St. Mary's Church:

100 year jubilee celebrations

As the parishioners of St. Mary's Ratmalana, popularly known as St. Rita's church celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the assumption, on Sunday, August 20 2006, and celebrate with joy the centennial jubilee of their church, we try to look back on the past hundred year of its history and what was accomplished, in preparation for this very joyous occasion, for the people of Ratmalana.

Church history: Oral traditions reveal that a small church built of cadjan was constructed prior to 1906 when people were subject to many illnesses. Tradition has it that the church that stands today was constructed in 1906 at a cost of Rs. 1,500 obtained from the Archbishop's funds. Thus the Ratmalana church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption came into existence.

In 1924, a prominent parishioner Mr. A. Lloyd Seneviratne (father of the late Mr. Jude Seneviratne), was instrumental in getting down to Sri Lanka the sacred relics of St. Rita of Cascia and introducing the devotion to St. Rita to Ratmalana and Ceylon. Soon Ratmalana's fame spread throughout the island and Catholics from all parts of the country flocked to the shrine of St. Rita at Ratmalana.

The feast of St. Rita was so popular in those days that in 1936 the Times of Ceylon carried a news report of how crowded the trains were, on account of devotees attending the feast, not to mention those coming on foot, by car or bullock cart.

Ratmalana became independent from the parish of Moratuwa on 1st October 1944 and Rev. Fr. Julian Tanter O. M. I., a French missionary, was appointed as the first parish priest in 1944.

Many dedicated priests served the parish of Ratmalana since 1944 and we recall the services of them all with gratitude.

Mention should also be made of the tradition of hoisting a 'Kodi Gaha' (flag pole), a practice which is almost 100 years old. The hoisting of the 'Kodi Gaha' was initiated by Mr. Paul Silva and thereafter handed over to his son Mr. Ansalinu Silva and thereafter to his wife Mrs. Louisa Silva and then to their son Mr. Reginald Silva until his demise in 1995 and presently handled by his son Mr. Hemal Silva.

The existing grotto built in 1999 had to be demolished, in order to make way for the elders' home. Therefore, work on constructing a new grotto has also commenced. The new grotto will be opened on August 20, 2006 by the Most Rev. Dr. Marius Peiris, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo.

Whilst significant temporal developments were taking place, Fr. Mahendra did not forget the spiritual needs of his parish family. This included the revival of the historically famed Novena to St. Rita on Tuesdays, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the Poya days since August 2005 and the 'Come as you are' retreat and Rosary campaign which were arranged for the spiritual upliftment of the faithful in preparation for the jubilee.

On asking about the unprecedented developments that took place in the last 4 years, Fr. Mahendra said that all the work initiated by him was made possible, thanks to the amazing generosity and encouragement given to him by parishioners and well-wishers. He also paid a glowing tribute to all members of the Jubilee Committee & their sub committees.