St. Mary’s College, Negombo always reminds me of a child who has grown up without ever straying from its mother’s side. The mother, of course, is St. Mary’s Church, Negombo which has a close influence on the lives of its Catholics known for their daunting courage, intrepid bravery, and all-round versatility.
The bond between mother and child indeed is very close. For over a century, they shared the same compound and lied within the same walls, which is an outward sign of the inward links that have always made the Church and the College inseparable. If you look closely, you are sure to find the blessings imparted for 150 long years!
St. Mary’s College, Negombo has a unique name and a great tradition. Outstanding men and leaders of the country in every walk of life have come through the portals of the hallowed institution founded in the year 1871. In the professions and in all spheres, the college has produced her quota of brilliant and committed men.
The whole nation is grateful to the college for conducting this heroic task and guiding the destinies of generations for 150 years. The college marks the sesquicentennial celebrations with a Festive High Mass at St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street, Negombo with the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith as the Chief Celebrant.
The arrangements made to celebrate the occasion befittingly by the energetic Rector, Rev. Fr. Sudath Hemantha Fernando is commendable and includes laying the foundation for the Jubilee Building in honour of the late Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando, issue of a Special First Day Cover by the Philatelic Bureau and launching of the Jubilee Souvenir.
Humble Beginnings
The ‘City of Negombo’ can be christened as the ‘City of Peace’ in Sri Lanka due to the serenity that triumphs amid its multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural background. It is a coastal city dotted with churches that has lingered over 500 years. For centuries, Negombo has lived up to its image as Sri Lanka’s “Little Rome.”
The city was blessed with the services of an Italian priest, Rev. Fr. John Vistarini (1817 - 1895) who had been ordained a priest in 1840 in Lombardo, Italy, and arrived in Sri Lanka in 1846. He was made the Parish Priest of Grand Street in 1857 and served for 38 years. All Catholics of Negombo cherish his name with love and devotion as ‘Sammanas Swamy’, the angelic priest.
His cheerful labour among the poor and the sick is unique. The foundation for the present edifice, the fifth, was laid on June 4, 1874, by Rev. Fr. John Vistarini. In recognition of his services to the church, the Holy Father honoured him with the title ‘Monsignor’ to mark his Golden Jubilee of the Priestly Ordination in 1890.
The late Monsignor John Vistarini saw the necessity and importance of English education and took steps to start an English school for the benefit of the youngsters of Negombo. He sheltered the embryo school in the Mission House and later set up the St. Mary’s College, Negombo in a new building in 1871.
The life-like statue of late Monsignor John Vistarini that stands before the left facade of the church is truly a living monument that inspired many for over a century. He was a great visionary with a flair for preaching, education, and social work. It was his passion that drove him to model the school as a provider of quality and affordable education.
Spiritual Colossus
A scholar, preacher and spiritual colossus, Archbishop Fernando, during his 25 years as the Archbishop of Colombo from 1977 to 2002, expanded the Archdiocese in several directions. He was a spontaneous and a compelling priest, whose interests gave him new strength and greater depth. Archbishop Fernando welcomed Pope John Paul II to Sri Lanka on January 20, 1995, for a historical visit during which the Beatification of St. Joseph Vaz took place in Colombo. He celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Colombo, on May 14, 2002.
It is indeed a rare blessing and a privilege for one to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Priestly Ordination and His Grace thought it fit to bestow the honour to the parish that nourished him and it was befittingly celebrated with pomp and pageantry and with the participation of all the bishops and hundreds of priests at the beautiful St. Mary’s Church on December 20, 2009.
Archbishop Fernando was a man of utter simplicity, disarming humility and of patient holiness and piety. All along his long and distinguished religious duty spanning decades, he endeared himself to the poor and the rich alike. He was fluent in English, Sinhala and Tamil and had a command of many other languages as well. He continued to keep fit and fine and maintained a good rapport with his bishops, priests, and friends, to their admiration. His entire life had been nothing short of miraculous. Archbishop Fernando was like the good and faithful servant in the parable - he was faithful in small matters; therefore, he was put in charge of great matters.
With constancy and care, Archbishop Fernando laboured along with the priests, religious lay catechists and the faithful during his tenure as the Chief Shepherd, not only for the effective promotion of evangelisation of the people, but also for the provision of earthly needs of the flock and social progress of all classes.
Glimpses of a Shepherd
I was truly blessed to have sailed the early years of my life on the course steered by Archbishop Fernando. His grounding and counsel have stood me in good stead. We were born as parishioners of St. Mary’s Church; christened at St. Mary’s Church; educated at St. Mary’s College and grew up in the confines of St. Mary’s Church.
The life-long reminiscences for a Maryite of that era could be the beautiful bronze statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary that occupied the niche of the Main Block of the College and the Grotto of Our Lady in the precincts of the church.
I was the Head Prefect at St. Mary’s College, when the good news of his elevation as the archbishop reached the City of Negombo. I vividly remember how the bells of the grand old church peeled and how the people of all walks of life in Negombo united to share the joy.
Ever since, I was privileged to closely associate His Grace. During my school days, he was my ‘hero’. In my youth, I chose him to be my role model. As the years rolled by, he became my mentor and later spiritual director – a unique bond of friendship that flourished for 40 long years.
Year after year, I loved to join him at the Holy Mass on his Patronal Feast. His Grace never failed to congratulate, inspire, and motivate me whenever he was impressed by a good deed. I delivered the keynote speech at the book launch to mark the Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination. He had always been pleasant and unassuming.
As I linger down memory lane, many nostalgic events of my association with him flash before my mind. I was privileged to confer on His Grace the prestigious award “The Greatest Old Maryite of All Time” as the Chairman of the 125th Jubilee Celebrations. Archbishop Fernando installed me, the youngest President of the Old Boys Association of St. Mary’s College in 1998.
Let me propose to the parishioners of Grand Street to erect a life size marble statue of the late Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando on the right facade of St. Mary’s Church, to inspire the present and future generations of the “Little Rome!”
(The author keeps a lively interest of his birth city and his adored alma mater where he was touched by two great Rectors, late Rev. Fr. Neville Emmanuel, and late Rev. Fr. Stanley Mellewa and many legends).
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