Rev. Fr. Joe Paul Fernando marks 50the year
Rev. Fr. Joe Paul Fernando was ordained with three of his classmates, Rev. Fr. Peter Swaris, Francis Tissera and Michael Lusena, for the diocese of Chilaw, at the altar of St. Joseph’s Church Wennappuwa on September 1, 1962.
It is no secret that all believers but especially priests must be prepared to respond to God’s plan like Mary did, saying “LET IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL”.
Although she was the “holiest human being who ever lived’ she still asked the Angel Gabriel how it would be possible that she would become the mother of God. Mary’s was” just the sort of reaction we all have when confronted with the news that God is about to do something unexpected. Our natural reaction is “But I am not ready, I am not worthy”.
In Mary’s case, we know the angel in effect dismissed her hesitation by affirming that what was about to happen did not depend on her readiness, but on the Grace at work already in her.
Let it be known that there is no man who prostrates himself on the floor of a church and receives the laying on of hands who does not wonder whether he is” ready and worthy” to become a priest, but he is called to follow Mary’s example and trust in God, turning himself over to God’s will.
Rev. Fr. Joe Paul Fernando was born on March 22, 1937, at Katuneriya. He was a student at Joseph Vaz College Wen-
At the same altar at St. Sebastian’s Church Katuneriya, where he celebrated his first home parish, Holy Mass 50 years ago, Rev. Fr. Joe Paul Fernando celebrated a mass of Thanksgiving “For the great gift of the priesthood” on September 1, 2012
nappuwa (1950), a junior seminarian at St. Paul’s Seminary Marawila, (1955) and a graduate at the National Seminary Ampitiya Kandy 1962.
As a priest ordained for the diocese of Chilaw, he worked as an Assistant Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Assumption parish at Bolawatta (1963-1966). As Parish Priest at Our Lady of Sorrows, at Mawathagama (1966-1973), St Mary Church Puttalam (1974-1975) and St. Michael’s Church Nalawalana until 1976 before migrating to United States of America. After having worked in the Archdioces of Los Angeles as Associate Pastor at St. Bridget of Sweden, in Van Nuys, St. Michael’s in Los Angeles, and hospital chaplain at St. Francis Medical Centre in Lynwood, he moved to St: Ignatius Martyr Church, in Long Beach New York. He retired from parish work and hospital chaplaincy to return home to Sri Lanka as a retired priest of the diocese of Chilaw, on April 19, 2012.
Fr. Joe Paul Fernando is a voracious reader and an avid and talented writer. He is a gifted and effective homilist in both English and Sinhala.
His influence has been far-reaching, touching the lives of many different people here at home and abroad bringing them God’s love, compassion and forgiveness, best known to HIM alone, who chose him to be HIS faithful priest calling him “you are my own “. We, the family wish him well and pray that our loving God be gracious to him, bestowing upon him the gift of good health in his golden years of retirement. May he have constant protection of our immaculate Mother Mary.
Ad multos annos. Fr. Damian Fernando Younger brother on behalf of the family.