Rosary Vespers was proudly offered to the Blessed Mother at the feet of her Statue which was newly blessed

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

His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso The Apostolic Father

Rosary Vespers was proudly offered to the Blessed Mother by Most Holy Apostolic Father Rohan Lalith Aponso

Rosary Vespers for Blessed Mother, presided over by the Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, was conducted with grandeur in the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake, on 5th October 2013. The Rosary Vespers, which was conducted on that day, was proudly offered to the Blessed Mother, the Our Lady of Katunayake.

This Statue of Blessed Mother Mary, which was initially placed in the Apparition Church Grounds, on 12th February 1984, is expected to be placed at an upper position on the face of the newly constructed Apparition Church.

People, arrived very early from various places without any religious differences, to participate in the Rosary Vespers, which was conducted in the evening of 5th October 2013, at the feet of the Statue of Blessed Mother, before it was removed from the location where it was placed.

At the end of Rosary Vespers, devotees were seen queuing up holding flower bouquets, hoping to offer them at the feet of the Statue of Blessed Mother, before this Statue, which is binding the hearts of the people for a period of close upon to 30 years, leaves them. It was also seen all of them inclining their eyes towards this Statue of Blessed Mother Mary.

The Sanctuary of Blessed Mother and the Sanctuary for the Holy Apostle, which was erected in close proximity to the Sanctuary of Blessed Mother, was completely decorated by using fresh flowers. The flower decorations were carried out by a reputed company, which is well known for flower arrangements. Mr. Sashika Vishan, the Media Spokesman of the Apostolic Media Networks, totally sponsored the flower arrangements.

These photos show devotees who arrived at the Shrine very early to participate in the Rosary Vespers, holding flower bouquets, until they offer them to the Blessed Mother and the colourful decorations, which was done by using fresh flowers

Holy Apostle His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso says - Word of Christ is the Living Air of all Christians

The Vespers Novena, presided over by the Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, is conducted every 1st Saturday of the month at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. On Saturday 4th May 2013, the Vespers Novena was conducted in Sts. Peter and Paul garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine.

On that day, a vast gathering of devotees arrived at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine from various places to participate in this evening Vespers Novena. This Vespers Novena is held for the Glory & Honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Our Lady of Katunayake.

Addressing the devotees who were participating in this Vespers Novena, the Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, delivered his Homily by reflecting the following.

“When Lord Jesus Christ was living in this world, he has clearly mentioned the following. “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest” (Matthew 11: 28 – 29) as his followers, Lord Jesus Christ is giving us a promise. He says I will give you rest. All those who are tired from carrying a heavy load that means all those who are frustrated will find rest in Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, they will find rest in Lord Jesus Christ. He has also mentioned the remedy we have to do to find his solace. He says to learn from him. Therefore, the word of Christ is the Living Air of all Christians. The word of Christ is our oxygen. We should find the word of Lord Jesus Christ. Finding the words that Lord Jesus Christ has preached means to know those words, correctly, and to spend the journey of life accordingly.”

The Holy Apostle, who introduced the word of Lord Jesus Christ as the Living Air of Christians, further reflected that Blessed Mother Mary is linking this living air, the word of Christ to us. 

“Blessed Virgin Mary is linking this Living Air, the word of Christ to us. Do you remember the words that Blessed Mother Mary has spoken to the servants at the wedding house in the city of Cana? “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5) accordingly, they fulfilled her request and on that day they received solace for their frustration. “Do whatever Christ tells. Then, to do whatever he tells, we should know everything what Christ has told.”

The Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake means a Shrine, where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared in person. Even though there are sacred places in the world where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared in person, the Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine is the first ever Shrine in Sri Lanka, where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared in person. Not only that , the Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine in Sri Lanka, is the Only Shrine in Sri Lanka, where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared in person.

The Vespers Novena is held every 1st Saturday of the month. The Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, who delivered his Homily at this Vespers Novena which was conducted in the evening of 1st Saturday of the month of May 2013, further reflected the following. 

“Today, the Doctrine of Lord Jesus Christ has a history of 2000 years. Yet, by now, the Doctrine of Christ has become an institute of certain racketeers. The Doctrine of Christ has become a company of certain racketeers. Therefore, due to this reason, the word of God is getting obstructed and is not reaching human beings. Therefore, today, all Christians are suffering. All Christians are in a state of frustration. Christians are suffering from an illness. Christians are suffering from the illness of frustration. If we search and find the word of God, then, My Dear Children, we will not go wrong. Lord Jesus Christ says what we have to do to receive his solace. “Learn from me”, that means learn from Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our supreme teacher. Not anybody else. You have to clearly understand what this supreme teacher has taught. Lord Jesus Christ has once again, sent Blessed Virgin Mary to the world to fill that void.”

Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, the Apostle, who was chosen by Lord Jesus Christ and who is presently living in this world, further reflected the following.

“If Lord Jesus Christ has all the way come to the world and decided to choose an Apostle, then, how great is that decision? He would have taken that decision after seen a responsible situation. Lord Jesus Christ could clearly see that his Doctrine is getting obstructed and is not reaching human beings. People are breathing their last breath because they do not know the Doctrine of Lord Jesus Christ, correctly. I will give you a helping hand to learn that Doctrine. I want all Christians to know the Doctrine of Christ, correctly. Then, after that, you could spend your journey of life according to that Doctrine. It is not that difficult. If you feel it difficult, that means you have not understood the Doctrine of Lord Jesus Christ, correctly”

Concluding his Homily the Holy Apostle reflected the following.

“Word of Christ is the Living Air of all Christians”

His Holiness Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso recites Holy Rosary with pilgrims

      The Blessed Virgin Mary, who has appeared in various countries in the world, appeared for the 1st time in Sri Lanka, on 5th February 1975. From that day onwards, she has so far, appeared in Sri Lanka, for 23 occasions.

      The Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake, where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared, is a Most Sacred Miraculous Ground, where people could currently obtain the privileges of the Blessed Mother Mary.

      The Blessed Virgin Mary, who has appeared in this Most Sacred Miraculous Ground, has declared several messages for the people, who are living in this world. Out of the messages she has delivered, in few of them, she has requested people to recite the Holy Rosary. She has also explained how people could obtain abundance privileges by reciting the Holy Rosary.

      Even though the Blessed Mother has requested people to recite the Holy Rosary and even though she has explained how they could obtain abundance privileges by reciting the Holy Rosary, yet, it seems that the Rosary is gradually getting pushed away from the modern society.

      The Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, who has considered all these factors, gathers people on and off and prays the Holy Rosary, in the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake.

      Devotees show a great enthusiasm to recite the Holy Rosary along with the  Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, who was fortunate to see the Blessed Mother to his own eyes, in the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake, where she has appeared.

Most Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, prayed the Rosary, in candle light, along with devotees, in the evening of Saturday 16th March 2013, in Sts. Peter and Paul garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine