(Region of Colombo, Sri Lanka) During the Redemptorist Spirituality course (2023/June) in Rome, I met Fr. Christopher Prathap Stanley CSsR one of our Indian confreres belonging to the Province of Bangalore. There we discussed on having a mission in Sri Lanka for the Tamil-speaking people.
This effort materialised as Fr. Christopher Prathap Stanley CSsR and Fr. Michael Kaspar CSsR visited Sri Lanka on 8th June 2024. As they landed in Sri Lanka, they were introduced to our community at St. Theresa’s Church, and they conducted a retreat for the Catechism students (Tamil speaking) on 9th June. After that, they conducted a short renewal spiritual programme for two days in St. Theresa’s Church, where many Tamil-speaking parishioners participated (10/11 June). They got an opportunity to conduct a school programme as well.
Having rested they visited the beauty of this island nation Sri Lanka, I accompanied them to Jaffna city (Northern part of Sri Lanka) where they conducted a mission in a parish dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge. The Parish priest Fr. Ananda Kumar supported this mission whole heartedly, and it became a wonderful experience for one of our Tamil-speaking brothers: Bro. Pelix Fernando who just returned from theological Studies in SATMI Davao.
After the mission in Jaffna, they visited Kandy & and to Frangipani formation community and then visited Sancta Maria to preach the novena in preparing devotees for the feast of our Mother of Perpetual Help. Having preached in Sancta Maria they returned to India hoping for possible future missions.
Fr. Ranmal Fernando, C.Ss.R.
Mission Coordinator – Region of Colombo
