Before an immense congregation of faithful, comprising Catholics and Buddhists, the Archbishop of Colombo blessed and inaugurated the first Asian sanctuary dedicated to Padre Pio.Together with Msgr. Oswald Gomiz was the archbishop emeritus of the city Msgr. Nicholas Marcus, auxiliary bishop Msgr. Marius Peiris and the vicar Fr. Marcus Ferdinanz.
The ceremony lasted 3 hours and was held in Athurugiriya, 28kilometres from the capital, on September 23rd. The construction of the sanctuary took 4 years, and has a capacity of 1500 people.
Venerable Dhammakiththi Thero, Buddhist leader of Athurugiriya, told AsiaNews: “as religious leaders I think it is our duty to promote peace and unity among all people without considering any disunion. So I attend this great function of Catholics to extend my gratitude and to share the joy with them”.
Evone Amrasekara, of Ratmalana parish, adds: “As I am a widow of long years, Father Padre was only the strength and protection I had. He has given me his uncountable love through my various problems”.
Lilian de Silva Wickremathilake, 82, is a devotee of the Italian saint: “every Monday I offer my prayers to Padre Pio my guardian. I have leaflet and books containing prayers to my saint and I have been following the Padre Pio services for long time in my parish. He is one of my favourite Saints and I have so much faith and he has helped me lot in my problems. That's why I am here today to honour him”.
Many disabled were among the faithful. D. Selvam, Tamil 72, walks with the aid of crutches: “though I am sick, I came here to give my honour to our Padre Pio. He is one of my favourite Saints. He helped me lot to get to this level. Otherwise I could not walk properly”.
One of the priests who followed the building of the sanctuary, Fr. Kingsley Jayamanne, explains: “this Shrine was sponsored by one Mr. Mario Brusky of New York a fellow devotee of Padre Pio.
In 2001 he came to Sri Lanka and proposed the project to the Archbishop. Archbishop Nicholas Marcus approved the idea at that time and Archbishop Oswald Gomiz suggested that the Shrine should be here at Athurugiriya in a beautiful surrounding with the more space and 23 of September 2003 Archbishop Oswald Gomiz laid the foundation stone”.
In reality the financer provided 50% of the total cost. The rest, explains the commission in charge of the sanctuary, was provided by the local faithful, and their generous initiatives. Even the Buddhist monks gave a contribution.
The sanctuary will be left in the care of Franciscan friars and religious, who will offer spiritual and pastoral assistance to the pilgrims from all over the country.
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