Bishop’s Monthly Letter

My dear Fathers, I wish to thank you for the programs you conducted in your Parishes and Institutions in connection with the Extra Ordinary Missionary Month in October. According to the reports that I received, there has been a very good response as regards the objectives of the Holy Father in declaring the Extra Ordinary Missionary Month. Therefore, we should continue this process by declaring Year 2020 as the “YEAR OF MISSIONARY REVIVAL IN OUR DIOCESE”. We already have, our own resource persons, who are competent in conducting Biblical, Catechetical and Spiritual programs to deepen the missionary commitment of ourselves and our faithful. For this purpose, I intend to form a Missionary Animation Team drawn from our Clergy, Religious and competent laity to carry out programs and activities to deepen our missionary commitment. At our forthcoming days of Recollection beginning with 16th and 17th of December, we shall discuss   the Year of Missionary Revival in greater depth. Please come prepared with your ideas and proposals. I appeal to all the different Directors and co-ordinators of Apostolates to come prepared with your own proposals and ideas, for different sectors of God’s people such as children, youth, laity, and family in consultation with apostolic movements and Catholic associations such as  St. Joseph Vaz societies.
I wish to emphasize the fact that no missionary or evangelizing effort can be inculcated without a deep and personal love and commitment to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. It is only by experiencing Him and His boundless love in our own lives that we can proclaim Jesus Christ and His message effectively. We constantly hear today the message that Christianity is not primarily a set of doctrines or moral obligations, but our belief and experience of Jesus Christ as the Lord and the Saviour of each one of us and of all of us.
I wish to invite you also, to give serious consideration in following up “Laudato Si”, the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, where he is pleading with all of mankind to protect “our common home”, namely the planet earth, on which we live. At the moment from different parts of the world we hear of all kinds of disasters such as floods, earthquakes and bushfires which are destroying rainforests on a large scale such as the Amazon and parts of New South Wales in Australia. Greta Thunberg, who is a 15 year old girl from Sweden, recently made an emotional appeal to world leaders  on the need to address the issue of protecting Mother Earth and her speech began with the words “OUR HOME IS ON FIRE”. The wanton destruction of God-given natural resources is already resulting in grave consequences to those who inhabit the earth namely human beings, animals and valuable forest-coverage. It is time that we ourselves take the message of the Holy Father seriously, and in our own situations, do everything possible, along with our people, to protect and safeguard mother earth. Let us therefore, include programs for this purpose, into  our schedule, for missionary renewal in the coming year.
We are very happy to announce that our three deacons will be ordained Priests on the 16th of December 2019 at 3.00 pm at St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy. Please join in this beautiful occasion and pray for the young deacons that the Lord may give them a deep personal experience of Jesus Christ, to whom they will be configured ,as Priests-victims and shepherds at their priestly ordination.
We shall have our Christmas gathering of the Clergy on the 17th and for this purpose, coordinators have been appointed to work out the details.
I wish to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt wishes, to all of you, our beloved lay-faithful, Religious and the Clergy,  for a very happy and a grace-filled Christmas. Let us make this Christmas a time of inner peace and boundless joy and a time of sharing that joy, not in superfluous expenditure on externals, but a time to share Christmas, with our needy brethren in our parishes.

Yours devotedly in the Lord,

Bishop Vianney Fernando,

Bishop of Kandy

 

Bishop’s Engagements in December

01st  10.00 am – Blessing of Keliwatte Chapel in the Parish of  Kadiyanlena

04th & 05th   – In Colombo

07th  06.30 pm – Vespers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin  Mary at OMI Scholasticate

09th  06.30 pm – Christmas Gathering at SETIK

11th  10.30 am  – Diamond Jubilee of a Carmelite Sister at St. Joseph’s Carmel, Katugastota

12th  09.30 am – Holy Childhood Rally in Nuwara Eliya Vicariate

14th  10.00 am – Confirmation Service at Nuwara Eliya

16th  10.30 am – Presbyteral Meeting at Lewella  03.00 pm – Priestly Ordinations at the Cathedral followed  by continuation of Recollection at Lewella.

17th  09.30 am – Departure to the Cemetery  10.00 am – Holy Mass for deceased Bishops, Priests of the Diocese  10.30 am –  Christmas Gathering of Clergy

18th  06.30 pm – Christmas Gathering of Estate Department and Finance Committee members

19th  06.00 pm – Ecumenical Carol Service at St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy

21st 06.00 pm – Christmas Carol Service 2019 at Maris Stella College, Negombo

22nd  04.00 pm – Christmas Program at Daya Niwasa

25th  10.00 am – Christmas Mass at the prison

26th  09.00 am – Wedding Mass at Gatambe, St. Mary’s Church.

 

 

 

Priestly Ordination of Rev. Bros. Anthonymuthu Nalinert, Ranga Chalitha  Perera & Jesiah Roninson will be held on 16th December 2019 at St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy at 3.00 p.m.

Deacon Jesiah Roninson

Deacon Roninson was born on 6th January 1994 in Kirkoswald, Bogawantalawa. His parents are Jesiah and Atleesamma. He finished his primary education in Kirkoswald Tamil Vidyalam and his secondary education in Highlands Central College, Hatton. With a dream of becoming a Priest he entered St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Poornawatte, Kandy in 2008 and finishing his primary formation entered Daham Sevana Intermediate Seminary, Kalutura in 2012. In 2013 he entered the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, completed Philosophical and Theological studies and finished his Major Seminary formation in 2019. For his Pre-diaconal ministry, he served at St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Getambe and  St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy  a Deacon.

Deacon Anthonymuthu Nalinert  

Deacon Nalinert was born on 7th March 1991 in Puliyawatte, Dickoya. His parents are  Anthonymuthu and Sagayamary. He finished his primary education in Puliyawatte Tamil Maha Vidyalam and his secondary education in Highlands Central College, Hatton. With a dream of becoming a Priest he entered St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Poornawatte, Kandy in 2008 and finishing his primary formation entered Daham Sevana Intermediate Seminary, Kalutura in 2012. In 2013 he entered  the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka and completed Philosophical  and Theological studies and finished his Major Seminary formation in 2019. For his Pre-diaconal ministry, he served at St. Mary’s Church, Getambe and St. Francis Xavier’s Church,  Nuwara Eliya a Deacon.

Deacon Ranga Chalitha Perera

Deacon Ranga Chalitha Perera was born on 24th April 1991 in Narakkalli, Puttalam. His parents are Philip Clary Perera and Pushpa Malkanthi. He finished his primary and secondary education in Roman Catholic Maha Vidyalaya, Mampuri. With a dream of becoming a Priest he entered St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Poornawatte, Kandy in 2008 and finishing his primary formation entered Daham Sevana Intermediate Seminary, Kalutura in 2012. In 2013 he entered the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, completed Philosophical and Theological studies and finished his Major Seminary formation in 2019. For his Pre-diaconal ministry, he served at St. Mary’s, Ampitiya and served at St. Joseph’s Church, Maskeliya and St. Francis of Assisi Church, Kowlehena.

 

 

Advent

“Advent season begins with Evening Prayer I of the Sunday falling on or closest to 30th November and ends before the Evening Prayer I of Christmas. Hence, this year Advent begins on Sunday the 3rd  December. Advent has a twofold character; as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ’s second coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation.”  (General Norms for the Liturgical Year, no. 39)
The stress is not on a season of penance in preparation for Christmas or even final judgment; it is part of the festive celebration of Christmas and as a consequence an expectation in hope and joy of the parousia.  This preparation for Christmas is especially highlighted in the second period from December 17 to December 24. (Second part of Advent)
The liturgy can only celebrate the events that are historical as they are the memorial of the actions of God in our lives. But we cannot celebrate the events that we await, such as Christ’s coming in judgment and the realization of the Kingdom.
So from first Sunday of Advent to 16th December (first part of Advent) the remembrance of the events of the incarnation are not excluded since it is on the basis of these that we look forward to the second coming. In the second part of Advent, the first readings are the eight most famous Old Testament Messianic predictions. Each one of them speaks of One–to –Come, of the future Anointed One: Messiah.

In these eight Masses the Gospel is taken exclusively from the Infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke – from the first chapter only of each of these Gospels. In this way we read the events which immediately prepared for the Lord’s birth.
The “O Antiphons” The liturgy uses, from December 17 to 23, seven short prayers that have special richness and importance. Known as the “O Antiphons” or the “Greater Antiphons”, these prayers compress and express the Old Testament Messianic hope for Christ. These antiphons are read each day at Vespers of the Roman Breviary and are used as the Alleluia verse of the Advent Masses.
Each O Antiphon is a mosaic of biblical references, collected and written in a style called anthological. The unknown author of these beautiful prayers lived around the sixth or seventh century. The author chose seven titles whose letters are S-A-R-C-O-R-E. Read in reverse order, these letters form two Latin words (“ero cras”) which mean: ‘Tomorrow I shall be.”
The unknown author of the “O Antiphons” knew and loved the Bible,  and saw Christ in His Old Testament background. So the antiphons gives good example for our Advent spirit.

17th Dec. (O Sapientia). O Wisdom

18th Dec. (O Adonai). O Adonai

19th Dec. (O Radix Jesse). O Stock of Jesse

20th Dec. (O Clavis David). O key of David

21st Dec. (O Oriens). O Rising Sun

22nd Dec. (O Rex Gentium). O king

23rd Dec. (O Emmanuel). O Emmanuel

The Advent Wreath The origins of the Advent Wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light.

Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light. From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world.

Symbolism of the Wreath

The circular shape symbolizes the coming of the Lord, in the past in flesh, in the present in grace, in the future in glory.

The evergreens are a sign of our hope for salvation. Green is the Church’s colour for hope. We are reminded of the everlasting life and the Love that comes to us from God through Jesus Christ.
The Candles (three purple and one rose-coloured) are the Light which “shines in the darkness,” coming progressively as each week another candle is lit.
The purple candles (for the 1st, 2nd & 4th weeks) symbolize repentance and conversion, clearing away the mountains and filling in the valleys.
The rose-coloured candle (3rd week – formally it was Gaudete Sunday) is a sign of our joy that the Lord is always near

Sent By Fr Ivan Jayasundera

 

The Spiritual Journey of NAWALAPIYA PARISH during the Extra Ordinary Mission Month of October – 2019.

During this special month we conducted various programs for different groups. Such as, Sunday school children, youth, married couples, lay leaders, choir and so on. Every day we had the Rosary and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. On Fridays we exposed the Blessed Sacrament so that, people could spend a solid hour in personal prayer. Apart from that we identified a poor family during our visit and helped them by building a toilet. In fact it was a time where all could understand our vocation ‘Baptized and Sent’.     On the 05th Saturday, there were about forty five lay leaders took part in the Reflection and the Prayer service held at Ampitiya. Thanks to Fr. Roy and the team.

 On the 06th Sunday we had a special talk on ‘How to be a missionary oriented parent in the family’ for the married couples between 1 – 15 years completed.  Thanks to Rev Fr, Shiwantha Rodrigo.

 On the 12th Saturday we had a program for the leaders of the Small Christian Communities and the Zone leaders. The present challenges were discussed. Thanks to Rev. Fr. Mathew for the guidance given to them.

 On the 13th Sunday we had the day for our elders to share their joy with others. About 90 elders of our Parish participated.

 On the 19 Saturday we organized a program for the Sunday school children. Thanks to Rev. Fr. Leslie for the ‘Thirst’ given to the children to love Jesus and live for Him.

 20th Sunday we conducted a workshop for the youth regarding their modern problems especially on drugs. Thanks to SETIK.

 On the 26th Saturday we conducted a workshop for the choristers and the members of the liturgy committee. Thanks go to Fr. Soosainathan OSB for the guidelines given to them to have a lively and a meaningful liturgy.

 On the last Sunday of the month we had a session for the rest of the married couples. Thanks to Rev. Fr Gavaskar for helping the parents to inculcate the Christian values and show fidelity for their calling.

Sent By : Fr. Stephen Assistant Parish Priest   St. Mary’s church- Nawalapitiya.

 

A SAVIOUR IS BORN FOR US
“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2/11)
For he was made Man that we might be made God. (St. Athanasius)
By His divine nature, Christ is simple, By His human nature, He is complex (St. Thomas Aquinas) Since we are not yet ready for the banquet of our Father, let us grow familiar with the manger of our Lord Jesus Christ (St. Augustine of Hippo)
I think that the purpose and cause of the Incarnation was that God might illuminate the world by his wisdom and excite it to the love of Himself. ( Peter Abelard)
The Word of God, Jesus Christ, on account of His great love for mankind, became what we are in order to make us what He is Himself. (St. Irenaeus)
Every thought, word, action, silence, and self repression in the incarnate life of the Word of God is full of spiritual significance and effectiveness. (R.H. Benson)
Since human nature as He assumed it was not annulled, by that very fact it has been raised up to a divine dignity in our respect too. For by His incarnation the Son of God has united Himself in some fashion with every man. He worked with human hands, He thought with a human mind, acted by human choice, and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, He has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin.  (Second Vatican Council – “The Church Today”)

Sent by Fr. Bala Rajendram

A Mission Oriented program organized  for the Extra Ordinary Missionary Month of October in the Parish of Kowlahena
It was amazing to see 30 marriages being rectified, and 28 adults and 42 children being baptized within one day in the Parish.
These 30 families were prepared for two months by the Parish Priest and the Catechists in various ways. Some  Priests and Nuns were invited to conduct different spiritual programs in order to sow the seed of faith in them and to deepen their faith in future.
I am extremely happy that our parish has been blessed with 30 faith-filled families. For this grace-filled day, they made their confessions on the previous day some after many years and some for the first time.
Our Bishop together with three priests rectified and baptized them. I wish to thank His Lordship our Bishop who came to grace this occasion though he had a busy schedule that week. Also I thank Rev. Frs. Xavier Cross and Satkunarajah for coming all the way from their respective places to help me in this regard.
I hope that I would follow them up to be good spirit-filled Catholics in the future too.

Rev. Fr. Dosmin Raj, Parish Priest – Kowlahena

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

There may be varying opinions about the multiple tasks and functions of the church, but the following represents what would be its four highest priorities:

(1)To proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and make disciples of all kinds of people. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). “And He said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

The passages above, often referred to as the Great Commission, were among Jesus’ final admonitions to His disciples before He ascended to Heaven. Mark’s gospel refers to Christ’s command for his followers to “go preach the gospel to the world,” while Matthew’s reflects His emphasis for the church “to go and make disciples of all nations.” The combination of these two elements, evangelism and discipleship, are generally considered as Christ’s primary mission for His church. “Evangelism” is the ministry of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ that will bring men’s souls into fellowship with God, while “discipleship” is the training of believers to become disciplined followers of Jesus and His principles.

The mission of the church is, in reality, a continuation of Christ’s earthly ministry (John 14:12). Jesus viewed that redeeming men’s souls was His whole purpose for coming to the earth. “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11). And in turn, He imparted this same objective to His disciples. He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). The Apostle Paul later confirmed that the ministry of bringing people to God has been imparted to all those who have been brought to Him (the church). He wrote, “God… has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). It is the purpose of every believer, not only pastors and clergymen, to bring souls to Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the statement which best summarizes this mission of Christ and His church, was given as Jesus read from Isaiah’s prophecy in Nazareth’s synagogue on the Sabbath day. He said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18-19).

(2)To serve as a community of worship and fellowship — to manifest the presence and love of Jesus. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).

God originally made man for His own image to enjoy his fellowship and worship (Rev. 4:11, John 4:23). Thus, a part of the Lord’s purpose of the church, besides bringing people to God, is to gather His people together and facilitate a corporate environment of worship, to express our love toward Him and one another. Jesus described these as the two highest ideals of Christianity. “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

The Lord is greatly pleased to receive the corporate love and worship of His children who are joined together in unity and love toward one another (Eph. 4:1-4, 1 John 1:7). His presence is manifested in such an environment, and authenticates our Christian witness in the eyes of the world. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
Sunday church services were originally modeled from Lord’s Day gatherings of the early church which included the agape “love feast” (Acts 20:7). They would share a common meal together (Acts 2:46) and then partake in the Lord’s Supper — in recognition of the Lord’s sacrificial body, and in recognition of His beloved body, the church. It was a gathering of love to the Lord and toward one another.
(3) To mature believers and prepare them to perform works of ministry. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” (Eph. 4:11-12).
Another important mission of the church, by means of its ministers, is to strengthen the body of believers and equip them for works of ministry. The church should be an atmosphere of spiritual edification, where God’s Word is taught, where believers are grounded, discipled and led toward maturity. This not only serves to anchor their faith in Christ, but prepares them for service. According to God’s plan, each member of the body of Christ is called to serve in some aspect of ministry (Rom. 12:6, 1 Cor. 12:14-31), especially as it pertains toward bringing souls to Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

Even the laity is charged to encourage and spur their brethren on toward works of ministry, and according to scripture, this is one of the primary reasons of our church attendance. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24-25).

(4) To represent the interests of the Kingdom of God in the world, and to influence our society with the ideals of the Lord. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:13-14). Jesus used salt and light as metaphors of the influential characteristics of His church in the world. Historically, salt has always been a valuable commodity used, among other things, as an antiseptic to withdraw infection. Light, of course, dispels darkness and is an essential element of life. Likewise, the presence of the church in the world is Christ’s antiseptic to sin, an influence of God’s righteousness that tends to displace the infection of evil. The church is intended to represent His interests in the affairs of society. It was never intended to be passive, nor to be confined within four walls of a building, but to be involved as a catalyst of God’s high ideals in the world around us.

Christ has intended for His church to let its light shine to the world — to love, to care for, and to meet needs of humanity, while upholding the redemptive truths and righteousness of Jesus Christ. “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). Jesus told His church, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Taken from :  Catholiconline

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE – 2019

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem which is God’s loving entry into human history. As St. Paul says in the letter to the Philippians God shares the divine nature    with us human beings. “Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness” (Philippians 2/6-7). In this mystery of the Incarnation God revealed to us the depth of his abounding love for humankind. “God so loved  the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3: 16).
By his coming into our World Jesus wants us to share in the fullness of life which he alone can give (John 10/10). This unfathomable love of God is the cause of our joy at Christmas Jesus accompanies us and dwells with us. The name given to Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us”.  Hence, our celebration of Christmas cannot and should not be a mere recalling of a past event. It is an occasion to understand more deeply the real depth of our Christian faith and value of life so as to witness to its fullness in the society we live.
As Jesus came in search of us into our world, we too need to invite Jesus into our lives, our families and our society. This seemingly simple birth in a stable in Bethlehem is a universal call towards conversion so that we would be more sensitive to the needs of others irrespective of various differences. Although Christmas is a joyful season, we need to be careful not to make it merely an external celebration. The true and inner joy of Christmas comes from a conversion of heart and accepting Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives. We need to concentrate more on the spiritual aspect of Christmas rather than on the external fanfare particularly in the aftermath of the tragedy that befell our people last Easter Sunday.
As Jesus was born among the poor, we are invited to pay careful attention to the poor and be sensitive to the various forms of human needs and sufferings prevailing in our society. While we engage in various forms of charitable activities during Christmas. The question of poverty can be alleviated only by creating just economic structures. True development of human beings can happen only in a society where there is mutual respect, justice and peace. A sincere commitment of everyone is needed in creating this environment in our country. This country has witnessed a free and fair election and there is hope among the people to see the dawn of a healthy political culture devoid          of corruption and injustice. The economic development that is needed should be a sustainable one; which respects and safeguards the day to day life of the people and the environment.
Let us commit ourselves to change all that which is not in keeping with God’s holy will in our midst by becoming agents of peace, harmony and reconciliation and by forgetting the petty differences which hinder the common good. As we give thanks to God for the beautiful gift of Jesus, let us pray that all of us will be renewed by the Spirit to be His living witnesses to make our world a loving one.

We wish all our Faithful, our fellow citizens and all men and women of goodwill a Blessed Christmas!

 

The Meaning of Christmas Symbols
Stars  The Christmas star symbolizes the star of Bethlehem, which according to the Biblical story, guided the three kings, or wise men, to the baby Jesus. The star is also the heavenly sign of a prophecy fulfilled long ago and the shining hope for humanity.

Candles  A candle, a mirror of starlight, is also a symbol representing the star of Bethlehem. Before electric Christmas tree lights were invented, families would use candles to light up the tree. Also, during this season, two other holidays share the significance of candles and light: Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, in Judaism, and Kwanzaa, a unity celebration of people displaced during the African diaspora, where one candle of the kinara candle holder is lit over seven nights.

Gifts with a Bow  The men who brought their gifts to honor the birth of Jesus inspired the concept of giving gifts during the holiday. According to the Christian Bible’s New Testament, Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar brought gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh to the newborn baby Jesus. A ribbon is tied around a gift to represent how people should all be tied together in bonds of unity and goodwill during the holiday season.

The Colors Red and Green  The color red is used at Christmas to represent the blood of Jesus when he died on the cross. It’s also reflected in the color of holly berries, which also had pagan symbolism during the winter solstice celebrations in ancient Rome. The color green signifies everlasting light and life. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and the fir tree symbolized life during the winter. There is also a legend that says that when Jesus was born in the dead of winter, all the trees around the world shook off the snow to reveal new shoots of green.

Bells  Bells are rung during Christmas to proclaim the arrival of the season and to announce the birth of Jesus. The ringing of bells can also be traced back to pagan winter celebrations used to drive out evil spirits.

Candy Canes  This treat represents the shape of a shepherd’s crook. Jesus, often referred to as the Good Shepherd, was born on Christmas. His birth was God’s way to bring lost lambs back to the fold. The red stripe represents blood, Christ’s sacrifice, and the white stands for his purity.

Wreaths  The wreath is a circular, never-ending symbol of eternal love and rebirth. Holly also stands for immortality and cedar for strength. Today, the wreath symbolizes generosity, giving, and the gathering of family.
Mistletoe  Mistletoe is a parasitic plant, meaning it lives on the tree that it is attached to and, without it, the mistletoe would die. The plant has long been a symbol of love, and some believe that the Druids used mistletoe as a cure-all or some stories claim that it could promote fertility.
Tinsel and the Christmas Spider  If you have ever noticed a spider decoration on someone’s tree, you might have thought that they had odd taste. This tradition is due to the Eastern European tale of the Christmas spider, which led to the reason for tinsel at Christmas.

Taken From : https://www.thespruce.com/legends-explaining-the-christmas-symbols-1254302

 

Birthdays

05th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Nerio Abraham

11th – Wed – Rev. Fr. Bala Rajendram

– Rev. Fr. Joseph Miranda

19th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Lakmal Perera

 

Ordinations

06th – Fri – Rev. Fr. Roshan Claude Almeida

15th – Sun – Rev. Fr. B. L. D. Paul

16th – Mon – Rev. Fr. Shiwantha Rodrigo

21st – Sat – Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando  (Priestly Ordination)

– Rev. Fr. Alexis Fernando

– Rev. Fr. Vincent Wijesuriya

 

Deaths

03rd – Tue – Rev. Fr. Dominic Direcksz

05th – Thu – Rev. Fr. Philip Casperz

06th – Fri – Rev. Fr. Anree Mattecci

17th – Tue – Rev. Fr. Regni Siriwardena

22nd – Sun – Rev. Fr. D. L. Hyde  – Rev. Fr. D. F. Heliams, OSB

29th – Sun  – Rev. Fr. J. B. Callet, OSB