Devotees flock to Madhu Shrine

by a special corr.

For the first time in four years a large number of Catholic devotees from the South along with the devotees from the North participated at the first Novena service at the Church of Our Lady of Madhu on Thursday.

The administrator of the Madhu Shrine Rev. Fr. Desmond Kulas declared officially the commencement of the 2009 annual feast of the Madhu Shrine followed by the Novena.

The devotees gathered at the site of the shrine chanted Alleluia, when the feast commenced.

I am happy that the Christian devotees from the missions of Pitipana, Negombo and Wennappuwa are present here to participate in the first Novena of the annual Madhu feast. I welcome all of you and the Reverend fathers and sisters of those missions who accompanied you for this first Novena of the Madhu Feast” Fr. Kulas added.

Rev. Fr. Desmond Kulas also stated those who want to visit the Madhu church should come only on religious purposes and to pray at this blessed shrine as Christians, and not to enjoy or to behave like tourists or to seek entertainment with others as on a picnic.

Rev. Fr. Sylvan Croos, Parish Priest of Pitipana, in association with the Rev. Fr. Quintus Fernando of Wennappuwa Parish and Rev. Fr. J.A. Arulraj Croos of Murunkan Parish conducted the first holy mass of the year 2009 of the Madhu Feast.

At the Mass, Aviation Minister Sarath Chandrakumara Gunaratne did the reading of the scriptures.

The festive novenas will continue till August 14. High mass will be held on August 15 at 8 a.m by the newly appointed Archbishop of Colombo with other Bishops and priests of the Mannar Diocese.

Minister of Estate Management and Development, Milroy Fernando, Minister of Aviation, Sarath Chandrakumara Gunaratne, Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, S.M. Chandrasena, Director Nation Building (Wanni District) Sumathipala Premaratne, President’s Coordinating Director, Sudath Abeysinghe Coordinating Secretary of Presidential Task Force - Uthuru Vasanthaya Niel P. Baylon represented the Government at this occasion.

An underground water source was detected in the Madhu area by way of a ‘miracle’ which can be utilized for providing water for those who come to worship at the sacred shrine. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has already taken steps to supply water to the church site. Hundreds of thousands people will benefit from this facility.

There is ample security provided in the area in collaboration with Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police and the Department of Civil Security. Therefore, the pilgrims need not fear to come to the Madhu Shrine, the DIG added.