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Security plans and spiritual programmes underway for Pope Francis visit
With the Holy Father set to visit the country on January 13, the Sri Lankan Army and Police are gearing up to implement a tight security plan, while the church prepares to greet the Roman Catholic Pontiff and canonise the first saint of Sri Lanka
“We will provide tight security to the Pope without causing any disturbance to any religious activities,” Army Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wannigasooriya said.
The Police too were involved in security arrangements in addition to traffic plans.
Apart from some of the major programmes conducted by the Sri Lankan Catholic Church, its major focus would be to prepare the people spiritually for Pope Francis’s visit.
“Special prayer cards have been distributed to all the churches, and prayers will be recited before or after each holy mass in preparation for the Holy visit and the canonisation of the Blessed Joseph Vaz that will take place during the Pope’s visit,” Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando secretary to the Media & Information Secretariat – Pope’s Visit said.
“Sunday School children will undergo special preparation and during the Pope’s visit they will present to Pope Francis a spiritual bouquet that will include prayers and good deeds done by these children in preparation for the visit,” he added.
Discussing the route the Pope will take, Fr. Gamini said the Pontiff will travel from the Bandaranaike International Airport along the Negombo road to Colombo in an open vehicle.
“The motorcade will continue upto the Archbishop’s House in Borella and here the pontiff will meet with the bishops of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka. That evening he will visit the President and proceed to the BMICH to meet other religious leaders,” Fr. Gamini said.
The next day will be a special occasion for the Church of Sri Lanka. The Holy Father will celebrate holy mass on Gallle Face Green at 8.30 am and during this mass the Blessed Joseph Vass will be canonised. This will be the most important part of the Pope’s visit, he said.
“Before the mass the Holy Father will tour the city in an open vehicle so that the people can see him. Later on in the afternoon he will fly to the Madhu Church and he will be there for about an hour. He will attend a special prayer service and will bless the people with the statue of Our Lady of Madhu,” Fr. Gamini added.
On January 15 the Pope will leave for the Phillipines from Sri Lanka.
Fr. Gamini said, “We expect people to start gathering at Galle Face Green by noon on January 13, and we will provide sanitation facilities and there will be eating outlets for those who wish to spend the night. We will also have special prayer programmes for them and, most importantly, these people will have the opportunity to give their confessions.”
Social Services Minsiter Felix Perera said, “The roadsides will be decorated with flags and banners greeting the Pope. Around 3000 flags will be fixed alongside the road from the airport upto the Dalugama Bridge. The people will stand on either side of the road and will be able to see the Holy Father as he passes by.”
| Goans to attend Fr. Vaz’ canonisation in Colombo
By Aviral Mishra The news of the Pope’s visit to Colombo for the canonisation of Indian-born Father Joseph Vaz has brought great excitement to natives of Father Vaz’s birthplace with preparations for the ceremony being made in Goa. About 1,000 followers of Fr. Vaz from India’s south-western state of Goa, where Vaz was born and brought up, are expected to attend the canonisation in Colombo set to take place in January. “About 1,000 Goans have confirmed their visit to witness the canonisation process. These numbers may increase once the Pope’s visit is finalised by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Sri Lanka,” said Father Eremito Rebello of Goa who is Vice Postulator for the canonisation of Fr. Vaz. Fr. Rebello also assisted in investigations and verification of the life and works of Fr. Vaz which is mandatory for his canonisation. Fr. Rebello also stated that the Goa government, anticipating the rush, is in the process of requesting the central government to start direct flights between Goa and Colombo. “With the overwhelming response we received, charter flights may also be a solution to manage the exodus,” Fr. Rebello said. |