APRIL 2025
VOL. 04
NEWSLETTER
CHURCH OF SS. MARY & JOHN
03, Stanley Tilakaratne Mawatha, Nugegoda.
Tel : 0112854067
WELCOME!
We warmly welcome all newcomers to the Church of
SS. Mary and John, Nugegoda. We are delighted that
you are a part of the worship community of this parish.
All those who wish to enrol as members are kindly
requested to fill in a membership form which can be
obtained from the Vicar or one of our Wardens.
SERVICE TIMES FOR THIS MONTH OUR CLERGY
1st & 4th Sunday Vicar : Rev. Sam Ponniah
07.30am English Tel : 011 281 1072, 077 741 6681
Email :
[email protected] 09.15am Sinhala
10.45am Tamil Curate : Rev. Gamini Perera
05.30pm English Tel : 077 770 0712
Home : 011 285 2243
Palm Sunday - 13th April
Curate : Rev. Ramesh Schaffter
08.00am Trilingual Service Tel : 077 730 7544
No evening service Email :
[email protected]Easter Sunday - 20th April
05.30am Tamil VISITORS!
07.30am English
09.15am Sinhala We are glad to have you!
No evening service
Ask for assistance from our ushers as you enter
our Church and they will welcome you with
Week days Holy Eucharist at 7.00am
warmth and kindness and usher you to your
seats.
PARISH DIRECTORY
BOARD OF WARDENS
Ms. Rukmal Fernando (Vicar's Warden) Tel. 0777720823
Mr. Hiran De Mel ( People's Warden) Tel. 0767732506
Mr. Ravi Pieris (People's Warden) Tel. 0777531675
Mr. Chumley Ranatunge (People's Warden) Tel. 0773476579
Mr. Julian Manuel (Hon. Treasurer) Tel. 0717441745
Ms. Rani Jesudian (Hon. Secretary) Tel. 0777901198
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTRE
Mrs. Ramani Jayasundera (Hon. Secretary) Tel. 0777792962
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE SENIOR FRIEND'S HOME
Mrs. Niluka Wickremesinghe (Hon. Secretary) Tel. 0774679256
CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROJECT
Mrs. Ramani Jayasundera (Hon. Directress) Tel. 0777792962
PRE SCHOOL
Mrs. Shiromie Dharmadasa Tel: 0773317501
PARISH OFFICE
Clerk - Mr. Niranka Seneviratne Tel. 0112854067 or 0711352876
Finance Officer - Mr. Romesh Perera Tel. 0711944088
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Superintendent - Ms. Romela De Mel Tel. 0773583351
COMMUNITY CENTRE
Manager - Mr. Lucas Seneviratne Tel. 0112821097
Caretaker Tel. 0766299344
SENIOR FRIEND’S HOME
Matron - Ms. Debbie Coggins Tel. 0770608168
HEAD SERVER
Ms. Nicholi Shasha Napthali Tel. 0741837670
Your Vicar's thoughts…
My dear friends, their hard work. I urge parents to send their
children to Sunday School till they complete
Lent their Ordinary Level Exams. Sunday school
We are now well into the season of Lent. The education is different to weekday school. It
turnout on Ash Wednesday was encouraging, offers our children to come to gather as
with a good number attending the services. Our Christian children and discuss faith and the
Lent Bible Studies have seen a participation of challenges they face as little ones. It also
10 to 15 women, while the Stations of the Cross enables them to learn basic bible stories and be
have drawn 15 to 20 attendees. However, introduced to the Holy Scriptures and begin to
weekday morning services have had very poor apply the word of God to their life. I have asked
attendance, and on many days, they could not the teachers to reach out to parents who have
be held due to the absence of a congregation. children attending school yet not attending
Sunday class.
In the previous newsletter, I shared some
insights into the significance of Lent. In the This year, the Mothering Sunday service was
Western world, this season coincides with followed by a blood donation campaign
spring-a time of renewal and new life. organized by the Board of Wardens and
Historically, Lent was established in the 4th coordinated by the youth of our church. We are
century as a period of fasting and repentance in mindful that members of other faiths in our land
preparation for Easter. Originally, it was also a frequently engage in blood donation drives, and
time of preparation for new believers who there is great value in Christians participating in
would be baptized during the Easter Vigil on such life-giving acts, following the selfless
Holy Saturday. example of Jesus Christ. We were able to donate
75 pints of blood to the blood bank. I would like
Lent lasts for 40 days, beginning on Ash to thank all who rallied round to make this lent
Wednesday and continuing until the Easter meaningful by contributing in many ways to
Vigil, excluding Sundays, which are considered make the blood donation drive a success.
festival days. The calculation of these 40 days
has varied throughout Christian history, but As Holy Week approaches, the tone of the
today, in the Western Church, they are counted season becomes more somber. The readings
continuously through Holy Week (except for begin to focus on Christ’s suffering and death,
Sundays). During this season, liturgical dress is leading to the observance of Passion Sunday on
kept as simple as possible, churches remain the Sixth Sunday of Lent. Outside of the formal
unadorned, and flowers and decorations are liturgy, there are many devotional practices to
absent. The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted from deepen our spiritual journey during this time.
services, however, Sundays are meant to be Among the most well-known are the Stations of
days of celebration rather than fasting, in the Cross, a devotion popularized in the West by
remembrance of Christ’s resurrection. the Franciscans after they were entrusted with
the care of Christian sites in the Holy Land. The
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as parish retreat is to be held on Saturday the 12th
Laetare or Refreshment Sunday, offers a brief April the day before Palm Sunday. Palm
reprieve from the solemnity of the season. Sunday / Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday,
Traditionally, this Sunday also coincides with Good Friday and Holy Saturday liturgies will
the Feast of the Annunciation. It is the historical be followed in our Church as it has been in
basis for the modern observance of Mothering previous years. I pray that the remaining Lenten
Sunday. Accordingly, the liturgical color season be a time of reflection, renewal, and
changed to pink. In our parish, we marked this deepening faith for us all.
day with a special family service led by the
children of our Sunday School. I wish to thank Easter Sunday falls on the 20th of April. Easter
our Sunday Schoolchildren and the teachers for is not just a day but a fifty-day period from
Easter Sunday to Whit Sunday. We will read
and meditate on the resurrection narratives the availability of the hotline 109 for the women
found in the gospels as we pray and wait for and children bureau of the police is now known.
Pentecost. In keeping with an ancient church
tradition on Easter Eve baptisms and Recently it was reported that a 39-year-old man
confirmations will take place all over the world was sentenced after a 7-year trial to 50 plus
and at the Cathedral in Colombo. years in jail for brutally raping a 9 year old girl
child. The delay in the conviction despite the
The Nation man having already been convicted to death for
The date for the local government elections killing his son by burying him alive is troubling.
have been announced. This will be a test of the It is reported that Sri Lanka currently has a
popularity and confidence of the people on the 40,000 backlog of child abuse cases. Statistics
policies of the government who came into about sexual violence against children in Sri
power with the promise of a system change. The Lanka is shocking. The average child rape trial
meme that Lasith Malinga posted after the can take up to 13 years. It is also sad to note that
toppling of a lorry that was carrying beer the perpetrators were almost always (not
created much discussion on social media and it always) a known person.
turned out to be a critique on the mindset of the
masses who are quick to judge others and want Global Church
everyone else to change but forget change Meanwhile the retired Archbishop of
begins with us. Canterbury, Justin Welby is reported to have
told the BBC he forgives the serial abuser at the
The open warrant for the arrest of Deshabandu heart of a scandal that led to his resignation. He
Tennakoon who was appointed as the IGP by also is reported to have said that the forgiveness
the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe of John Smyth - arguably the most prolific
and the subsequent arrest brought much abuser associated with the Church of England -
disrepute to the police force who have a long was "irrelevant" and it was more important to
history in the Island nation. help victims "rebuild their lives". This makes us
wonder what measures we can take to help
The budget was passed as expected and the victims of abuse in Sri Lanka.
current government will need to take
responsibility for the economy of the country Pope Francis, returned to Vatican from hospital.
going forward without scapegoating past We continue to join the global Roman Catholic
regimes. community, in offering prayers for his full
recovery.
The rape of a doctor at the Anuradhapura
hospital doctor’s quarters led to an Island wide Global politics
strike by doctors calling for better protection Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is
especially for female doctors doing night shifts. due to make an official state visit to Sri Lanka
The rape sparked a conversation on the from 04 to 06 April 2025. His last visit was in
systematic problem of sexual violence at all 2019. Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold
levels of society in the country. It was reported bilateral talks with President Anura Kumara
that some studies have suggested that a rape Dissanayaka and Prime Minister Harini
takes place on average every 90 minutes in Sri Amarasuriya. There is a campaign by animal
Lanka with most rapes going unreported and lovers to urge him to intervene and stop the
most reported rapes not leading to a conviction. clearing of stray dogs from Anuradhapura as he
It also came to light that marital rape isn't illegal is due to pay homage to the sacred Sri Maha
under Sri Lankan laws. The backlash that Bodhi during his visit. We may have a
women face when reporting abuse, the victim- conversation on animal cruelty, the issue of
blaming culture, the honour culture, the fear of interventionists policies of foreign
shame, and the slow and delayed court governments etc.
procedure are cited as some of the many reasons
for the non-reporting of abuse by women. The imposition of travel sanctions on former
However, there is more awareness created and Commanders of Sri Lanka Army Shavendra
Silva and Jagath Jayasuriya, former Navy bridge over the country’s Irrawaddy River.
Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, and Foreign aid and international rescue teams have
former military commander of LTTE been invited by the military junta to help.
Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, by the UK has However, it is reported that the junta continues
been received with mixed reactions. Ideally, airstrikes on the rebel groups despite the
should the question of accountability in Sri earthquake. We remember the people of
Lanka's post-independence violent history be Myanmar in our prayers.
addressed collectively by all stakeholders, and if
so, what mechanisms would ensure a fair and Parish and the community
just process? Why do victims feel justice cannot I commend the work of the parish through the
be achieved through local mechanisms? Can Community Centre. The Nursery serves the poor
anyone have faith in international mechanisms families in the area by providing the children
to achieve justice given the hypocrisy of the west with quality pre-school education and a regular
with regards to how they conduct war? mid-day meal which many parents acknowledge
is the only proper meal their child gets daily. The
Many argue that international mechanisms, such Child sponsorship project conducts after school
as the UN and the ICC, are essential for tuition classes for grades 6 – G.C.E. O/L in
accountability, especially in cases where English, Maths, Sinhala, Commerce, Science
domestic systems fail or are compromised. and Dancing. Yearly schoolbooks, stationery,
However, skepticism exists because of the shoes, socks, and uniform material are provided
selective application of justice—Western to the children. Additional support to the
nations often evade scrutiny for their own families of these children through Parenting
actions while pushing for accountability Counselling/ Workshops talks are conducted on
elsewhere. various topics. The “wecare” kitchen projected
is very popular both in the parish and in the
This double standard has eroded trust in vicinity. We appreciate the committed team
international mechanisms, particularly among headed by Sonali who faithfully turn up each
nations in the Global South. While these Saturday to feed the community in need. The
institutions can still play a role, meaningful Board of wardens have had discussions on
justice might require a more balanced and expanding this program to a sit-down meal
genuinely impartial approach, perhaps rather than the current distribution of packets.
involving regional bodies or hybrid courts. This would entail more work by the parish
community. The conversations on this will
The tensions between Europe and the US seem continue before a decision is made.
to be increasing. However, the possibility of the
Ukraine – Russian war coming to an end is Electoral roll
welcome news. Israel resuming the military The electoral roll is displayed on the notice
offensive in Gaza and Lebanon continues to board. Please have a look at it the next time you
shock the non-western world. are in church. If your names are not on our
electoral roll this is a good opportunity to rectify
The human cost due to the 7.7 magnitude it. We will receive suggestions for change for
earthquake that stuck Myanmar late March is yet one month. Please meet me to discuss changes to
unknown. Buildings toppled as far away as the the electoral roll. You may also email the same to
Thai capital Bangkok and tremors were felt [email protected] or
through nearby Chinese provinces. Experts fear [email protected]
the true death toll could take weeks to emerge.
The epicenter was recorded in Myanmar’s Wishing you all a Holy Lent and a blessed Easter
central Sagaing region, near the former royal Season.
capital Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million
people, as well as multiple historic temple With prayers and Blessings
complexes and palaces. News reports indicate Samuel J Ponniah
that those at the epicenter of the quake are
largely cut off following the collapse of a key
Announcements
17th April
13th April
Palm Sunday Maundy
Combined Service Thursday
at 8.00am Service at 6.00pm
(Trilingual )
18th April 20th April
Good Friday Easter Sunday
Services Service times
8.00 am - 11.00am - Sinhala 05.30am - Tamil Eucharist
12.00nn - 03.00pm - English 07.30am - English Eucharist
03.30pm - 06.30pm - Tamil 09.30am - Sinhala Eucharist
19th April Lenten Retreat
Holy Saturday Service 12th April
(Trilingual) Please speak to the Vicar or the Board of
Wardens for more information
You may contribute towards
Electoral roll meals to the Senior
Friends Home
is displayed in memory of a loved one or
to commemorate an event.
Call Fr. Sam and meet him if Please contact the Home for
a name is not there or if there further details.
needs to be any change or
send an email to
[email protected] or
[email protected] THEME & THE BIBLE READINGS FOR APRIL 2025
06.04.2025 - Lent 5 Good Friday
Theme "Sanctification - A new life in Christ” Seven Words on the Cross.
Isaiah 43.16-21 Psalm 126 1. Luke 23.34
Philippians 3.4-14 John 12.1-8 2. Luke 23.43
3. John 19.26-27
13.04.2025 - Palm Sunday 4. Mark 15.34
Theme "The Way of the Cross” 5. John 19.28
Isaiah 50.4-9 Psalm 31.9-16 6. John 19.30
Philippians 2.5-11 Luke 19.28-40 7. Luke 23.46
Holy Monday - 14.04.2025 20.04.2025
Isaiah 42.1-9 John 12.1-11 Easter - Resurrection of the Lord.
Theme " Christ is risen”
Holy Tuesday -15.04.2025 Acts 10.34-43
1 Cor. 1.18-31 John 12.20-36 Psalm 118.1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15.19-26
Holy Wednesday -16.04.2025 John 20.1-18
Isaiah 50.4-9 John 13.21-32
27.04.2025 - Easter 2
17.04.2025 - Maundy Thursday Theme " My Lord and My God”
Them " The Lord's Supper" Acts 5.27-32
Ex. 12.1-4, 11-14 Ps. 116.1-2, 12-19 Psalm 150
1 Cor. 11.23-26 Jn. 13.1-17,31-35 Revelation 1.4-8
John 20.19-31
Direct Bank Deposits for Tithes & Offerings
Parishioners can now make direct bank deposits for their tithes and offerings
using the following details. Please email a copy of the receipt or a screenshot
of your deposit, along with your name and address, to
[email protected] for record-keeping and receipt
issuance. Kindly mention your name and the purpose of your tithe in the
reference section.
Bank Details:
Bank Name : Hatton National Bank
Swift Code : HBLILKLX
Account Number : 027010001201
Bank Code : 7083
Branch Code : 027
Branch : Nugegoda
For further inquiries, please contact the church office.
– A Day of Love and Gratitude
Mothering Sunday was a beautiful and spirit-filled occasion at our church this year, as our
Sunday School children took the lead in worship with joy and enthusiasm. The service was
filled with heartfelt moments as the children presented a meaningful skit and sang a song
that reminded us all of the importance of loving and caring for our mothers, just as Jesus
taught us to love one another.
The sermon was powerfully delivered by Mrs. Roshini Herath Ponniah, wife of our
beloved Vicar, who shared deep reflections on the sacrificial and nurturing love of a
mother-mirroring the love Christ has for His people.
As a touching gesture, the children presented handmade tokens and gifts from the church to
their mothers and loved ones. They greeted them with love, hugs, and words of thanks,
echoing the heart of Jesus' commandment:
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your
God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
It was truly a Sunday to remember—one that reminded us of the godly calling of
motherhood and the precious bond between parent and child. May we continue to cherish,
honor, and pray for the mothers in our midst, not just on this special day, but every day.
