On April 21, Bishop Bernard Fellay came to Negombo (Sri Lanka) and blessed the cornerstone of the future Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
The Society of St. Pius X has been established in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) for over twenty years but the Saint Francis Xavier priory has never had a real chapel. The house's garage was converted into the sanctuary to which was attached a kind of shed that served as the nave for the faithful. There, about six years ago, a bell tower was added but the “Kingdom Hall” (Jehovah’s Witnesses) look of the chapel has remained. That is why the construction of a new church has begun. It will be a modest one (100 seats) but will be worthy of the glory of God and His Blessed Mother to whom it will be dedicated.
The ceremony began with the blessing of a wooden cross placed at the spot of the future altar. Then His Excellency blessed the first stone.The certificate of the ceremony was then signed by the clergy and some lay people (including the builder). All the saints in heaven were invoked as in all great liturgical ceremonies. It was then lodged into the stone with a few coins (recently issued) and the newspaper of the day. The stone was then sealed and placed in its place. It is customary to affix a relic. In our case, it was one of St. Philomena: hence the phrase “Pax tecum” engraved on the stone with the date. Bishop Fellay ended the ceremony with the blessing of the church’s foundations.
If you wish to support this mission, one can make checks payable to:
SSPX Foreign Mission Trust
and send to:
Regina Coeli House
11485 N. Farley Road
Platte City, MO 64079
with the mention “Sri Lanka”.
