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| Sunday, 27 October 2002 |
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Bishop Lakdasa De Mel : Called for justice and uplift of poor by Rev. Jeffrey Abayasekera The Church of Ceylon, especially the Diocese of Kurunegala, remembers with deep gratitude the life, service and witness of the late Bishop Lakdasa De Mel, whose 100th Birth Anniversary was observed on the 24th of March this year. The Diocese of Kurunegala has launched a programme of activities during 2002 to keep alive the memory and vision of this outstanding leader, who was its founder Bishop and later Metropolitan of the Province of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon. It was on the 8th of November 1945 on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the Diocese of Colombo, the feast of the Saints of our Land, that the Revd. Lakdasa de Mel was consecrated as Assistant Bishop of Colombo. The Diocese of Kurunegala was born on the Feast of the Presentation, on the 2nd of February 1950. The formation of this new Diocese was marked by the induction, installation and enthronement of the Founder Bishop, the Rt. Revd. Lakdasa De Mel at the Trinity College Chapel. The first Bishop of the Diocese of Kurunegala ensured that the Diocese was self-supporting from its inception. The construction of a Cathedral Church of Christ the King was undertaken as a priority on three and a half acres of land at Ethugalwatte on the Kandy Road. The foundation stone was laid on the Feast of St. Thomas, on the 21st of December, 1950. It was built according to an indigenous style of architecture, incorporating features from the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy periods, and was constructed largely from local resources (only the Chapter House being a gift from the Anglican Church in Canada - the Diocese of Nova Scotia). This edifice, in keeping with our culture and the aspirations of a resurgent Sri Lanka, was completed in 1960. Bishop De Mel addressed the challenge of the paucity of workers in the Diocese. He sent his ordinands to be trained in Bishop's College, Calcutta. He invited by lay people with pastoral gifts to serve as catechists and bible women. He encouraged and founded two indigenous monastic orders - Devasaranaramaya at Ibbagamuwa, and Devasevikaramaya at Kurunegala. Work in the village areas of the Diocese expanded as a result. Ecumenical Fellowship Bishop Lakdasa's social concern and passion for social justice was clearly seen in the strong support he gave at all times to the Christian Workers Fellowship, an Ecumenical Fellowship of working people. It was under his leadership that in the early year of the annual Workers Mass organized by the CWF. Two Christian drummers from the Parish of Saints Peter & Paul, Hewadivela, participated in and enlivened this celebration of the Eucharist. He was deeply sensitive to the aspirations and needs of the urban and rural poor. During the Malaria epidemic in our land at an earlier phase in his Ministry, while serving at St. Paul's Church, Kandy, he utilized his own resources to minister to those who were ill. It is in this context that we can understand his support for the nationalization of the schools in 1960. A wealthy person who had opted for the poor like his Lord - Jesus of Nazareth. In May 1962, Bishop Lakdasa was elected as Metropolitan of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon - a singular honour for a Sri Lankan to become an Archbishop of the Church and he was duly enthroned on the 21st of August 1962, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta. To live amidst the poverty of Bengal, drove him to live even more simply that he was wont to do at Kurunegala: the refugees and destitutes in his neighbourhood undoubtedly shocked him. He had a deep affection for the Bengalis and became a admirer of their culture - the arts, music and drama. He was instrumental in encouraging the creation of a Bengali Liturgy and the use of Bengali music in worship. He laboured to bring about a indigenous ministry and episcopacy in the Province. He had to visit all the diocese in all parts of a large "Province" which he undertook with much energy and zeal. Apart from these travels he travelled abroad for important ecumenical and Anglican gatherings. As he did in Sri Lanka Metropolitan Lakdasa worked with real commitment to ensure indigenous churches, self-governing, self-supporting and self-extending under local leadership. While appreciating the contribution made by missionaries, he felt strongly that it was opportune for many foreign church workers to leave and for their places to be taken by people from the respective countries. His admiration for the West was combined with an intense patriotism embracing both Sri Lanka and India. As he had supported the Christian Workers Fellowship in Sri Lanka the Metropolitan inspired the Industrial Missions at Durgapur, which was organized by the Ecumenical, Social and Industrial Institute. He sent committed priests and lay workers to serve the workers in this steel township. This program was supported by the World Council of Churches. He spent much of his time in grappling with the social and structural problems of rural based people who were either workers or unemployed living in labour lines and satellite villages respectively. The Metropolitan The Metropolitan made preparations for the de-linking of Burma and Ceylon from the Province in 1969 as preparations for Church Union in India and Pakistan were well under way. In 1970 two more United Churches came into being: on 1st November, the United Church of Pakistan and on 29th November, the Church of North India. With the consequent dissolving of the Province, and being sixty eight years of age, the Metropolitan was ready to retire since he felt strongly about the emergence of younger leaders. The United Church of South India had been inaugurated in 1947. After the youth revolt of 1971 had been suppressed Bishop Lakdasa now living in Sri Lanka in not so quiet retirement was asked by the Government to assist in the rehabilitation of the "insurgents". The Metropolitan Emeritus renewed his old friendships and was much sought after as a speaker even in India and Pakistan. It was in 1971 that he married Joan at a private wedding ceremony. By the end of 1972 the De Mels moved to live in "Vishrama" near Kurunegala, and Bishop Lakdasa was overjoyed to be within walking distance of the Cathedral he so generously helped to build. In March 1976 he was diagnosed as having an inoperable lung cancer, and his spontaneous response was "I am ready to go, my bags are packed." His courageous endurance of suffering, his spirit of gratitude and a deep faith - living one day at a time, was a shining example to many who visited him. When I visited him in hospital a few months before his death he responded to my thanks for all he had done by saying "now you all must carry on." Prof. Masao Takenaka from Japan (a founding father of industrial mission in Asia) was with me and led us in prayer, calling on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose steadfast love spanned the generations. We were holding hands with Bishop Lakdasa as we prayed. After the Lord's Prayer he gripped us tightly for about a minute in silence, then gradually let go of our hands, looked up at us and said "thank you". It was a tearful and unforgettable farewell. On the 23rd of October 1976 Bishop Lakdasa passed away into the nearer presence of God after serving in God's Vineyard for almost fifty years. Bishop Lakdasa's holistic vision for our motherland and for the church in our land and in the Diocese of Kurunegala needs to be reflected upon and rekindled by us and passed on to a new generation. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. |
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