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Shrine which knows no caste or creed
By Carl Muller
There is no more picturesque location in the Kandy District. The rock-strewn arms of the Mahaweli embrace it, the roads to Teldeniya and Haragama, the backdrop of mountains. The Fatima shrine stands in this surround, small, chaste, a veritable Roman Candle of a shrine - a church that hold fast to its dogma: "Prayer, Penance, Reparation".

Padiwatte, where the shrine stands, is a quiet place. The road to the shrine is named after Our Lady of Fatima, for it is this apparition of the Virgin Mary to the shepherd children of Portugal, that gives to this shrine such significance.

In the old days, there stood here a military hut, later converted to a chapel. The bridge was of British construction, weathered by the years. It collapsed in 1948 and the new bridge across which we travel today had to be constructed. All around, life goes on as of old - the women at the river's many wash-rocks; the paths by the water.

With the rising of the chapel was brought a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and the chapel became a church of Our Lady, blessed by the Very Rev. Fr. Hyde who acted for the Bishop of Kandy. It was a significant occasion, drawing devotees from all over the parish and its environs - from Ampitiya, Kandy, Meekanuwa, Peiriswatte, even the Pallekelle Estate.

Compassion to all
Since inception, this church of the Virgin has held fast to the concept of service to all. What is sought after is social harmony and ethnic togetherness.The first mass in the newly-constructed chapel saw the giving of morning meals to over eight hundred followed by a noon almsgiving to over one thousand. The poor were served, and there were no barriers of race, religion or other man-made prejudices. This pure spirit of love, of giving, permeates to this day.

The turning point in the history of this little shrine came when the statue of Our Lady of Fatima was taken from Portugal on worldwide pilgrimage. In 1950, this statue was brought to Sri Lanka and it was Fr. Ponnasamy, the then parish priest of Panwila, who prevailed on the Bishop of Kandy to arrange for the statue to be brought to the small Padiwatte shrine. This was done. Let it be known that the miraculous statue was borne to the shrine by the Mahaweli by a Buddhist, Catholic and Anglican. Three pandals were erected to welcome Our Lady. The crowds were tremendous.... But surely the Queen of Heaven deserved a better chapel. It was Fr. Grasso of Kandy who made all arrangements, even asking for an extent of land - even an estate - that could be gifted in order that a more beautiful church and religious complex be built. This estate was donated by Mr. Balavendran Pillai, of Padiwatte.

It rained slightly, like a heavenly benediction, on the morning of the statue's arrival. It was borne into the little chapel. The Portuguese priests who had come with the statue by ship to Colombo, then accompanied it to Kandy, said: "You have decorated this chapel, received Our Lady with honour. What can we now do for you?" The reply was swift: "Let us build here, in Padiwatte, a nice church, make of it a shrine to Our Lady of Fatima."

Of course, the original statue could not be retained. It had many more lands to be taken to; but the promise was made: the same craftsman who had made the original statue would make another. This would be sent from Portugal.
The new statue arrived in 1952. It was first taken to the Papal Seminary where it remained until the Padiwatte shrine was built.

Best craftsmanship
The parish priest spent much time, finding an architect and builders with vision and understanding. He consulted many, even University artists and engineers. Finally, he met architect Mohandiram Rodrigo. Everything fell into place effortlessly.

On May 13, 1952 - the thirteenth anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to the children of Fatima - the foundation stone was laid for the new Fatima shrine by Bishop Regno of Kandy.

A decorated altar to hold the statue was raised. Timber used in the building was of jak and mahogany from the estate of the Papal Seminary. In 1953, the Cross of Redemption was raised on the tower and all appointments within were made to resemble lilies, giving to the shrine the appellation. "Lily of the Dumbara Valley." The church was completed before the end of the Marian Year, on December 8, 1954 and dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. With this came the first procession in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, yet another name given to Our Lady of Fatima, who always appeared to the children, rosary in hand, asking that the rosary be recited daily for the salvation of the world.

Serving the society
Today, Our Lady of Fatima reigns in Padiwatte and with Her, the parish has worked untiringly for the wellbeing of thousands. The shrine is open to people of all faiths. There is a nursery school for children of the area counting a present attendance of more than seventy.

There is a knitting and sewing centre that trains and helps girls gain employment. Singularly enough, many ladies of the parish give of their time and talent to this centre. The church is also building single unit cottages for the homeless and needy and, as I said, there is no ethnic divide.

Even as I write, the Fatima shrine is readying for its golden jubilee celebrations. The shrine is being re-plastered, the surround cleared, floor re-laid, woodwork polished. This month, from October 16, the Lily of the Dumbara Valley will meet the adoring crowds and the message of love and salvation will echo in every heart. Here is where faith will wear its cloak of purest love. As the parish priest says, humanity is not counted in heaven by colour, race or creed. Divine love transcends all these.

This is the message Padiwatte expounds and relates to. It involves everyone and in the complex stands an Elders' Home, a small convent, everything dedicated to community wellbeing. There is a resounding call to do all that humanity is expected of: help the sick, the poor, the wretched, feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted. Yes, "Prayer, Penance, Reparation"- the greatest achievement of all that the Padiwatte shrine will celebrate.

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