Australia – Sri Lanka Catholic Association

Past Projects Obtaining the services of a Sinhala priest

Representations were made to The Vicar General to bring down a Sinhala speaking priest to Melbourne. The Archdiocese enquired whether the Association was able to bear the annual living expenses of $43,000.00 plus the cost of health insurance and traveling, to obtain the services of a priest from Sri Lanka but intimated that the Association can obtain the services of Late Rev. Fr. Marcus Anandapulle, who had arrived in Melbourne along with two Tamil priests already domiciled in Melbourne and was conversant in English, Sinhala and Tamil. After the departure of Rev Fr Anandapulle from Melbourne, a proposal was submitted to His Lordship Archbishop Dennis Hart. The proposal was to have a Sinhala speaking priest (visiting Melbourne for two to three years) as an Assistant Parish priest who can serve a parish half of his time and the balance with the Sri Lankan community while undertaking part time study. This way Sri Lankan church, Melbourne Archdiocese and Sri Lankan community all can benefit. The association was prepared to bear the cost of return air ticket and medical insurance. Unfortunately, the Archdiocese insisted that we pay half of the living expenses. This request was too much of a financial burden to the Association. Later the Association obtained the services of Rev Frs Carlton de Silva, Chrishantha Jayalath, Oswald Firth (during their stays in Melbourne) and currently Rev Frs Herald Thamil and Hilarian Fernando.

Our Lady of Sri Lanka Oratory at Our Lady of Ta Pinu, All Nation Marian Centre, Bacchus Marsh

With the initiative of Rukmal Mendis and Elmo Kroon, A replica of Our Lady of Lanka was brought from Sri Lanka and placed in the Shrine in the premises of All Nation Marian Centre (Then known as Ta Pinu Centre), Bacchus Marsh. Foundation stone was laid by ex-Most Rev (Dr) Frank Marcus Fernando (Then Bishop of Chilaw Diocese, Sri Lanka) on the 9th April 2006 and consecrated by Most Rev (Dr) Frank Little, Emeritus Bishop of Melbourne on the 4th February 2007. Initially maintenance and developments associated with the shrine of our Lady of Sri Lanka, were looked after under the leadership of Rukmal and Elmo. Ownership and administration of the oratory was transferred to the Australia Sri Lanka Catholic Association in year 2012.The Association with the help of the community carried out a major renovation to the structure of the shrine in 2014 costing $15,641.58 (Association $5801.58 and Well wishers $9840.00).

There are three annual spiritual services namely, 1) Feast of Our LADY OF LANKA (in February), 2) Way of the cross followed by Holy Mass (in March/April) and 3) Feast of OUR LADY OF ROSARY (in October). There is a roster to carry out cleaning inside and around the shrine once a month as a group if possible and then pray to Our Lady of Lanka. It is expected to assign this task to as many families as possible so increasing the number to twice a month. Please Note: 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month are reserved as family prayer days at the shrine at 2.00 pm. If you are interested to reserve a date please contact our secretary using the contact details in our home page.

“Our intention is to help families draw maximum spiritual benefits from their presence at the shrine of our Blessed Mother. Bearing this in mind, we strongly encourage all families to visit the shrine and pray together as members of the family.

We are confident that our Blessed Mother will guide and direct them to experience the living Jesus, as she has always done. What better way to glorify our loving and listening God!”

Catechism classes

One of the objectives of the Association was to teach religion to children in their mother tongue. Since most parents showed interest, we went in search of children by visiting families and discussing about this proposal. But initially it was a disappointment as the children were not willing due to their other extra-curricular activities during weekends. However, in 2009 we had another request from the community in Werribee to teach catechism to children. Committee members from the area, took great commitment and went in search of more families and arranged the venue and other logistics. Sr Carmel was willing to undertake this mission with the help of another catechist. Started with about 10 children, now has grown to 25 and is held at St James the Apostle Catholic Church Hoppers Crossing once a month for one hour. Anyone interested to send their children in the future please contact our Secretary using the contact details given in the home page.

Prayer Groups

In view of above theme, Australia Sri Lanka Catholic Association (ASLCA) has launched a program with the blessings of the late Lordship Bishop Frank Marcus to join catholic families through worship and praising GOD.

Resulting from workshops and discussions held at Halls Gap in 2006, His Lordship Dr Frank Marcus emphasised two important needs such as;

1) Have a meal together with all your family members on a regular basis and to put in more effort to understand and to bring in fair feelings about everyone knowing that everyone is a unique person in its own character. 2) Put in effort to form prayer groups in different areas and to pray together on a regular basis.

Based on the item 2, there are two travelling rosary statues going around from one family to another in each prayer groups found in Eastern and Western suburbs in Melbourne. Members of these prayer groups meet at least once a month in various suburbs in Melbourne to recite the rosary and pray for their needs. We encourage you to join in one of these groups according to convenience of catholic families living in these suburbs. Families living in any suburb are encouraged to start a new prayer group and ASLCA is happy to assist them anytime.