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

A Peep Into The Past .

By K Michael de Silva

Sweet and happy memories come into my mind as I attempt to bring before the reader how the Titular Feast of St. Mary's Church (Nativity of Our Lady) was celebrated in the past.

Before I proceed further, I wish to mention that this Shrine almost unheard of in the early years shot into Island wide fame in the late 1940's. The late Papol Chamberlain J. P. De Fonseka who visited this Shrine 53 years ago made this prophetic statement on paper “the few hundreds who had gathered there on that Feast day will increase to several thousands in the years to come”. This prophetic statement has been proved to the very hilt for now over 200,000 pilgrims on this Shrine every year.

My memories can be traced only from 1923. At the tender age of 8 accompanied my father to the Church premises to give a helping hand ill the decorations for the Feast of the church. There were about 25 parishioners both young and old in the church premises. Some were digging holes in the premises and fixing bamboo posts, running coir ropes to connect the posts and hanging tender coconut leaves on the ropes, Here and there arches were made of tender coconut leaves. Coloured bucket lanterns were hung on to the ropes, blue and white flags were fixed on to the Bamboo posts. That was all the decorations and this was done on Vespers day. Electricians were seen fixing coloured electric Jets on the facade of the church. It was a glorious sight at nightfall.

This form of decorations went on only till 1945. The Church premises had to be left free of any such decorations as the number of pilgrims kept on increasing year by year.

In the evening Solemn Vespers was sling by the Parish Priest or a priest from Galle offer Vespers, the officiating priests carried the statue of Our Lady of Matara in procession preceded by the parishioners who carried lighted bucked lanterns. This procession was confined only to the church premises. On returning to the church the priest blessed the gathering with the statue of Our Lady of Matara and placed it on a table near the main altar with two altar servers on either side for veneration by the faithful. They touched and kissed the statue to their heart's content. Here I would like to draw the attention of the reader that this form of veneration came to a dead halt with the arrival of Msgr. T. N. Alles as parish Priest. As if prompted by our Lady Herself, he did not allow any body to touch or kiss the statue as he realized that this was no ordinary statue and needed much care and attention to preserve it. This was indeed a step taken in the right direction. This is being adhered to even now.

On the Feast day usually the Festive High Mass was said by a priest from Galle. After Mass the statue placed on a pedestal was carriedy shoulder - high by lady Sodalists dressed in white sarees with Sodalit ribbon and medal a:1orning them in procession only around the church premises After returning to the church, the priest blessed the congregation with the miraculous statue and placed it for veneration by the faithful. It has been noticed by many that on her Feast day She bears an extraordinary smile on Her beautiful face.

The same formalities continued till the arrival of Rev. Fr. Mark Anthony Fernando, S. J. a famous preacher. He organised Retreats before the Annual Feast and got down priests from the Colombo Diocese for this purpose. This is being done to the present day.

As far as the procession was concerned there was a change in 1943. Instead of confining it to the church premises only he arranged for the procession to go along the College road and come back to the church through the Convent Road As it was too long a distance for the priest to carry the statue by himself my eldest Brother Raphael made a device to take the statue firmly fixed on to a plank and placed between bicycle wheels and drawn by a handful of parishioners. To light up the statue a hand cart followed with two powerful car batteries. The next year he arranged for the statue to be taken in procession in a decorated and illuminated motor chariot. This is being followed to the present day. On the feast day after the festive High Mass the Ladies of Charily whose names I remember Miss Jayasekera Head Mistress of the Sinhalese School Mrs. John Coopman, Mrs. J. R. P. Ranasuriya, Mrs. J. P. Seneviratne, Mrs. J. D. Denleise, Mrs. B. R. Ludekens and Mrs. Thomas Olivelle entertained t he pilgrims to a String Hopper feed and tea at the College hall, only a bus load of about 50 pilgrims from Galle. This had to be dropped with the ever increasing number of pilgrims.

THE GREAT RENASCENCE

In the year 1944 Msgr. Thebold Neddy Alles arrived as Parish Priest and stayed on the longest period of 14 years. He almost fell in love with the statue of Our Lady and there was no turning back in his attempt to make this shrine, one of national importance and so he did.

Hardly a year had passed since his arrival he got different sizes of pictures of Our Lady of Matara printed and wording in all three Languages. He also ordered medals of Our Lady from Italy. All these had a ready sale and went a long way to popularise the shrine. He made advertisements in the Messenger and the sister Sinhalese paper. As a result, pilgrims began to increase year by year, from places like Chillaw, Negombo. Pamunugama, Kelaniya. Wattala. Therefore a longer route for the procession had to be arranged. The time of Vespers had to be changed to 7.30 p. m. to give an opportunity for the pilgrims, coming by the last train “Ruhunu Kumari” to take part in the procession. However in later years the time of vesper had to be changed again as it was considered inconvenient for pilgrims as every thing was over by about 11 p. m. Now vespers commence at 5 p. m. The route of the procession arranged at that time and still in force is that the procession goes along the Beach Road, passing the Convent, branch off at Lushington Road, get on to the main Tangalle Road and again turns off at the Bus Stand, gets on to the Beach Road, and arrives at the Church Premises Stadium from where the officiating Prelate blesses the mamoth gathering with the statue of Our Lady, amidst thundering applause.

For the first time Msgr. Alles invited a Bishop outside the Galle Diocese to afficiate at Vespers and Festive High Mass. The first Bishop so invited was the then Archbishop of Colombo The late most Rev. Dr. Thomas Cooray later created Cardinal. From Then on it has been the practice to invite a Bishop from other Dioceses. This year most Rev. Dr. Winston Fernando, Bishop of Badulla will grace the occasion.

He got the Galle Cathedral Choir under the baton of the late Rev. Fr. A. D. Mattia S. J. to sing at Vespers and Festive High Mass

Mgr. Alles almost single-handed put the Shrine of Our Lady on the Map. The parishioners were really sorry, when he left to take up a higher appointment that of Vicar General of the Galle Diocese Two bus loads took him to Galle and he was welcomed at the Cathedral steps by his Lordship the late Fr. Rev. Dr. N. M. Laudadio S. T. Bishop of Galle.

Next in succession was Rev. Fr. Philip Cooray. He stayed on for only one year as he was not in the best of health.

In 1960 Rev Fr. Joseph Rajapaksa was appointed Parish Priest Like Mgr. Alles. He did all he could to improve the Shrine. He published an article on Our Lady in the Novena News a widely circulated monthly by All Saints Church Borella. He was Principal of St. Servatius' College since the takeover by the Government and here too he did a wonderful job. Even today he is spoken of with affection as one who had done a good deal to improve the standard of the College both in education and sports.

He was succeeded by his brother Rev. Fr. Filex RaJapakse of the Jesuit order. His term lasted 5 years and he kept up all formalities concerning the feast as best as he could.

In 1973 Rev. Fr. Cyril Edirisinghe of Hiniduma Calvary Fame came as Parish Priest. He carried on the good work done by his predcessors and had a great devotion to Our Lady. He left after 10 long years of good work and was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Molligoda Moses Perera famous for his radio talks over the Radio on SLBC. He stayed on for 4 years, During his term he arranged with the Railway Authorities to run special trains and connecting buses for the convenience of the pilgrims. The 75th Anniversary of St Mary's Church was celebrated and he got up a Souvenir to mark the occasion.

In 1937 Rev. Fr. Nicholas Fernando now Chancellor of the Ratnapura Diocese succeeded Fr. Moses Perera. During his 4 years as Parish Priest the Main Alter was laid with marble tiles and several renovations carried out to the Church, The Shrine was declared a National Shrine during his term of office.

YET ANOTHER ERA OF PROSPERITY

Yet another era of prosperity dawned with the arrival of Rev. Fr. Charles Hcwawasam as Parish Priest. He followed in the footsteps of his mentor the late Msgr. T. N. Alles. The life size replica of the statue of Our Lady of Matara in the Church Premises and the beautiful Stadium are lasting monuments he has left behind. His name like his mentor Msgr. T. N. Alles will never be forgotten.

Next in succession was Msgr. Nihal Nanayakkara. During his short stay in Matara he took a very lively interest in the shrine. The new Belfrey stands out as a monument to his devoted services. He left to take up the prestigious post of Vicar General of the Galle Diocese. To this day hr takes a lively interest in the Shrine.

Next in succession was Rev. Fr. Jude Jayamanne who served the Parish for 2 years he left in 1999.

Present Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Molligoda Moses Perera was Parish Priest earlier from 1983 to 1987. As before he continues to give of his best. He his the author of Hymnals and other books. He continues to give Radio talks over SLBC. He will, I feel sure bring more glamour to our beloved shrine.