near impossible to avoid eating foods that are bad for your
digestive system. Often we find ourselves eating junk food or restaurant food prepared in excessive
quantities of oil.
8. Helps ease menstrual pain: Women who experience menstrual pain should help themselves to several
servings of papaya, as an enzyme called papain helps in regulating and easing flow during menstrual
periods. Here are some home remedies to relieve menstrual pain.
9. Prevents signs of ageing: All of us would love to stay young forever, but no one in this world has
managed to do it. Still, healthy habits like eating a papaya daily will prolong the process and may make
you look 5 years younger than you are. Papaya is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and antioxidants like betacarotene
which helps prevent your skin from free radical damage keeping wrinkles and other signs of
ageing at bay. Here‘s how you can use papaya to keep your skin beautifully glowing.
10. Promotes hair growth: Apart from keeping the skin healthy, papayas are very effective for maintaining
healthy hair. Vitamin A in them is utilized in production of sebum, a compound that is crucial for keeping
the hair smooth, shiny and moisturized.
11. Prevents cancer: Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids that prevent
your cells from undergoing free radical damage.
12. Helps reduce stress: After working hard for the whole day, it is a good idea to come home to a plate a
papayas. The wonder fruit is rich in several nutrients like Vitamin C which can keep you free from stress.
All of this makes papaya a wholesome fruit that is excellent for your entire body.
Sent by Fr. Surendra Pragash
What are the main messages of Laudato Si,
Pope Francis’s groundbreaking encyclical
on the environment?
By James Martin, SJ
1. The spiritual perspective is now part of the discussion on the environment.
The greatest contribution of Laudato Si, to my mind, is an overview of the environmental crisis from a religious
point of view. Until now, the dialogue about the environment has been framed mainly using political, scientific
and economic language. Now, the language of faith enters the discussion — clearly, decisively and
systematically.
2. The poor are disproportionately affected by climate change.
The disproportionate effect of environmental change on the poor is strongly highlighted in almost every page of
the document, and the Pope provides many baneful examples of the effects of climate change, whose ―worst
impact‖ is felt by those in developing countries (25).
3. Less is more.
Pope Francis takes aim at the ―technocratic‖ mindset, in which technology is seen as the key to human
existence. He also critiques an unthinking reliance on market forces, in which every technological advancement
is embraced before considering how it will affect our world. Christian spirituality, by contrast, offers a growth
marked by ―moderation and the capacity to be happy with little‖ (222).
4. Catholic social teaching now includes teaching on the environment.
Against those who argue that a papal encyclical on the environment has no real authority, Pope Francis
explicitly states that Laudato Si ―is now added to the body of the Church‘s social teaching‖ (15). It continues
the church‘s reflection on modern-day problems that began with Leo XIII‘s encyclical Rerum Novarum, on
capital and labor, published in 1891.
5. Discussions about ecology can be grounded in the Bible and church tradition.
In Chapter Two, Pope Francis introduces ―The Gospel of Creation,‖ in which he leads readers through the call
to care for creation that extends as far back as the Book of Genesis, when humankind was called to ―till and
keep‖ the earth (67). But we have, sadly, done too much tilling and not enough keeping.
6. Everything is connected — including the economy.
Laudato Si is a ―systematic‖ approach to the problem. First, the Pope links all human beings to creation: ―We
are part of nature, included in it, and thus in constant interaction with it‖ (139). But our decisions have an
inevitable effect on the environment.
7. Scientific research on the environment is to be praised and used.
Pope Francis does not try to ―prove‖ anything about climate change. Rather, his encyclical accepts the best
scientific research available today and builds on it. So Laudato Si draws on both church teaching and
contemporary scientific findings from other fields to help modern-day people reflect on a contemporary crisis.
8. Widespread indifference and selfishness worsen environmental problems.
Pope Francis strongly critiques those who ignore the problem of climate change, and especially its effects on
the poor. Why are so many of the wealthy turning away from the poor? Not only because ―some view
themselves as more worthy than others,‖ but because frequently because decisions-makers are ―far removed
from the poor,‖ with no real contact to their brothers and sisters (90, 49). Selfishness also leads to the
evaporation of the notion of the common good.
9. Global dialogue and solidarity are needed.
Perhaps more than any other encyclical, Laudato Si draws from the experiences of people around the world,
referencing the findings of bishops‘ conferences from Brazil, New Zealand, Southern Africa, Bolivia, Portugal,
Germany, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Australia and the United States. The pope
invites into dialogue and debate ―all people‖ about our ―common home‖ (3).
10. A change of heart is required
This encyclical, addressed to ―everyone living on this planet‖ calls for a new way of looking at things (3). We
face an urgent crisis, when the earth has begun to look more and more like, in Francis‘s vivid image, ―an
immense pile of filth‖ (21). Still, the document is hopeful, reminding us that because God is with us, all of us
can strive to change course. We can move towards an ―ecological conversion‖ in which we can listen to the
―cry of the earth and the cry of the poor‖ (49). To use religious language, what the Pope is calling for is
conversion.
Taken from: www.zenith.org

Plenary indulgences aplenty
Like all previous Jubilees, the Jubilee Year of Mercy features a very special plenary indulgence (the
complete remission of all temporal punishment due to sin).
I wish that the Jubilee Indulgence may reach each one as a genuine experience of God’s mercy, which
comes to meet each person in the Face of the Father who welcomes and forgives, forgetting completely the sin
committed. (Pope Francis, Letter to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Sept. 1, 2015).
There have been many Jubilee Years – 26 ordinary Jubilees and three extraordinary – and each has featured
a special plenary indulgence. This time around, Pope Francis is seeking to make the indulgence as widely available
as possible. In the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, a Holy Door is to be opened in every cathedral around the
world, as well as in particular shrines, such as the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, where large numbers of pilgrims come to honor the mercy of God. Even though we can only obtain
one plenary indulgence a day, if you perform the required actions for other plenary indulgences on the same day,
you can still obtain multiple partial indulgences.
To receive the Jubilee Year indulgence, you must fulfill the usual conditions, (specified below) and perform
the indulgenced act: passing through a designated Holy Door during the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
(between Dec. 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and Nov. 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ
the King) or performing one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy.
As for the sick and the elderly, the Holy Father says, “For them it will be of great help to live their sickness
and suffering as an experience of closeness to the Lord who in the mystery of his Passion, death and Resurrection
indicates the royal road which gives meaning to pain and loneliness. Living with faith and joyful hope this moment
of trial, receiving communion or attending Holy Mass and community prayer, even through the various means of
communication, will be for them the means of obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence.”
For the imprisoned, the Holy Father says, “They may obtain the Indulgence in the chapels of the prisons.
May the gesture of directing their thought and prayer to the Father each time they cross the threshold of their cell
signify for them their passage through the Holy Door, because the mercy of God is able to transform hearts, and is
also able to transform bars into an experience of freedom.”
You may receive the plenary indulgence yourself, or offer it for a person in purgatory.
To receive a plenary indulgence
To refresh everyone’s memories, here are the normal conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence:
 It is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is
completed.
 A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition
to being in the state of grace:
 have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
 have sacramentally confessed their sins;
 receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for
the indulgence only Holy Communion is required); and
 pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
 It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion
and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is
performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about
20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope’s intentions is left to the choice of the faithful,
but an Our Father and a Hail Mary are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary
indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions are
required for each plenary indulgence.
 For the sake of those legitimately impeded, confessors can commute both the work prescribed and the
conditions required (except, obviously, detachment from even venial sin).
Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be
applied to other persons living on earth.
Taken from: Marians of the Immaculate Conception

Birthdays

06th – Sat – Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando
10th – Wed – Rev. Fr. Newman Peiris
12th – Fri – Rev. Fr. Roy Clarence
22nd – Mon – Rev. Fr. Jude Angelo Peiris

Ordinations

01st – Mon – Rev. Fr. Edward Christy Fernando
02nd – Tue. – Rev. Fr. Edwin Rodrigo
03rd – Wed – Rev. Fr. Ivan Jayasundera
04th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Hilarion Fernando, OSB
05th – Fri – Rev. Fr. Anthony Cross Xavier
– Rev. Fr. Emil Joseph, OSB
08th – Mon – Rev. Fr. Henry Bernard Wijeratne, OSB
10th – Wed – Rev. Fr. Newman Peiris
11th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Michael Sandanam, OSB
12th – Fri – Rev. Fr. Jude Angelo Peiris
29th – Mon – Rev. Fr. Nerio Abraham
– Rev. Fr. Bernanrd Molligoda, OSB
30th – Tue – Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga

Deaths

04th – Sat – Rev. Fr. Gabbelin, OSB
11th – Sat – Rev. Fr. Leo Singolani, OSB
13th – Mon – Rt. Rev. Dr. Bernard Regno, OSB
– Rev. Fr. Henry Ponnasamy, OSB
25th – Sat – Rev. Fr. Timothy Amerasinghe, OSB
28th – Tue – Rev. Fr. Patrick Mackiaweli, OSB
30th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Clement Marie, OSB

 

Dr & Mrs. Daviot
(donors of this House)
Date: 8th August 2016
Place: Clergy House Chapel
Time: 11.30 a.m
St. John Mary Vianney , pray for our Priests