The Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, the Our Lady of Katunayake, placed in the Shrine Ground Our Lady of Katunayake for a period of close upon to 30 years, was removed from the location where it was placed to facilitate the ongoing refurbishing program of the Shrine. This Statue was temporarily removed from the location where it was placed, after offering Rosary Vespers to the Blessed Mother Mary. The Rosary Vespers was presided over by the Most Holy Apostolic Father His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, on Saturday evening, 5th October 2013. This Statue, which was removed temporarily, was once again brought to the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake. The ceremony to welcome this Statue, back to the Shrine, was held on Saturday evening, 7th February 2016.
That day was an important and a sacred day. 41 years ago, in the evening of 7th February 1975, the Most Holy Apostolic Father His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso was consecrated to the Most Sacred Apostleship by Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who appeared before Him, in person. Therefore, his completion of 41 years as an Apostle was also remembered on that day.
The Most Holy Apostolic Father, who first of all, came before the Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, lifted his arms and blessed the Statue. After imparting his blessing, His Holiness the Apostolic Father, offered his prayers, briefly, before the Statue of Mother of God and kissed the Statue by placing his arms at the feet of the Statue of the Blessed Mother.
Subsequently, the Most Holy Apostolic Father offered Rosary to the Blessed Mother from a decorated podium amidst the singing of hymns. Devotees who arrived from various places, converged at the feet of the Statue of the Blessed Mother, began to offer Rosary to the Blessed Mother, in faith, along with the Most Holy Apostolic Father.
An old Marian hymn, "Eda kurusa gase Jesu thuma sitithdi..." (When Jesus was, then, hanging on the Cross) which is frequently sung at the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake, was sung proudly on that day. This hymn was composed by the Most Holy Apostolic Father His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso in August 1976. The melody of this hymn was also composed by His Holiness the Apostolic Father himself.
These photos herein show the Most Holy Apostolic Father His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, offering Rosary Vespers to the Blessed Mother along with devotees, in the Sacred Ground of Our Lady of Katunayake's Shrine, on Saturday evening, 7th February 2016
