The 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Mannar Diocese, was celebrated on January 24 at the Shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, Thottaveli, Mannar. The event was organized under the guidance of Vicar General Rev. Fr. Tamilnesan and held under the patronage of the Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Antonipillai Gnanapragasam.
The programme included a thanksgiving Holy Mass, a book launch, and the crowning ceremony of Our Lady.
The Holy Mass was presided over by the Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam, and concelebrated by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka and Bishop of Kurunegala, Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera, the Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Antonipillai Gnanapragasam, and the Emeritus Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the book “History of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu” authored by Rev. Fr. Gnanamuthu Pilendran, a Jaffna diocesan priest and professor, was officially launched. This was followed by the crowning ceremony of Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs.
The celebration drew a large gathering of priests, religious sisters, a Member of Parliament from the Vanni District, government and non-government officials, and numerous faithful, who joined in prayer and thanksgiving.
Copies of the newly launched book are available at the Jaffna Diocesan Catechetical Centre as well as at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Mannar.
