People come for Mary’s blessing on their children and job, says Colombo Archbishop

(January 7, 2009) “Today, in this fast changing world with challenges and difficulties, are you looking for your children’s spiritual, educational or economical prosperity? Saving for your children is good, but the goals you give your children must be to strive to be good persons growing in wisdom and stature. To be successful in life our aims must be clear. What are your aims for your children?” Mgr Oswald Gomis said during last Friday’s solemn Eucharist on the Feast Day of the Blessing of Our Lady of Lanka at Tewatta Basilica, which is located some 20 kilometres north of Colombo. Every year thousands of Catholics as well as non-Catholics come to Sri Lanka’s national shrine for a special blessing, for their job, machinery, vehicles and tools they use to make a living. Together this year, Wennappuwa Parish and the permanent organising committee celebrated 25 years of service to Tewatta Basilica. Fr Gamini Fernando, Episcopal vicar for the northern region of the archdiocese, Fr Merl Shanthi, the administrator of the Basilica; and Fr Camillus Fernando, who runs the Ragama deanery joined the Archbishop in the concelebration of the Eucharist. While several Catholics have been regularly coming for the annual celebration, hindus and Buddhists consider it a special blessing.