Nayakakanda Parish Church celebrates 150th Jubilee

On a small hillock in Nayakakanda in Hendala stands a beautiful hallowed shrine specially dedicated to Our Lady of Purification.

The first church was built in 1862 by a Dominican Priest Pullicano and was completed by Reverend Father Carlo Maria Cardano and was dedicated to Our Mother of Purification which continued to be the most popular Church of the area until 1962.

After assuming duties as the Parish Priest of Nayakakanda Church, Reverend Father Joseph Aloysius commenced replacing the old dilapidated church building with a new spacious church. The task of building this new church was accomplished by Reverend Father J L Mica, who joined with the Parishioners’ in celebrating its 100th Jubilee.

The 125th anniversary of this church was held during the time Late Reverend Father Mervyn Jayakody was the parish priest.

The many priests who took over the parish subsequently, continued in their mission of propagation of faith to a very large congregation of Catholics. Among them Late Rev Father Benedict Jayatilleke, Rev Father H D Anthony and Rev Father Sisvan De Croos rendered a great service to the thousands of Catholics of the parish and their dedicated services needs special mention. A large grotto a replica of the one at Lourdes was erected at a scenic spot of the church grounds, during the time when Rev Father Benedict Jayatillake was the priest in charge.

During the tenure of Rev Father Gregory Jayantha, the church and its surroundings witnessed a remarkable change. The old mission house which was destroyed due to a severe gale was replaced by a new mission house, large enough to accommodate several spiritual units of the parish, and outdoor stations of the cross erected and also an open air stage constructed to conduct services of the church whenever a large congregation of devotees, including those from the neighbouring parishes attend them. A beautiful Chapel for the veneration of the Blessed Sacrament adorns the Church. It is also well wor th mentioning that several youth organizations were also set up during this period.

The Kerawalapitiya and Balagala churches which are affiliated to the Nayakakanda Parish celebrated their 100th and 25th anniversaries respectively, also during this period.

All arrangements are now in place under the exper t direction and guidance of the present Parish Priest Rev Father Mahendra Goonatilleke who lost no time in shouldering the yeoman task of renovating the church to make it more fitting to celebrate the 150th Jubilee, on 05 February 2012, ably assisted by the Jubilee Committee specially appointed for this purpose.

During the past 150 years the Nayakakanda Parish had gifted 15 priests (including Brother Dulip Kamal who would be ordained in April this year) and 41 religious nuns, to the Sri Lankan Catholic Community.

Let the special blessings of Our Lady of Purification be with everyone, when they join together in celebrating this historical occasion of the 150th Jubilee.

(Notes from the Diary of Rev Father Gregory Jayantha Fernando and Historical records of the Nayakakanda Parish)