1 9 0 7 - 2 0 0 7 C e n t e n a r y Y e a r

A glimpse to the Past .

By Mr. Felix V.Perera

A Devout Client of Mother Mary

I first visited St. Mary's Church, Matara, presently known as the Church of our Lady of Matara as far back as 1948 at the age of ten years with my father. The Parish Priest then was Rev. Fr. Ned Alles who happened to be a classmate of my father. He welcomed us with great love and took us to the church and showe us the wonderful miraculous statue of the Mother and the Child. We were so happy and were permitted to kiss it. At this stage Fr. Alles remarked, “My son in time to come this miraculous statue will draw vast crowds to this statue to celebrate her feast. True to his words TODAY thousands and thousands flock to celebrate her feast. The statue always shows a smiling face welcoming anyone who visits her. During this period a small crowd attended the feast. However, Fr. Ned Alles who spared no paints to always talk of favours and miraculous that took place during this time. He also carried advertisements in the ‘Messenger' and ‘GnanarthaPradeepa' giving details about the feast. On feast day the statue was taken immediately after mass through St. Sevatius Road and return through the Convent Road. Once the procession returns to church, the Parish Priest blesses the congregation with the Miraculous Statue. Earlier the statue was made freely available for veneration but Fr. Alles who loved the Statue, realized that it has to be preserved and todate the statue was not available for public veneration.

Now pilgrims started arriving in great numbers and as a result a longer procession had to be organized and the time of Vespers changed from 5:00 p.m to 7:30 p.m to give an opportunity for the plgrims arriving by ‘Ruhunu Kumari', last train from Colombo.

People use to apply pieces of white cloth on the statue and preserve them as when a family member or a neighbour falls ill or suffer from any ailment this piece of cloth is kept on the body and prayed. Mother Mary has answerd their prayers.

Suddenly Fr. Alles was transferred to Bishops House Galle on a higher appointment as Vicar General of the Galle Diocese.

Rev. Fr. Philip Cooray succeeded Fr. Alles as Parish Priest Matara, but he could not carry out the work entrusted to him due to ill health and Rev. Fr. Joseph Rajapakse who also had great faith in mother Mary continued the good work done by Fr. Alles.

After his term of office his own brother Fr. Felix Rajapakse succeeded him.

In 1973 Rev. Fr. Cyril Edirisinghe from Hiniduma Calvary assumed duties as Parish Priest. He carried out and maintained the good work of his predecessors and was devoted to our good Mother. It was noticeable that he always carried this Miraculous Statue with geat love. He also introdused to the long procession. He introduced to the procession the upcountry and low country bera wadanaya.

He was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Nicholas Fernando presently in Ratnapura carried out renovations of the church especially to replace the entire roof. During his period this Shrine was declared a National shrine.

He was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Charles Hewawasam whom the writer refers as a most dynamic go getter administrator who spares no pains to work, morning, noon and night for all the needs of the church. His name should go in GOLDEN LETTERS just like late Mgr. Ned Alles who initiated great devotion to Mother Mary. His approach to pilgrims is quite different from the rest – “hello” with his famous sweet smile. He is most lovable priest. During this time, the church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Elmo Perera, Bishop of Galle on the …………….. . It was a great day for the parishioners of Matara followed by well organized fellowship. I was a very special invitee to this great solumn ceremony. At fellowship I was introduced to another great personality Mgr. Nihal Nanayakkara from Hiniduma Calvary.

Next in succession was Rev. Fr. Nihal Nanayakkara from Hiniduma Calvary, another fine lovable Priest who carried out all the work in hand. He was transferred as Vicar General of the Galle Diocese in 1997. However, he takes great love and interest for Matara Church and makes himself available any time. He has a special place for Matara in his heart.

Fr. Nanayakkara was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Jude Jayamanne who served the Parish for two years. Rev. Fr. Molligoda Moses Perera assummed duties for the second term and carried out the good work of his predecessors.

Then came in Rev. Fr. Charles Hewawasam serving his second term to date. He was the administrator who faced the famous Tsunami in December 2004. He organized the work so well that mother Mary wanted him to handle the entire third miracle.

The Third Miracle

This is the story of the sea voyage on the 26 th of December – Holy Family Sunday 2004 at 9:10 a.m. It was communion rite in the Eucharist. On this fateful day the congregation was less than usual perhaps due to the Christmas holidays.

At this moment the church and its environment and the whole area went under water suddenly. Rev. Fr. Charles Hewawasam the administrator and celebrant of Holy Mass noticed the gushing waters and shouted at the people to run for safty. It was the stubborn waves of Tsunami. At this moment even Fr. Charles had to run for safety. Then he realized (he had the presence of mind) that he should remove the Blessed Sacrament and the Miraculous Statue of Our Dear Mother. By this time, everything was taken by the stubborn cruel waters.

By this time he noticed that another stubborn and disastrous waves which was most destructive was fast approaching causine damage to the church, St. Servatious College and the entire area. He promptly took refugee in the new building and he was able to see even vehicles being carried by cruel gushing waters. The brake between the first wave and the second wave was about 20 minutes.

In this connection, even the valuable jewellery presented in 1918 to the Blessed Mother was missing. However, the water receded. Fr. Charles with a few parishioners and relations went towards the Main Road. There he noticed that a man was carrying a bucket and recognized that it was the bucket used for church collections. They insisted the man to show them what he was carrying and to their utter surprise the jewellery was found. Our Heavenly Mother guided them to recover Her stolen Jewellery.

A Solomn Surprise

Fr. Charles had to occupy a room in the new building and there in front the people were praying for the statue to come.

On the 29 th December 2004, Fr. Charles had a visitor early morning around 6:00 a.m. It was one Mr. Milton Hakmanage – who was accompanied by one of the parishioners Mr. Ravi Ratnasingham.

They informed Fr. That the statue has been washed ashore 400 meters away from the land that Sisters of Charity of St. Mary's Convent was hoping to buy. The Infant Jesus carved on to the statue of Our Lady of Matara had not lost His crown during the sea voyage. It is so tiny, but had survived. Theyalso recovered the gold chain which was on the Infant Jesus carved on the statue of Our Lady' s body.

On 2 nd January 2005 on the Feast of Epiphany His Excelency Rt. Rev. Dr. Mario Zenari the Apostalic Nuncio in Sri Lanka arrived in Matara accompanied by the Vicar General of Galle Rev. Fr. Nihal Nanayakkara and secretary to the Bishop of Galle, Rev. Fr. Christopher Lalith Fernando with the Statue of Our Lady of Matara to celebrate Holy Eucharist and to give the blessing with the statue of Our Heavenly Mother.

Subsequently, after repairs were over, the statue was installed to a special place right on top of the main alter as you could see today.

Rev. Fr. Charles Hewawasam was blessed to handle this great situation and today due to his hard tough efforts and experience, the Church was brought to the normal and even better standard today.

I shall wind up with the remarks your good work is appreciated by all. May God Bless you and Our Lady of Matara guide you in all your endeavours.