Bishop’s Monthly Letter

Dear Rev. Fathers, Our beloved country is stunned and engulfed in grief due to the tragic events of the meaningless massacre of innocent devotees who had gone to celebrate the most important festival of the resurrection of the Lord. The terrorist attack on them is a meaningless carnage that has shaken the country. As the Diocese we offer our deepest sympathies to the faithful who have lost their loved ones in this horrific tragedy at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade and St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya. We offer our sympathies also to the bereaved families in Batticoloa who lost their loved ones, due to the bomb blast at Zion Church. Our sympathies also go out to the bereaved families of those who were killed in the three hotels in Colombo. We have been praying and shall continue to pray for the injured in this blasts that the Lord, the Divine Healer restore them to good health and a speedy recovery. In the tragedies of Easter Sunday, we have also lost 12 young people from different parishes such as Talawakelle, Tawalanthenna, Ragala, Nanuoya, Maskeliya and Hatton. I wish to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to the respective parish priests who promptly helped bereaved families with great love and pastoral care and helped them with the funeral arrangements. As your Bishop I am legitimately proud of your pastoral concern and commitment in bringing solace and strength to the suffering families. They are the young people who had gone for employment to Colombo and they attend Sunday Mass at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade. They are poor youth of plantation sector. We offer their bereaved families our heartfelt sympathies and assurance of prayers in their grief. The government has publicly acknowledged the serious lapses on their part in heeding even foreign intelligence reports of an impending terrorist attack. An acknowledgement done on the part of the authorities cannot undo the colossal damage done to the people and the country. The priority has to be given to identify any more terrorists still in hiding and to ensure that terrorism will not ever again, be a threat to this country. The present tragedy has amply demonstrated that the government and all political parties should put aside their vested interests and political games to protect the country and the people who elected them. Extremists of any kind whether ethnic or religious cannot help to build up unity, and reconciliation which is the need of the hour. Religious terrorism is intolerable as no one should kill or harm anyone in the name of religion. Therefore, the community to which the extremists claim to belong should not in any way connive or go by default in giving them shelter or not divulging information about them to law enforcement authorities. Any form of encouragement of such above mentioned ways by various religious groups will damage their own credibility. Our country can be built up only if we learn to respect one another and the religious beliefs of each other and the sense of dignity of all the citizens of this land. Many are asking the question what now? What is the future of our country? We believe in the power of God and His immense love towards mankind. Therefore, let us not discount the power of prayer at this time of severe crisis. I would urge all of you therefore to organize the following with immediate effect.

1. The daily recitation of the Holy Rosary in all the homes of your parishes for the country.
2. Conclude the Rosary with the prayer to Our Lady for our country with the addition “St. Joseph Vaz, pray for our country”. (If necessary, get print out this prayer and distribute among the people).
3. Wherever possible prayer sessions to be organized in Small Christian Communities and neighborhood groups.
4. Holy Hour and prayer before the Eucharistic Lord to be organized in Churches and Chapels when the security situation improves and normalcy is restored.
5. Please take the leadership in organizing dialogue and collaboration with leaders of other religions in your parishes to further understanding and working together for reconciliation, peace and unity. Our biggest weapon against terrorist forces will be our Inter-Religious and inter-ethnic harmony and unity in diversity.

Providentially, our theme for the current year is “Jesus our Hope”. In fact, Jesus and His message of love, of fraternal love is our only hope. We are a resurrected people, Therefore, we do not give up hope. The Lord Jesus conquered sin and death. Our faith in the Lord, is our greatest strength. We should be with the Lord in defeating death-dealing forces and ensuring life in fullness, for everyone as the Lord Himself has promised. At this moment our Blessed Mother, whom we acclaim as the “Queen and Patroness” of our country is very close to us and to the suffering people as has always happened, in the history of our nation. Let us therefore, plead with her for her intercession and loving protection to all those who are injured, as well as the bereaved families of the tragedy. As we say in the prayer for our country, “Knowing your abiding love and concern for us, dear Mother, we entrust to your loving care and guidance all races and peoples of our country. Help us to bring about brotherhood, peace and unity in our society. Guide the destinies of our nation and obtain for us lasting peace, so that all of us may live as brothers and sisters of one family”. I would also remind you of the need to follow strictly the instruction of the security forces and very specially the local police in organizing any Religious events in your parishes, so as to avoid exposing our faithful to danger. If anyone has any doubt in this regard , please contact me by telephone for further instructions. I wish all of you, and our faithful and Religious God’s blessings and His loving protection for our country.

Yours devotedly in the Lord,

Bishop Vianney Fernando,

Bishop of Kandy

 

Ad Multos Annos Vivat! 37th Episcopal Ordination Anniversary of Bishop Vianney Fernando The Chief Shepherd of Our Diocese 21st May 2019 MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS OUR DEAR BISHOP

 

Bishop’s Engagements in May

7th ,8th, 9th – Bishops’ Conference Sessions in Colombo

16th 10.30 am – Formation Committee Meeting at the Minor Seminary

8th 08.45 am – Thanksgiving Mass at St. Lucia’s Cathedral for the presence of Good Shepherd Congregation in Sri Lanka.

20th & 21st – Clergy Monthly Recollection at Lewella

 

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES AND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCE…………..

Our deepest and heartfelt condolences are hereby conveyed to all those have lost their loved ones, or have been affected by this awful tragedy on Easter Sunday ( 21.04.2019 ). Words are inadequate to express our sorrow over the dearly departed. May the Lord grant them the reward of His faithful ones in His Kingdom. May the bereaved families find peace and comfort in the days to come with the grace of the Risen Lord and through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and with the love and support they have around them. We pray that the Lord will grant our country the gift of peace. The Bishop and the Presbyterium of the Diocese of Kandy

 

Sri Lanka attacks: Black Easter What we know about the Easter bombings On Easter Sunday, suicide bombers killed about 250 people and injured more than 500 at churches and top -end hotels across Sri Lanka. Most victims were Sri Lankans, but at least 38 foreigners are among the dead, including British, Indian and US citizens. The official death toll had reached 250 by Thursday. However, the Sri Lankan government then revised that figure down to 253, blaming a calculation error. Evidence is mounting that local jihadists linked to the Islamic State (IS) group carried out the attack, and police have made a number of arrests. What happened? The first reports were at about 08:45 (03:15 GMT) on Sunday 21 April. Six blasts took place within a short space of time. Three were at churches – in the Kochchikade district of the capital, Colombo; in Negombo, to the north; and in the eastern city of Batticaloa. The other three blasts rocked the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels in Colombo. Two further explosions were reported later as police searched for suspects – one in Dehiwala in southern Colombo, and another one near the Colombo district of Dematagoda, during a police raid. Late on Sunday, an improvised explosive device was found and disposed of close to the country’s main airport, near Colombo. And on Monday another blast rocked a street near a church in the capital. Police were attempting to defuse explosives in a vehicle used by the attackers when it blew up. According to police sources, an attack on a fourth hotel failed and helped lead police to the Islamist group now blamed for the assault. Who are the victims? Hundreds of Sri Lankan families are in mourning. Other Sri Lankans killed included members of church congregations and staff at the hotels targeted. The confirmed international casualties are from the UK, Denmark, Portugal, India, Turkey, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Bangladesh, the US and China. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Seven victims belonging to one family were buried in Negombo on Wednesday Who were the attackers? On Monday Sri Lankan authorities said they believed a little-known local militant Islamist group known as National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) was to blame. Who are National Thowheed Jamath? On Tuesday, IS said it had carried out the attacks, and released video of men it says were the bombers, pledging allegiance to the group. All but one of the men can be seen with their faces covered. Some are holding knives. The man with his face uncovered has been named as the bombers’ suspected ringleader, Islamist preacher Zahran Hashim. It is unclear if he was among the suicide bombers.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Security forces remain on high alert at St Anthony’s, and across the country IS said “members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka” had been targeted. BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says that while IS in the past has claimed attacks it was not involved in, this statement is being taken seriously due to the scale of the attacks. The choice of targets is more in line with IS ideology than with traditional types of communal violence seen in Sri Lanka, he adds. According to the Sri Lankan government, most of the attackers were “well educated” and had come from “middle- or upper middle-class” families. Two were sons of a wealthy spice trader, Mohamed Ibrahim, who was arrested after the attacks. How has the government responded? It admitted a “major intelligence lapse” after it was revealed that an Indian intelligence warning from the beginning of the month about planned attacks was not properly shared by the authorities. Security services had been monitoring the NTJ, but the prime minister and the cabinet were not warned, ministers said. President Maithripala Sirisena moved to sack the defence secretary and inspector general of police. Some 60 arrests have been made and a curfew was imposed. What is the country’s religious make-up? Sunday’s attacks were the worst ever against Sri Lanka’s small Christian minority, who make up just 7% of the 21 million population. Theravada Buddhism is Sri Lanka’s biggest religion, accounting for about 70% of the population. Hindus and Muslims make up around 12% and 10% of the population respectively. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Christians are a small minority in Sri Lanka The attacks are Sri Lanka’s deadliest act of violence since the end of the 26-year civil war in 2009. The war is thought to have killed between 70,000 and 80,000 people and ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, who had fought for independence for the Tamil minority. Taken from: BBC News

 

Remain calm – Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith “The government should hold an impartial for inquiry and find out who is responsible for these attacks. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith while requesting those to maintain law and order in the country in order to bring the culprits to book and punish them, condemned these dastardly acts, and observed that only animals would behave in the way those responsible had behaved. “I wish to condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. I ask all Sri Lankans not to take the law in to their hands and help maintain peace and harmony in this country. I appeal to the doctors to please help, those in dire needs at this hour sacrificing your Sunday leave to save even just one life”. (Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith addressing the media at the Archbishop’s House, Borella, yesterday (22nd April 2019) expressed his grief over the explosions that occurred at three churches on Easter Sunday mass.) Taken From: Daily News

 

Pope Francis, Asian Bishops, others renew solidarity with Sri Lanka after blasts Pope Francis pledged his closeness and solidarity with Sri Lanka again on Monday after the deadly terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday. Asian Churches and others joined in expressing their condolences. Churches, groups and individuals joined Pope Francis as he reiterated his spiritual and fatherly closeness to the people of Sri Lanka following terrorist attacks on 3 churches and 3 hotels on Easter Sunday. Pope Francis Speaking to a large crowd in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square at midday on Easter Monday, the Pope said he was very close to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Archdiocese of Colombo, the capital, and prayed for the numerous victims and wounded. While urging the international community to offer the needed help to Sri Lanka, he called on them not to hesitate in condemning these terrorist and inhuman acts that are never justifiable. The previous day, Easter Sunday, speaking after the special Easter ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing, the Holy Father expressed his “heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka], wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence.” Among the targets in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa are two Catholic churches: St. Anthony’s Shrine in the capital and St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, north of Colombo. Asian bishops Meanwhile, the Catholic Churches of Asia also expressed their solidarity and condolence to the Sri Lanka Church. “Allow me to express my sincere anguish at this tragedy that has taken the toll on scores of innocent human lives on the very day when we celebrate world over the victory of life and goodness over death and evil,” wrote the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar in a letter to Cardinal Ranjith. No group has claimed responsibility for the April 21 explosions, many of them suicide bombings, which has killed nearly 300 people and wounded 500 others – the deadliest attack in the island nation since the end of a civil war in 2009. Among the casualties are many foreigners. Card. Ranjith described the attacks as “bestial and inhuman” and extended his condolences to the families of the dead and wounded. He also called on health professionals to help save lives and tend to the injured. Card. Bo, the Archbishop of Yangon, offered his fraternal support saying, “As I place my humble prayers for all the victims of this senseless violence, I also pray for the caregivers and relief agents.” “We need to plead the mercy seat of the Risen Lord Jesus, the Prince of Hope and Peace, to strengthen all people of good will to help stabilize the situation of fear and suspicion that has arisen following the blasts,” the cardinal prayed. The president of the Federation of 19 bishops conferences of Asia concluded pledging the prayers of the bishops and their faithful for Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, over 70% of its some 20 million population is Buddhist, with Hindus and Muslims forming the largest minority groups with 12.6% and 9.7% respectively. Christians who number about 1.5 million, are largely Catholic, forming just 6% of the population. Indian Catholic Church In a separate message, India’s Catholic Church also expressed its pain over the blasts in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), wrote to Card. Ranjith on April 21 saying the Church in India is “deeply saddened and pained” by the attacks. “We offer our prayerful solidarity with the families of the victims and the survivors of the church bombings,” Card. Gracias wrote. “On this great feast of hope of the Resurrection, our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka are devastated by this senseless violence. We pray to the Risen Jesus for peace.” Similar sentiments have been expressed by individuals, Churches and organizations from around the world. Among them are the bishops’ conferences of the United States, Hungary and Germany, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, the Community of Sant’Egidio, President Sergio Mattarella of Italy, “Aid to the Church in Need” and the World Council of Churches.

From : Vatican News

 

Beautifully written by an Indian convert sister. (It is written to the killer who attacked Christians in SL) (I) Appreciate that you made the effort to find out the timing of our mass. Appreciate that you learnt more about our religion to know that Sundays are the days we go to Church for the congregational prayers and Mass But I guess there were some things you, rather unfortunately, didn’t get to learn. Perhaps you didn’t know that what you did made them Martyrs. And how you have single-handedly raised the statuses of our brothers and sisters in the eyes of their beloved Jesus with your actions. And how, through your actions, they will be raised as the most righteous and pious of Christian’s. Perhaps you didn’t know that doing what you did, at the time and place you chose, it actually meant that the last words that escaped their lips were probably words of remembrance and praise of Jesus. Which is a noble end many Christians could only dream of. And perhaps you didn’t know, but what you did would almost guarantee them paradise. Appreciate that you showed the world how Christians welcome, with open arms, even people like yourself into our Church, which is our second home. Appreciate you for showing that our Church have no locks or gates, and are unguarded because everyone and anyone is welcome to be with us. Appreciate you for allowing the world to see the powerful image of men you injured, lying on back on the stretcher with his index finger raised high, as a declaration of his faith and complete trust in Jesus. Appreciate how you brought the Churches, government and communities together to stand with us. Appreciate that you made countless Sri Lankans come out of their homes to visit the Church nearest to them with flowers with beautiful messages of peace and love. You have broken many many hearts and you have made the world weep. You have left a huge void. But what you also have done have brought us closer together. And it has strengthened our faith and resolve. In the coming weeks, more people will turn up in the Church, a place you hate so much, fortified by the strength in our faith, and inspired by our fallen brothers and sisters. In the coming weeks, more non Christians will turn up at the gates of Churches with fresh flowers and beautifully handwritten notes. They may not have known where the Church in their area was. But now, they do. All because of you. You may have achieved your aim of intended destruction, but I guess you failed to incite hatred, fear and despair in all of us. And while I understand that it may have been your objective, I hate to say that after all of that elaborate planning, and the perverse and wretched efforts on your part, you still failed to drive a divide among the Catholics and non-Christians in the world. For that, I can’t say that I’m sorry. From: Whatapp

 

Fruits of Private Prayer If we had just take the time to get alone with God and seek him, If we had take the time to get alone with God and seek Him to have a regular daily intense time of prayer with the Lord…… Every man of God in history in the Old Testament that used by God was an instrument of the Lord, and anointing of God ,miracles happen through his or her life. You will find that they were men and women of intense prayer. They have the custom of shutting the world out. separating themselves from everybody and everything and have a quality time with the heavenly father. Daniel went to his room and opened the window and he prayed. But he prayed in secret. He did it three times a day. He knelt upon his knees three time a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God morning, noon and evening bowed to give thanks and to worship and praise his heavenly Father. Jesus set the example for private praying— sacrifice is full of it He constantly sought out private places to pray when he pray, he send his disciples away, because he st alone with his heavenly father.. Mt 14/23 – After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountain side by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. You will find it all through the ministry of Jesus. And in the morning rising up. He went out departed into a solitary place – no body’s around and there He prays. MK 6/46 – After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. He sent them away. God has to have you alone to Himself If I have to learn anything, I will not get direction from the lord. I will never reach my potential in Christ. I will never have the ministry. He wants me to have unless I have quality time alone. This is what Jesus is saying to us – Isolated alone an isolated place. Lk 6/12- On those days Jesus went out to mountain to pray and spent the night praying to God. It is in secret prayer that God most reveals His heart to his people. God touched Daniel when he is secret prayer. But he alone informed him, He also gave him the revelation only when he shut in with God. Daniel said” I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin while I was speaking to God in prayer”. Gabriel touched me and he informed me and talked with me” and said I come to show thee for thou art greatly beloved. Daniel 9/23 While in prayer God gave Daniel the revelation that goes all the way through history by alone with him. According to Zachariah the prophet Zach 12/10 –If you have the Holy Spirit in you there is an urgency to pray. You take time, you set the time. You will find “ he set his heart to seek the Lord” God always makes a way for a praying person. God always know the man or woman who prays and God will make a way.

Sent by Fr. Bala Rajendram

 

Month of May – Month of Mary The month of May is a special time for us Catholics to pay homage to our Blessed Mother Mary. We have some good Marian Prayers for different occasions and intentions listed here.Note that I say we pay homage to her. Contrary to a distressing misconception found among Evangelicals and Protestants, we honor Mary. We do not worship her. She has a unique role in salvation history as the Mother of God, conceived without Sin, who by her own free will agreed to bring the “Word made flesh”, (John 1:14) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into the world. Mary is prefigured as the one who would crush the head of the serpent (a figure of Satan) in Genesis 3:15 through her Divine Son. Still she in no way overshadows Him, nor would she ever wish to! Her life in the Gospel years was one of service and great devotion to Jesus, from the cave in Bethlehem where she gave birth to Him, to Calvary in Jerusalem where she stood by His cross in His Crucifixion, from Crib to Cross, as it were. While she has a somewhat low profile in the Gospels, her words there still resonate with us today and challenge us to follow her example of humility, obedience, and service to God. We read when she gives her famous assent to becoming Jesus’ mother: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word” (Lk 1:38). A short time later she proclaims with joy in the Magnificat when visiting Elizabeth, her relative, that “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk.1:46-47). And, last but not least, what are her final words in scripture? “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you” (John 2:5). (This is her request to the waiters at the Wedding Feast at Cana right before Jesus turns water into wine with just a thought).The paucity of references to Mary in the Gospels has made many Evangelicals and other Protestants, as well known author Mark Shea once speculated, think of Catholic devotion to her as something somehow pagan, as if we were somehow deifying an ordinary woman, turning her into some kind of interloper hindering our worship of Christ. Yet in creating her to be the only human being without the stain of Original Sin (outside of Jesus, of course, who had both a Human and a Divine nature), God nonetheless chose Mary specifically to play a vital role in our salvation.Mary’s Immaculate Conception enabled her to bear her Divine Son in a womb free from any taint of sin and enabled her to devote her life to Jesus in the most loving and devoted manner possible. Speaking of sorrows, Jesus, as He was dying on the Cross, gave us His mother to be our Mother as well when he entrusted her to St. John’s care (Jn 19:26-27) Numerous theologians and Saints have confirmed this.Mary was conceived and lived a life “full of Grace” (Lk. 1:28). And she wishes very much to share the graces given her by God on our behalf. St. Bernardine of Siena once said : “Every grace that is communicated to this world has a threefold course. For by excellent order, it is dispensed from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin [Mary], from the Virgin to us.” Pope Pius XII was by no means alone when he once said “Whenever we speak of Mary or speak to her, let us not forget that she is really our Mother, for through her we received divine life. She gave us Jesus himself, the source of grace. Mary is a Mediatrix and Dispenser of Graces.” Have you ever asked someone to pray for you? That’s the kind of mediation we’re talking about here. And Mary, as the beloved Mother of God, makes a powerful intercessor for us indeed! Our Blessed Mother has shown us some amazing miracles on His behalf that can strengthen our ives. Remember that Mary always seeks to be a bridge not a barrier to Her Divine Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Don’t ever feel afraid to approach her in prayer for grace, strength and her intercession to Jesus for your personal intentions! Taken From : Catholiconline

 

WORDS OF WISDOM “If you want to change the world, do it when you are a bachelor. After marriage, you can’t even change a TV channel…” Listening to your wife is like reading the terms conditions of a website. You don’t understand it but you still accept it. Chess is the only game in the world, which reflects the status of the husband; the poor king can take only one step at a time …. While the mighty queen can do whatever she likes. Why do most Indian women request for the same husband, in the next life – how can you let such good training go to waste? All Men are Brave, Horror Movies don’t scare them…. But 5 Missed Calls from Wife …surely do What’s Checkmate? You tell your wife “I saw a lady, looked exactly like you” wife asks “WAS SHE GORGEOUS..??” You can’t say ‘No’ and you can’t say ‘Yes’ – now that’s Checkmate! STOCK MARKET EFFECT: Depressed Husband to his fat wife: “You are my only investment, that has doubled.”

Sent by Fr Nandana Manatunga

 

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy.” (1Cor 3:17)

 

Health Inputs……………………….

Which Fruits Have the Most Sugar Mangoes Fruit’s good for you! It has fiber and other nutrients you need. But it also has natural sugar, and some have more than others. For example, one mango has a whopping 45 grams of sugar — not your best choice if you’re trying to watch your weight or how much sugar you eat. Maybe enjoy a couple of slices and save the rest for later. Grapes A cup of these has about 23 grams’ sugar. That’s a lot for something that’s so easy to pop in your mouth. You might eat them more slowly if you slice them in half and freeze them. They’ll be waiting for you as a refreshing summer treat that takes a bit longer to eat. Cherries They’re sweet, and they have the sugar to show for it: A cup of them has 18 grams. If you fill up a large bowl with them, you can lose track of how many you eat. Measure your snack beforehand so you know exactly how much sugar you’ll get. Pears One medium pear has 17 grams of sugar. If you’re trying to cut back, don’t eat the whole thing — just put a few slices in some low-fat yogurt or on top of a salad. Watermelon A medium wedge of this summer treat has 17 grams of sugar. As its name suggests, it’s loaded with water, and it has special minerals called electrolytes that are just what your body needs to recharge after some time in the sun. Just keep it to a slice or two. Figs Two medium-size ones have 16 grams. If you’re trying to keep an eye on your sugar, maybe slice a couple and spread some goat cheese on them for a protein-rich treat, or use some in a sauce to add some zip to lean meats like skinless chicken. Bananas One medium banana has 14 grams sugar. If that seems like more than you bargained for, slice half of it into your morning cereal or smash a small piece in the middle of your peanut butter sandwich. Less Sugar: Avocados Not all fruits are loaded with the sweet stuff. A whole avocado — yep, it’s a fruit — has only half a gram of sugar. Put it in a salad, spread it on toast, or make some guacamole. But while they’re low in sugar, they’re high in calories, so it might not be a good idea to make them a daily habit. Less Sugar: Guavas Each one has 5 grams of sugar and about 3 grams of fiber, too — more than you’d get from a serving of brown rice or a slice of whole-grain bread. You’ll get even more fiber if you add guavas with the skin on to your smoothies. Less Sugar: Raspberries These pack a serious punch of fiber with 8 grams per cup — and only 5 grams of sugar. The fiber is good for digestion and can help you feel fuller with fewer calories. They’re the perfect size to savor one at a time, and they’re not bad with some fresh whipped cream and a spoon, either. Less Sugar: Cantaloupe It’s kind of amazing that the flavor and satisfaction packed in a single medium wedge can come from only 5 grams of sugar — and only 23 calories. Try it with some cottage cheese and a sprinkle of salt. Less Sugar: Papayas Here’s a good one to add to your shopping list: Half of a small one has 6 grams of sugar. Even a small one is pretty big, so half is plenty to eat at one time. You can add a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of sea salt — or a dollop of frozen yogurt for a tropical treat. Less Sugar: Strawberries A cup of whole strawberries has only 7 grams. Add them to a salad for some vibrant color and a touch of summer.

Taken from MedicineNet.com

Sent by Fr. Jayanath Perera

 

Birthdays

10th – Fri – Rev. Fr. Leonard Wijeratne

 

Ordination

06th – Mon – Rev. Fr. Yovan Saverimutthu, OSB

21st – Tue – Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando (Episcopal Ordination)

22nd – Wed- Rev. Fr. Roshan Dilrukshan – Rev. Fr. Jayanath Perera – Rev. Fr. Anton Gavaskar

28th – Tue – Rev. Fr. Y. Satkunarajah

 

Deaths

06th – Mon – Rev. Fr. Kingsley Silva – Rev. Fr. Placidus Fernando, OSB

09th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Raphael Satoli, OSB – Rev. Fr. Columnbun Macay, OSB

10th – Fri – Rev. Fr. J. Caspersz, OSB

16th – Thu – Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Perera

22nd – Wed – Ret. Rev. Dr. Bede Beckmayer, OSB

24th – Fri – Rev. Fr. A. Pancrazi, OSB