
Wilwa Tikta
CV NEWS FEED // Sri Lankan Catholics celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Tewatta basilica’s recognition as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lanka on Sunday, during a special solemnity that marks the community’s annual blessing of the sick.
According to an August 27 report from AsiaNews, the celebration was widely attended by Catholics and non-Catholics, including Hindus and Buddhists, from across the country who traveled to the shrine to ask for Our Lady of Lanka’s intercession.
Pilgrims reported receiving blessings “physically and in spirit.”
Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao led those gathered for the celebration in a recitation of the rosary in English, Tamil, and Sinhala, as well as a Eucharistic blessing.
“We thank Almighty God for presenting to us the Mother of God, who is full of love, and we entrust our country and all our brothers and sisters who inhabit it to God’s maternal love,” Cardinal Ranjith stated at the assembly.
Pope Francis sent a message to the assembly for “Golden Jubilee of the Dedication of the National Basilica,” which Apostolic Nuncio Msgr Brian Udangwe read aloud.
The Pontiff shared in the missive that he had prayed especially for the pilgrims suffering from illness to receive “the gift of courage and perseverance,” according to the report.
