..:: Archdiocese of Colombo ::..

Archbishop Oswald Gomis appeals for the safety of the Madhu Shrine

[11.12.2007]

His Lordship the Bishop of Mannar the Most Rev. Dr Rayappu Joseph and the Priests of Mannar have jointly appealed to me for prayers for the safety of our hallowed Shrine in Madhu. The two representatives who were here explained to me of the present situation in the area and expressed grave fears of damage to and/or destruction of the shrine.

Madhu is a national shrine and part of our rich Catholic heritage. Thousands of us have been visiting the shrine as pilgrims and prayed before Our Blessed Mother always to be benignly heard. Therefore, I believe the safety and protection of the shrine should be the concern of the whole Church of Sri Lanka, it is our duty to pray and show our concern when the shrine is endangered by the crossfire of battle.

I appeal to all our priests, religious and lay faithful to offer special prayers during this time for the safety of this Shrine remembering also the safety of our Catholic community and others who are sadly trapped in battle in Mannar. 1 trust all of you will remember these our brothers and sisters with great concern and plead with our Blessed Mother, the Lady of Madhu for lasting peace in the country.
I make this appeal especially to our faithful in the parishes that make annual pilgrimage to the shrine at Madhu, and to our cloistered religious Congregations.

With my cordial blessings,

+ Archbishop Oswald Gomis
Archbishop of Colombo

Previous News :

UYLANKULAM ROAD OPEN FOR MADHU PILGRIMS

Uylankulam road has been opened for pilgrims to travel to Madhu Shrine for the Annual Feast to be held on 14th and 15th August 2007.

Due to security reasons, Madhu road remains closed and as an optional route Uylankulam road has been opened after the discussions held by Rev. Fr. Damin Fernando, National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC and the Member of the Peace Task Force of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka and S.P. Anthonymuthu PRO CSL - SEDEC, with Gotabaya Rajapaksa at his Ministry on July 26 and discussed the issue by submitting a letter to open this road.

The Defence Secretary listening to the importance of the gazetted Annual Madhu Feast directed Mahinda Balasuriya, Senior DIG to take necessary steps to open this road.

On the initiative taken by Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC the Ministry of Defence and the Security Forces in the District of Vanni have taken action to open the Madhu Road from August 10 to 17 for the pilgrims to travel to celebrate the Annual Madhu feast.

In the meantime the Bishop of Mannar Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph has come to an understanding with the LTTE to open the uncleared area of Madhu Road from August 10 to 17, the press release added.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph appeals to the government to open the Madhu Church road for August Festival

His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar Diocese, appeals to the government to open the Madhu Church road for August Festival in the Madhu Shrine which will commence from 05th August.

In a letter dated 04th July 2007, addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, His Lordship Bishop Joseph Rayappu, the Bishop of Mannar Diocese says ;

" OPENING OF THE MADHU ROAD APPROACH ROUTE TO
MADHU SHRINE FOR THE AUGUST 15TH MAJOR FESTIVAL "

	I wish to express my deep sentiments of appreciation for the kind disposition of the Government to offer all possible facilities to the devotees of Our Lady of Madhu to be able to go on pilgrimage to the Madhu Shrine.
.	The gazetted Major Festival of Madhu celebrated on the 15th August annually is frequented by pilgrims mainly from the South in very large numbers.
	The celebration of this gazetted festival is preceded 09 days of preparatory services starting from the 08th of August each year.
	The main approach route to Madhu Shrine is at Madhu Road on the Mannar Main Road. As this approach road is closed down from August 2006, it has become nearly impossible for the pilgrims to go to Madhu as the other approach road via Uylankulam Check Point is too long and too tedious.
	May I Kindly request you, dear Sir, to do the needful to open the Madhu approach route to Madhu Shrine at least from the 05th August to the 17th August 2007. Thanking you for the special respect your Government has for the hallowed Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu which is dear to all the Catholics and to most of the people in the country.
	[ Letter signed by - Most Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar ]

	Tiger big guns near Madhu Church premises
	The military yesterday charged that the LTTE was firing from a 122mm artillery gun placed just 600 metres away from the Madhu Church so that the forces could not retaliate. “We could not retaliate because the Tigers have placed several heavy guns near the church premises, while a command centre equipped with a communications tower has been observed at a location not more than 200 metres from the premises,” the official said. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the LTTE following fierce battles between the security forces and the Tigers in Periyathampanai on the Mannar-Vavuniya border, while the military’s death toll rose to 18 by yesterday. [Source – Daily Mirror – 16.07.2007 *By Sunil Jayasiri* ]

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ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOMBO - SRI LANKA