Sri Lankan Catholics stay connected
News
Ten years after the Sri Lankan Catholic Association was formally established, the community has welcomed its first chaplain and held its second successful weekend retreat.
Founding member and Public Relations Lead Madhavi Perera said one of the main goals of the association was to have their own Sri Lankan priest to celebrate Mass in Sinhala once a month.
The arrival of Fr Vincent Wijesuriya in July last year made this possible and together with the annual retreats is helping families to stay connected to their faith traditions.
Held at St Martin’s Church, Greenacres, where the community celebrates Mass on the third Sunday of the month, three separate retreats for children, young people and couples took place on February 19, 20 and 21.
Children on the retreat.
Madhavi said between about 150 people attended the Sri Lankan Mass each month while Christmas and Easter services attracted more than 250.
After migrating to Australia with their two young daughters 18 years ago, Madhavi and her husband Prabath began praying the novena with three other founding families in their houses in 2005.
When a visiting Sri Lankan priest from the United States agreed to celebrate Mass in Sinhala in September 2005, the families rang every Sri Lankan Catholic they knew and managed to get 225 people to attend Mass in their language. This was the first Sinhala Mass in Adelaide.
The association was officially formed the following year and as more skilled migrants arrived from Sri Lanka, the community grew and became involved in diocesan activities such as the annual Marian Procession and Multicultural Mass.
Madhavi said it was important to celebrate Mass in their own language, particularly for the parents of migrants who came here.
“When they receive the sermon in Sinhala it speaks to their heart,” she said.
Served mainly by Fr George Sigamony a visiting Sri Lankan priest from interstate, and Fr Anthony Adimai and Fr James Jeyachandran in Adelaide for the past few years, the community was delighted to learn of Fr Vincent’s interest to assist the Sri Lankan Community in Adelaide. The appointment was then approved by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan.
The adult retreat group
Fr Vincent arrived in time for the inaugural retreat weekend, hosted by Fr Shehan Fernando, who was ordained as a priest to the Darwin Diocese in 2024 and is currently director of Youth Ministry in Darwin.
Fr Shehan returned for this year’s retreat after making an impact on the children and young people with his love of football and his stories of growing up in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.
The youth retreat included adoration followed by pizza while couples renewed their vows in the Vigil Mass at the conclusion of their retreat.
Referring to the community’s desire to keep the traditions of their faith alive, Madhavi said although the liturgy was the same, there were differences in the style of worship such as adoration and prayer. The use of incense, blessing of statues and the offering of gifts were common, she added.
There was also an emphasis on faith in action and providing for others, including a special collection for Vinnies in November and fundraising for victims of the flooding in Sri Lanka.
“After each Mass we have fellowship, sharing food…that’s the way we keep that connection with home and build our community,” she said.
“And it helps the new migrants to get to know people.”
