Colombo Archbishop invites Catholic children to become Saints

The Archdiocese’s 76th Annual Children’s Day was held at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Sri Lanka, Ragama Tewatta on Saturday,25th of February. Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith presided together with the other Auxiliary Bishops of Colombo, Bishop Maxwell Silva, Bishop J. D. Anthony & Bishop Anton Ranjith.

A large number of students from archdiocesan Sunday schools and Catholic schools participated in this Children’s Day, which was led by the Archdiocese Council of Catechism with the theme “ Let us become Children of Prayers”.

The Catechetical Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Colombo had organized the 76th Children’s Day and warmly welcomed all the students to the feet of Our Lady of Lanka at Tewatta.

According to a Priest “On 17th of May in 1947  the late Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Cooray fulfilled a Solemn vow at the grotto of our Lady of Lurds. History unveils the blessed intention of Cardinal Cooray to gather all the children of the Archdiocese before the sacred grotto. Honoring the Blessed Mother while seeking her powerful intercession.  In a poignant gesture, he dedicated each and every child to her loving protection.

Before his sermon, Cardinal Ranjith had to explain to children about five saints who became saints in their childhood.

“Saints are those who live their lives in such a way that they are more of a blessing to others than to themselves”, he said.

Cardinal Ranjith also said that there are many things that are happening to destroy the lives of children in today’s heterogeneous social system, and many things are happening to defile and make the children’s world a discomfort.

“More than seeking food, clothes, and other things to satisfy our bodies, we should take the courage to seek God. In that way, Saints lived in God.

“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew about you.” he recalled saying that God had created each of you as a special one. There is no one like you in this world. You are unique in the 09 billion population in the world.,” he said.

“Dear children, think about yourselves, God has given you a certain life, certain parents, a family, a village, and a country with a certain plan. God helps you to lead your life. If you are gradually closer to the Lord, God takes you toward His aim, surely” he said.

“So that, try to seek the plan of God and lead your precious lives on it, dear children. Because God has decided already what He expects from you, before you come to this world. So, help God to implement that plan. Saints are those.”

Cardinal Ranjith  finally reminded the children what Holy Father Francis had said: “Do not be afraid of Holiness.”

Some children who attended the Children’s Day said that they are very happy to be at Tewatta as it is something new to meet new friends from other sides of the Diocese.

“We can learn something new in every children’s day. Today we are going with the intention of trying to be good with the hope of becoming saints.” said some male children.

END.