'Maw Sevena' - a boon for needy boys
Santhana Croos, Secretary, Board of Management

The needy boys at Maw Sevena
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The Legion of Mary, a lay people's organisation for the spiritual
uplift of its members - a Worldwide Society with its headquarters in
Dublin, Ireland - has been rendering a variety of social work in Sri
Lanka for over 75 years. For the legionary his spiritual uplift is the
very foundation or the springboard from which he tries to reach to those
he seeks to serve through the Legion. Way back in about early 1973 these
legionaries in Sri Lanka realised the need to sort out family problems,
such as the placement of boys born out of wedlock and children abandoned
with nowhere to go. Whilst there were some homes for girls in the
Convents, there was virtually no homes for boys.
A few Legionaries with Godwin Mendis, a great legionary then, along
with Maurice Lord set out on their mission to set up a Home for
Destitute Boys under the great Legion System, as laid out in the
Handbook of the Legion, better known as its bible, a heavily inspired
work by the Legion Founder the late Frank Duff, whose cause for
Sainthood in the Catholic Church is now being taken up for his admirable
work.
The two dedicated legionaries an others, went out desperately in
search of a location for this Home. It was at this stage that the Legion
of Mary was then offered the land at Mattakkuliya, donated by the late
Mr. and Mrs. D.M.J. Corea to the Church, for the purpose of setting up a
Home for Destitute Boys by the late Cardinal Thomas Cooray.
The Legionaries with the late Godwin Mendis as its founder and
assisted by Maurice Lord, then set out on their task to accomplish their
mission. The first sod for the buildings at Maw Sevena, was cut by the
late Very Rev. Fr. Ignatius Gamlath, its Spiritual Director on the feast
of Mary's Assumption into Heaven on August 15, 1974. In the presence of
a large number of Legionaries Mrs. Helena Fernando, Hantley Jansen,
Terrence Suraweera, Mervyn Nugara, Lady Marianne Rodrigo representing
the whole Legion in Sri Lanka.
Mission
The Legion then went on its mission to organise the set up for the
Home for Destitute Boys, the first of its type anywhere in the world.
They called it Maw Sevena - under the shadow of the mother - Mary, the
great Mother of God - the Queen of the Legion of Mary. Two units were
set up - a Praesdium under the famous Legion System, consisting of
Legionaries not only from the parish of Mattakkuliya, but from adjoining
parishes - to make it a national undertaking without limiting it in the
usual way to a Praesidium in the parish.
The first President was Marurice Lord and this Praesidium has now
been meeting for over 1,800 consecutive weekly meetings engaged in
looking after the daily living conditions of these destitute boys, their
accommodation, food, clothing and schooling. It is in this prayerful
Legion approach and its unique demanding conditions that the daily
living of these boys came under close scrutiny by the Praesidium and the
steps taken for a greater reaching to the destitute boys committed to
its care, through these weekly meetings.
After having laid the groundwork for looking after the boys the
Legionaries then set out on their plan for the work to be done beyond
its daily care, as they realised that there was a need for a unit to
take over the administration, and its financial needs. It was just not
possible it was felt for a small Presidium to undertake these heavy
needs, and the Legionaries then laid out its plan to set up a Board of
Management to take over the Homes heavier functions under a specially
drawn up Constitution. The Board of Management was to consist of ten
senior Legionaries of Mary from the area Local Councils, to meet once a
month and focus their attention solely on finances and the maintenance
of the Home. This Board of management, which included a priest as it
Spiritual Director, has now met for over 400 consecutive monthly
meetings. The first Chairman of the Board of Management was Godwin
Mendis of revered memory, and Helena Fernando, Hantley Jansen and L.D.M.
Albert were among the other members.
With the assistance of His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Cooray who gave
an initial donation of Rs. 50,000, the Legionaries set out on their
initial plan to put up two cottages each to contain provision for
housing 10 boys under the motherly care of a lady matron and a pantry
and dining room. The entire building plan was in the hands of Godwin
Mendis, himself a Staff Draughtsman in the Telecommunication Department,
and with the assistance of Maurice Lord and other legionaries, the first
stage of the work to set Maw Sevena on its mission to see and serve
Christ in the little boys handed to its care, was set in motion. It was
made by the Legion and for the Legion.
On the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, December 8, 1974,
Maw Sevena unofficially opened its doors to two little boys about eight
years age, as the buildings were not yet completed. Sometime after the
completion of the first stage of its buildings, Maw Sevena was opened on
June 5, 1976 by Archbishop Carlo Curis, Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka.
The buildings were blessed by his Eminence Cardinal Thomas Cooray, in
the presence of a large gathering of Legionaries and other well-wishers.
With the increased demand for accommodation for more destitute boys, the
second stage, consisting of another cottage for ten more boys and a
sickroom were opened and thereafter on December 10, 1983 a building to
train the boys in carpentry was opened by Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando,
Archbishop of Colombo. In 1999 Bishop J. Swamipillai presided at the Maw
Sevena 25th anniversary celebrations.
During the 35 years of its existence 1974 to 2009 Maw Sevena -
rightly called the Presidium of Our Lady, comforter of the afflicted -
set out to reach the poorest of the poor - under a plan of close
scrutiny by the Legionaries to help those boys desperately in need of
caring and assistance. The boys admitted to Maw Sevena each have a story
of being stranded in life, unable to be cared for in the future, with
mothers forced into marriage at an early age and then abandoned by their
fathers, boys with parents one or both having incurable diseases, boys
just left by their parents, deciding each to go their own way after
years of marriage, abandoning their sons.
Destitute boys
For the last 35 years, the Legionaries at Maw Sevena have tried to
reach out to the Destitute Boys handed to its care entirely through its
own resources. They have in no small measure used all the means
available to provide them a shelter, education and recreation in an
attempt to provide them a greater hope in their little lives in the
future.
The boys live in reasonably fair living conditions, and are provided
with beds and cupboards. In view of the poor standard of education in
the area schools the boys go to, daily tuition is provided by visiting
teachers in a specially provided Study Room. Extra tuition is also
conducted in English for all the boys. Computer training classes are
also conducted by competent teachers. There is a regular focus on the
education of these boys, with a continuous attempt made to help the boys
to attain higher educational standards. All boys go to Daham Pasal
classes, and receive their First Communion and even Confirmation whilst
at Maw Sevena. They even have a Junior presidium conducted by senior
Legionaries to help them into getting used to work under Legion System.
A boy from Puttalam who came to Maw Sevena about 15 years ago, is now in
the Seminary and may be a priest soon.
All boys for admission, have to be Catholics, in terms of the law and
are generally admitted between the ages of six and eight. This gives Maw
Sevena a fair amount of time to work on improving the living standards,
of the boys in helping them to a better way of life. The boys remain at
Maw Sevena with accommodation in their dormitories, and are provided,
their eduction, health and recreation by Maw Sevena at no cost to the
boys. They go to area schools, and can remain at Maw Sevena up to the
time they sit for their GCE O/L examinations. Maw Sevena is even today
considering to keep the boys up to the time they sit for their Advanced
level Examinations.
Jobs for boys
During the last 35 years boys leaving Maw Sevena have been found jobs
as trainees, apprentices or even sent for vocational training.
A ready source of employment for the boys has been through Business
Machines Co. ltd. through Maurice Lord, to provide ready employment as
trainees or apprentices in an established company dealing in office
automation equipment. Many of these boys have gone on employment in
business machines soon after their O/Level examinations.
Some of them are still employed in this company and earning a fair
livelihood. Other boys passing through Maw Sevena have also been helped
to find employment elsewhere. The hundreds of boys that have passed
through Maw Sevena are substantially in very gainful employment earning
a fair living for themselves. Some of them are married and even living
in their own homes, whilst there is a boy who is well employed at a
leading company and even driving his car. Maw Sevena does everything
possible to reach out to the boys who leave after their O/Levelexaminations
to find gainful employment.
Maw Sevena is today grateful to all those who have helped it to
render the service they have given to the destitute boys handed to its
care over the last 35 years. All this would not have been possible, but
for the ready support the Legionaries at Maw Sevena received at various
levels.
They would first like to place on record their sincere appreciation
of all the support they received from His Eminence Thomas Cardinal
Cooray, then Archbishop of Colombo. He gave Maw Sevena the land on which
Maw Sevena proudly stands today, in preference over others, to the
Legion of Mary. He graciously donated Rs. 50,000 towards the building of
the first stage of Maw Sevena. He also showed his great care and concern
for Maw Sevena in so many other ways.
Maw Sevena is also grateful to the Archbishops of Colombo for all the
support they have readily extended to Maw Sevena. To the Central Council
of the Legion of Mary in Sri Lanka - the Senates - for promoting the
formation of Maw Sevena - the first legion unit of this nature anywhere
in the world, and for supporting it during these 35 years.
They also thank the various Legion Councils throughout the island for
all the assistance they have given Maw Sevena. They also thank the
Legionaries in Sri Lanka for arranging to send handsome donations from
abroad through their children.
Appreciation
Maw Sevena would like to also place on record its deep appreciation
of the leadership given by the late Godwin Mendis, its founder, in all
he so generously did in setting up this Home for Destitute Boys, and
taking all the steps in making it possible for Maw Sevena to render the
great service it has provided over the past 35 years. Maw Sevena would
also record its appreciation of all the services rendered to it by
Maurice Lord.
And from here Maw Sevena would like to say how much it appreciates
and is grateful for all the other assistance it has received during the
last 35 years. Numerous local donors have contributed so much towards
our needs.
We have also had many foreign donors, without whose help it would
have never been able to sustain Maw Sevena particularly during those
early years. Maw Sevena would like in particular to remember the late
Michael Hosman of the Netherlands introduced through Rev. Sister Agnes a
Superior of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena for the great assistance she
has given to the Home. Michael, for the great support he rendered over a
period of nearly 10 years, was even then known as the Godfather of Maw
Sevena.
He obtained many donations through various bodies in the Netherlands
to provide for the needs of the Home in addition to his personal
assistance.
And now we have the London School of Commerce very generously coming
to our aid. Over the past five years, its Managing Director and others
from the London School of Commerce has made regular visits to our Home
to help provide the needs of our boys and to do all they can to promote
the cause of Maw Sevena. They have helped provide renovations for the
boys' Study Room, making it possible for the boys to sit in their desks
in a comfortable room for their study.
They have had the boys toilets and bathrooms all tiled. They have
paid for the tuition classes organised at their request for the boys.
Computers have also been provided and training classes are held, all at
the expense and generosity of Tim Andradi, Managing Director of the
London School of Commerce. Much assistance has also been received
through Mr. Andradi, for Christmas and gifts and toys for the boys.
The London School of Commerce in its generosity even wants to create
a kind of Trust Fund for Maw Sevena in its eager concern for the
development and the uplift the standard of the boys . To Tim Andradi and
the London School of Commerce, Maw Sevena is deeply indebted and
grateful.
Maw Sevena would also like to remember those legionaries who have
contributed much to Maw Sevena, and have now passed away.
They would like to remember first their Founder Godwin Mendis who
passed away on March 6, 1999, Roy Wiejgoonewardena, who was on the Board
of Management, Joe Milhuisen, Joy Perera a former Treasurer, and others
for all the assistance given to Maw Sevena.
Labour of love
We would also like to remember those Legionaries who have held high
office in Maw Sevena from its inception - Newton Fernando, Tony Rodrigo,
Frances Lovell, Margie Silva, Layton Leon, all former Chairpersons of
Maw Sevena for all that they contributed to help Maw Sevena set itself
up and sustain it during these 35 years and bring it to the sound
position from which it could now continue to render their labour of love
to its Destitute Boys.
Maw Sevena would also be grateful to all the Spiritual Directors who
have held office in the Legion of Mary for their help and guidance in
helping legionaries work along with them in the mission of the church.
They would like to thank the late Rev. Fathers Ignatius Gamlath and Fr.
Martin Guneratne and Fr. Nereus Fernando, who were so supportive of the
Legion in their time. To Very Rev. Father Bernard Quintus, Maw Sevena is
particularly grateful for almost 25 years of service in the Legion as
well as in Maw Sevena.
Maw Sevena is today grateful to the matrons and other members of the
staff who have made a great contribution in helping it to render a great
service to the hundreds of boys who have passed through Maw Sevena and
who are now there. Along with the Legionaries, the staff has worked in a
true spirit of care and concern for the destitute boys at Maw Sevena,
all the while helping them all the way towards the goal of a better way
of life for them for the future.
And finally Maw Sevena is grateful to Mary, the Mother of God, and
the Queen of the Legion for choosing it to undertake and carry on with
its mission of mercy to the destitute boys that have been entrusted to
it.
They have had their good times and very bad times all the way. Maw
Sevena firmly believes that whatever they have been able to accomplish
has been due to the graces and blessings from Mary and the unbelievable
strength they have received from her to carry on with their mission of
mercy.
It is with Faith in Mary and the never failing help they have
received from Mary, that the Legionaries have been able to carry on with
this difficult work. As Maw Sevena looks to even a greater future, a
greater reaching out to the boys in its care, it is very confident that
with Mary they can go all the way in their mission to see and serve
Christ in the little boys handed to it through Mary, the Queen of the
Legion. |