Katana awestruck at the image of Mary

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi

Childish voices raised in veneration, without missing a beat, as fighter planes zoom low every fifteen or twenty minutes from the Air Force base close by. The faithful, mostly children and women have gathered in this church of St. Anthony for the weekly Tuesday novena, after the summons of the bell a few minutes before 5.30 in the evening. This church set among coconut trees in the village of Khongodamulla, off the Negombo-Katana Road, is like any other, or may be even smaller than most in this very Catholic area. It caters to about 1,000 families.

The church itself has got a fresh coat of paint and looks spruced up. That is not surprising since it celebrated 50 years in June. The church suddenly fills up with more people as the novena ends at 6.30 amidst hymns and incense. Vans disgorge groups of people, and cars, motorcycles and trishaws wend their way into the large churchyard.

At 6.30, there is a hushed air of expectation with all eyes riveted on the altar, as Parish Priest Kingsley Ivan reaches into the tabernacle and reverently picks up the Host, which Catholics believe is the body of Christ and puts it into the monstrance (the vessel in which the host is exposed for veneration) for the exposition of the Holy Sacrament (the Eucharist or the consecrated bread). People rush to the altar rail and genuflect. I too peer at the white Host made of flour. There seems to be a shadow on the Host.

"The image first appeared on June 24, when we were celebrating our 50th anniversary. As the priest raised the Blessed Sacrament for veneration, we saw it very clearly. It looked like Christ and as I stood up it seemed like the image of Mother Mary with baby Jesus in her arms," said a nun from the nearby convent who wished to remain anonymous.

Thirteen-year-old Nisal Madhusanka was the altar boy that day. The priest who was conducting the service had come from Colombo and he was assisting him. "Jesuwa dekka saprasada karanduwe," (I saw Jesus on the Blessed Sacrament), Nisal, a student of the school next door, insists.

This was the echo of most people we spoke to. For some it is just the image of the Mother of Christ carrying the baby Jesus, for others it is the image of Jesus Himself and they vouch that it has appeared every Tuesday since then, except on two days. The word spread thereafter and people pour into the church to see this 'wonder'.

Housewife Sriyani Sethunga with her 10-year-old son and baby daughter had lived in the village before her marriage. Now she lives with her husband in Kattuwa. After she heard the news she comes to her childhood church every day to experience this "wonderful phenomenon".

Ebert Pathiraja who works at the Water Board has seen the image many times. "It is definitely the Virgin Mary. It gradually disappears, but it is there," he stresses.

Why this particular church and what is the significance of such a phenomenon? The views vary. According to Mr. Pathiraja the church had gone to rack and ruin. When Fr. Ivan came to the parish he had gathered his 'flock' and built up the church and strengthened the faith of the people. The appearances have united the village which consists of about 50-50 Buddhists and Catholics.

"The Buddhists believe that there is something happening here, but some of the Catholics are sceptical," conceded Mr. Pathiraja.

For Mrs. Sethunga the images are a sign for the people of Sri Lanka to work towards peace and harmony and get away from the sinful life they are leading. "This is a spiritual awakening."

The nun sees it differently. According to her it is a direct message from Christ that "I am alive. I am among you".

She explains that most people venerate saints such as St. Anthony more than Christ and His mother. "They forget that it's a living Christ."

The only comment we could get from Fr. Ivan was that on the day the image first appeared a priest from Colombo was officiating at the service. "Why don't you look for yourselves and decide?" he smiled.

Whatever the phenomenon, the unquestioning faith of the simple masons, carpenters, labourers, farmers and their families of Khongodamulla was very much in evidence last Tuesday.

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