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| Sunday, 9 October 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Radiance of
the National Seminary's golden jubilee
by Bro. Eymard F. C. Fernando, National Seminary, Ampitiya
The academic year 2004/2005 marks a period of celebration to the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Ampitiya, Kandy as she celebrates the 50th anniversary of her services to the Church in Sri Lanka in the task of forming priests to work in our motherland. In order to add importance to this year, the seminary has organised various events and activities throughout this year. These were systematically organised by the Fathers and Brothers in a way that no group that is connected with the everyday life of the seminary was excluded. Commencement A special celebration was held at the beginning of the academic year 2004/2005 to mark the commencement of the jubilee year and on that occasion, his excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka graced the occasion and ceremonially declared open the jubilee year. Fifty priests, representing the fifty batches of priests produced by the National Seminary for the past fifty years took part in a tree planting ceremony adding more meaning to the day's proceedings. The first and the most significant task connected with the jubilee was the translation of 'The Catechism of the Catholic Church' into Sinhalese. This decision was taken by the Seminary staff as it was felt that this would be the most precious contribution that the Seminary can make as a special remembrance for the use of the future generations. This is being prepared with the untiring efforts of a group comprising of Priests, Brothers and Laity who show special language skills. Jubilee celebrations took a special interest in the spiritual realm, and this was clearly seen by the programmes of on-going formation organised for priests of different age groups who by their untiring labour and efforts shoulder the heavy yoke of evangelising and re-evangelising our dear land with the Gospel of Christ. Some of these programs were conducted by erudite foreign lecturers and almost all these sessions were very much appreciated by the participants. Precious gift On this occasion of the golden jubilee, which is a precious gift to our nation, the Seminary also organised a National Day of thanksgiving to praise and thank the Lord, together with the whole Church in Sri Lanka for this great blessing that the Lord has showered upon our nation. In order to give the general public some idea of this premier house of priestly formation situated amidst much natural beauty and salubrious atmosphere, special television programs were organised. In addition to that, a lot of articles appeared in newspapers like, Gnanartha Pradeepaya, Lakbima, The Island, The Sunday Times, Daily News etc. Parishioners The contribution made by the faithful of the neighbouring parishes for the smooth running of the Seminary is remarkable. Thus, the Seminary did not forget to join hands with the parishioners of the neighbouring parishes to praise and thank the Lord under the leadership of the parish community of Ampitiya in a specially organized 'Corpus Christi' (the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ). Also the jubilee year was embellished by three great cultural shows, each of which was highly admired and appreciated. The three language academies of the Seminary, namely The Gonsalvez Sinhala academy, The Chesterton English academy and The Gnanaprakasar Tamil academy presented these shows which involved much tireless labour on the part of both the formators and the formatees. What was special about the Sinhala academy day was the emphasis put on in the day's liturgy on various means of enculturation of preaching the World of God in this land of ours and the staging of Ediriweera Sarachchandra's 'Sinhabahu' by our Brothers. Medical clinic The English academy of cultural presentation was held at Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo and our brother-actors were able to stage T. S. Eliot's, 'The Murder in the Cathedral'. The Tamil academy day too was a memorable event. Among other important activities were the Ex-Seminarians' Day, the special May Day celebrations for the domestic staff, the medical clinic held for the benefit of the villagers of Ampitiya and the Minor Seminarians' Day. The celebrations climax on September 30 and on October 01 with the participation of all the Bishops of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, many old boy priests and benefactors. A Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration will be the summit in order to begin a new era with the grace of God, while thanking him for all what we have received through his generous hands during the past fifty fruitful years in the history of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Sri Lanka. Dear Alma Mater, Ad Multos Annos' we joyfully wish you with one heart, mind and voice!. |
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