Cardinal highlights the great splendid service of Marist Brothers
View(s):‘I learnt through the speech of Bro. Principal Sunanda Alwis that this college has produced 3 bishops ,84 priests , 13 Marist Brothers and 24119 children and about 600 teachers have beeninvolved in forming the Students for the last Hundred Years. And as at present, there is a need for more Marist brothers in their congregation I ask you to make a big sacrifice. I specially request the youths studying here to try to become Marst brothers and help them carry out their service dedicated for others.’
‘Think of this. Whatever career you want to pursue to be in future, it is only through such a life you could fulfill the aspirations shown by Jesus.’
So said His eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Archbishop of Colombo in his speech given at the end of the Centenary celebration High mass held at the Maris Stella College Negombo, attended by a large number of entire present students & teachers, past teachers, Brothers, Parents, priests, sisters, distinguished guests, old boys , well wishers.
Maris Stella College Negombo attracted by its grandeur- historical elements such as large spacious lawn, huge mature Maara Trees, long corridors proudly celebrated its 100th year on the 18th of June 2022.
It was founded in 1922 by Marist brothers who arrived in Battcoloa in 1911 and then in Negombo in 1917. Marists brothers’ interestedin starting education institutes first joined the St. Mary’s College Negombo and they wanted to expand it. Realising this need the then Archbishop of Colombo Anthony Courdert handed over a 7 acre marshy coconut estate at Koppara Junction to Marist brothers.
This land had been donated by Mrs. Rosa Isabella de Crooze Dabarera and Mary Christine de Crooze, for the purpose of starting a school by the Marist Brothers.
Now this great seat of learning grown like the huge Mara trees still visible in the quadrangle standing witness to the great success stories, has produced all rounded individuals to the world as envisaged by their founder St. MarcelineChampagnal who established the Marist congregation to be fully dedicated for the education of the poor children in the city Leon in Paris in 1817.
Earlier in the homily given at the Centennial mass, which His Eminence had to stop for a while as it started drizzling with a breeze cooling the well arranged quadrangle with seating facilities for all He said ‘ a young priest called Fr Marceline started his congregation for the wandering children to help them live a good life.His motto was ‘…IterParaTutum‘….. and it means ‘through the pure heart of Mother Mary our way may be clear for us to lead a good life’ For 100 years this congregation has been doing a unique service. It is a gift of God. We appreciate your great service in our diocese’
So as the Archbishop of the Sri Lanka Catholic Church I would like to thank them for their service. I wish, with God’s blessings they will be strengthened more and more to continue their work.’
Speaking further, His Lordshhip said, ‘the first universities like the Oxford, Bolongawere started by the Catholic Church and their main objects were 1. Impart knowledge 2.Help them take correct decisions 3.Show how to adapt to the traditional values 4. Appreciating the values in life and 5. Give them a vocational training.
‘Today what we need mostly is honesty. Working without falsehood and living with a policy. Today these values are fast deteriorating. It is due to the deterioration of proper education. Today in every government office something should be offered to get some service done in addition to their salary. There is some kind of corruption from the lowest to the highest officer.’
‘There is a trend pushing towards wrong involvements.So what we ought to have is not a change of those who are in power but a struggle to save Sri Lanka from corruption. At present the whole society is corrupt.. It has become a disease like cancer sucking away the pith abruption the Sri Lankan life and taking the country to perish. This could be achieved by a change in our thinking not by cosmetic changes.’
Here the schools can do a massive task. I know one of teachers who got up at 3.30 am, came all the way from Wennappuwa to Colombo everyday to teach me. Not a single cent was charged in addition to his salary. Those days there were no tuition classes. The class teacher saw to all the needs of each student like hisown. Later every was commercialized. Tuition masters created a wrong misconception that unless you go to a tuition class you can’t pass yourO/L and if youdon’t get 9 A ‘S you can’t do A/L’s and enter the University. I didn’t have that much but I was not a failure.’
Now there is a rush of people about 3500 a day to get passports. In 6 months or one year there would be a Sri Lanka sans people.My dear loving children don’t leave this country. This is a beautiful country. You are fortunate to be born here. We can develop our country.God has given us talents.’
| Mr Upul Mendis shouldering the responsibility of organizing numerous works that had to be done in preparation of the grand celebration, asthe Convener of the steering committee of the Centenary celebration, said, ‘as the convener of the organizingcommittee I took up the challenge of working together as a Marist family. This is how we made our journey together as a Marist family for the 100th year celebration.’ ‘We were getting ready since Sep 6 2019. First we had adeclaration of our 3 year programme towards the Centennial celebration. So we named it as ‘towards hundred years’ these are the programmes we could complete as we had planned. 1. Creation of special logo of our school.2 Renovation of our college chapel.3.Inogurating a well-equipped 3 storey block for Grade 6 students. 4. Introducing a mobile security huts.5. Erecting a statue of St Marceline at the back gate. 6. Launching an island wide tree planting campaign. 7. Preparing T- shirts for all the students.8. Renovating front and back gates.9.Naming,numbering and painting the collegebuildings 10. Holding competitions among the Maristonians and inter schoos.11. Having retreats for teachers and students. Since January 2022 few more items were added, fine tuned, celebration date was fixed & the immediate plans were accelerated. 12. Composing a Prayer to Mother Mary’ 13.Design of the Centenary Logo.14 Preparation of a Centenary Arch with the plaque. 15. Incorporation of more number of invitees including all the Past Teachers. 16. Detailed & well coordinated program was devised with the assistance of 21 sub committees, who did a splendid job. Commemorative Stamp & the First Day Cover, Centenary Magazine was launched & presented to the Malcom Cardinal Ranjith & the Rev. Br. Principal. Speaking on the main Centennialday, there were 3100 spectators, 2451students of our school, representatives of 650 past teachers at the Centenary Celebration Mass. We are looking forward to having a prize giving for all those who participated in the competitions. We tried to get all the schools involved as we wanted to form a Charisma of our school among them too.’ I praise all the teachers, old boys, students for their dedication to make this a great success and finally I would like to mention with gratitude the efforts, advice and guidance of Bro Principal Sunada Alwis. He was the man behind the screen. Mr Ajith OBA Secretary said ‘the main focus of our school is not only to provide the classroom lessons to children on subjects. Our Alma Mater allows children to engage in spectrum of extracurricular activities like sports, scouting, cadetting, drama,music and many more. This is to mould a perfect personality and to be a useful citizen withnoble and gentlemanly qualities. | |
At the political platforms various things like ‘Asia’s Miracle.’ ‘Vistas of Prosperity’ are heard. These are mere words. Have we gained such prosperity?
‘Instead of prosperity what we have now is deterioration. Election manifestos cannot bring prosperity. Leaders should not think they are above everyone. They should think of the people, their food and their clothes.’
Therefore we should not leave our country. My dear loving children, instead, you should be armed with what St. Marceline sought from Mother Mary- The way to lead a good life’ concluded the His Eminence.
Rev Bro. Sunada Alwis Principal of Maris Stella College Negombo, in his speech said ‘Maris Stella College celebrates 100th years as it was founded in 1922. In the long journey of 100 years Rev Marist Brothers, former principals, teachers,old boys, parents and children you all nourished this school. It was started by Marist brothers. So Marist brothers, you take pride of it which has now become a magnificent school. I extend my sincere thanks to teachers and students who were dedicated for the great success of the alma mater. I am also as an old boy join you in praising her for her achievements’. Br. Sunanda elaborated on the vision of Maris Stella College, Negombo, saying that the vision is nothing but a Marian which emphasises Mother Mary’s Role when she went hurriedly to visit her pregnant Cousin Elezabeth. If your neighbor were in need, a Marist ought to have an attitude in yourself, “If I don’t help him or her, what would happen to them,” & not the contrast, “If I do him or her, what would happen to me,” the selfish motive.
Thousands of current and past students have passed and go past this grand façade and solid structure that testifies to our Marist brothers’ commitment to educational excellence.
Education is said to be the cornerstone of civilization and it was something the poor or the lower class people cannot afford but Marist brothers dedicated themselves and did a great blissful abundant service throughout the world through schools like Maris Stella College Negombo.
So let’swish, their wings of wishes be strengthened by the power of their motto ‘ITER PARA TUTUM’.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this give life to thee’
- Richard Walter Perera
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