CSI Jaffna Diocese

We shall wake up to a new dawn of hope

A Special Report By our Melbourne correspondent

Humanity, from time to time is called upon to recharge and revitalize itself and renew its tryst with destiny. It is such that sparks new hopes especially when our faith is strong, determined and focused on our Creator, the God of all mercies, the loving God and the just God. It was that kind of spirit that marked the fellowship dinner that took place last Saturday St. Michael’s Grammar School St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria at the Fund-Raising Event held to support the work of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India.

Organized by the Partnership Programme of the Uniting Church of Australia, the St George’s St Kilda’s Parish , Creative Ministries Network UCA and the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI), the chairperson the Rev John Bottomley assisted by Christy Thiagarajah presented an inspiring video presentation of the message to the evening’s gathering by the Rt Rev Dr Daniel Thiagarajah based on his stirring call, “Let’s rise up and transform.” Available in You Tube, the presentation introduces the work of the JDCSI covering the last three years based on the foundational commitment and spirit of the American missionaries who arrived at the turn of the 19^th century to serve our people.

Also associated in this promotion is the Rev Angela Tampiyappa, minister of St George’s Uniting Church St Kilda’s who was the first to be appointed as the lady minister in Sri Lanka. She has spent considerable time working with vulnerable and needy communities in parishes under the JDCSI. She is one of the founders of the Partnership Programme. Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah’s message was focused on the spirit of renewal and recharge and made it very clear that we have to re-energize that spirit and face a new dawn of challenges, understand and appreciate its potential and be totally committed to it. He conveyed this message in flowing verse and in action and the dynamism he has brought into his leadership. The video was the first of its kind ever to show how the early missionaries had to work in a place that was very strange to them and yet they laboured powered by their faith.

The evening also marked a rich fellowship of the Sri Lankan JDCSI community and their friends from other churches and many others who have Sri Lanka in their interests and prayers. The event was in the hands of an efficient Master of Ceremonies, the Rev Subramaniam Manopavan of the Oakleagh Uniting Church and was graced by a dear and elder friend of the community, Dr Thiagarajah Gangatharan as the Guest of Honour. He was for a time the Superintendent of the Green Memorial Hospital, the first Hindu to head this famous mission hospital which was the first teaching medical institution in Sri Lanka. Followed by a very meaningful opening prayer beseeching God’s presence among us and with us in whatever we undertake for His glory by Mrs Anto Samuel and the great hymns “How great thou art” and “Here I am Lord,” supported by songs appropriate for the young and old rendered by the 11-year olds from Marion College Sunshine, Edwina Vijeyaratnam, Olivia Shacklock, Stephanie Angelini and Tegan Frost the evening moved on with contributions from the Bernas Family singers most appropriate for the occasion.

Sri Lanka’s famed singer Nithi Kanagaratnam was in his usual mood as a popular entertainer they were supported by the Fabian’s band and Nita Anandaraj who were the rhythms, booms and melody masters of the evening. They engulfed the entire participants of the evening into an ocean of lovely music and the rhythmic currents that touch our feelings in rapturous joy. The dinner was most delicious with the rich choice of Sri Lankan food flavoured and spiced to more gentler Australian taste buds and the “Aussied” Sri Lankans which itself marked an emergence of a new cuisine that has come to enrich food options throughout the world with the types unique to Sri Lanka for ages. Everybody enjoyed the food so much it was even feared that there may be a run on it.

But the organizers were so strong in faith and knew how Jesus transformed five loaves and two fish to feed the five thousand. There was nothing to fear when the guests turned out to be almost 250 with so many wanted to participate in the evening’s programme with requests for seats in the last minute. Every one was welcomed. The lovely evening came to an end with prayer and benediction by the Rev Lance Lawton, the Vicar of St David’s Church Moorabbin. The felt theme of the evening was, where God’s presence is valued, his blessings overflows.