A letter from Colombo, Sri Lanka

July 7, 2011

Tags: June 26, Sri Lanka

Some idea of the Mass of Saint Josemaria in Colombo. Last night I just sent you the pictures. The 30th June was the date written in Heaven to celebrate the Mass. It was the date originally given by the Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith (Archbishop of Colombo), but then he had to fly out on duty. A couple of days later we heard that the Cardinal was going to come back the next day, in time to celebrate it.

Father Prasad, who is a priest at the seminary, got the boys’ choir organised. Then came the question of the flowers. I was dying to have red roses. I found out the roses would cost the same, if we bought them bulk and arranged them ourselves. I decided to do it on my own. I got 100 fresh roses (red and white) and other little white flowers as fillers. The foliage I got from my cousin. I made six arrangements with all of them. This is the first time I decorated a church, and with fresh flowers! In Sri Lanka roses have to be secured with wires along the stem, so they don't get wilted too soon. The feast of the Sacred Heart, which is also the feast of the chapel, was the day after our Mass, so we aimed to make sure the flowers lasted for both days. When we came for the Mass, Fr. Prasad had put in more flowers drooping from the wall! It looked so bright and beautiful!

We organised a bus to leave Ja-ela for my folks. The bus was planned to leave our town at 4.30pm. The Mass was going to start at 6pm. On a good day, the journey to Colombo can be 30-45 minutes, but we left an hour and a half, to be on the safe side. Our van was meant to leave earlier. In the end, the bus and our van both left around the same time. While I was praying to our guardian angels, Joseph, my husband, tried to get through the dense traffic. It was really bad that day. I was meant to give the welcome speech. We just got in 5 minutes before 6 in our van, but there was not sign of the bus. In a few minutes, the Cardinal arrived, and started putting on his vestments. He was ready to enter from the front of the chapel. Just then, the bus arrived and stopped right at the door!

Then the welcome speech, I kept it simple. I just mentioned that St. Josemaria was canonised as the saint of the ordinary, and he asked us to begin and begin again, and be close to God through the sacraments, and we can ask for his intercession for our daily lives. And then, I welcomed the Cardinal on everyone’s behalf.

The Solemn Mass began, and all went well. Father Prasad had asked to have the Latin Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei etc., and the boys sang it so well! I had so many comments about the choir, they made it a very special occasion. After Mass, we thanked them with 100 cupcakes.

The Cardinal stayed for a few minutes after Mass, when we offered refreshments. We were just so overwhelmed to think this is someone very close to the Vicar of Christ.

Hope next year will go even better with a Opus Dei center here! We're overjoyed to be part of God's Work here.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. You will see many many good things coming out soon through our saint of the ordinary. Your prayers and e-mailing works wonders. Keep it up. We feel we're accompanied by you.

One girl, a distant relative of mine got quite involved helping me to prepare the invitations etc. I asked her to read out the prayers of the faithful. Her mother was saying, “I like her to get to know people like you. I don't mind if she becomes one of you.” Now she tells me, “Of course, for you to do so much with five kids, I'm sure this saint is the one who is helping you.”
Love
Rasika