The reception to the Auxiliary bishop of Colombo, RT. REV. FIDELIS LIONEL EMMANUEL FERNANDO was a glittering affair got on at the open yard of the basilica of OUR LADY OF SNOWS on 28th May 2012. It was a huge gathering, of men, women and children from different parishes in Tuticorin and surroundings.

The reception was preceded by a concelebrated mass, by the arch bishop of Madurai, RT. Rev. Peter Fernando, Rt. Rev. Jude Paul raj of Palayamcottai diocese, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo. The Basilica was full with admiring devotees. The choir, was at its best, with Tamil hymns with appropriate accompaniments and instruments; and were delightfully pleasing to ears. The sermon on the occasion was on the three main functions of the bishop, – the role of the bishop as a teacher, as a sanctifier, and as a church leader. MUNUS DOCENDI , MUNUS SANCTIFICANDI,MUNUS REGENDI.

There had been elaborate publicity by the Catholic community of Tuticorin for the Reception by wall posters and banners throughout the city and all the major bodies of the Catholic community were present at the venue to accord a memorable reception to the Auxiliary Bishop. The Arch Bishop of Madurai had driven down to Tuticorin to be present and felicitate the Auxiliary Bishop. So was The Bishop Of Palayamcottai. The Vicar General of Tuticorin Diocese was present .So was the Rector of the Basilica.

Among the lay Catholics the well known Historian THAMBI AYYA FERNANDO OF VEMBAR and former Director General of Police A.X. ALEXANDER , well known Doctor of Tuticorin Dr. MRS.MOSES TILAK and Mr. MAHIMAIRAJ, scientist were present. The main spring for the function was Mrs. FATIMA BABU and she welcomed the Gathering. There was an impressive bharatha natyam by a local lass in praise of our lady as a prayer. The Bishops eulogized the Auxiliary bishop. The Arch Bishop recalled the reception he had when he was consecrated as the Bishop in Colombo. Dr. Moses Tilak and Mahimairaj underscored the importance of family and exhorted the assembled to step up vocations from our households to the vineyard of Christ. Sornam Victoria recalled the greatness of the east coast, its people, the tribulations of the people, their joining the faith, their success in life, the greatness of Vembar–, the place of origin of the Auxiliary Bishop, his ancestors and their glory etc and at the end of the speech he requested the Arch Bishop to release a souvenir of the occasion . The Arch Bishop released the souvenir, and it was received by the Auxliary Bishop.

The Auxiliary Bishop and the Bishop of Palayamcottai left for their homes as it was already late .A.X. Alexander in his small speech highlighted the greatness of the Auxiliary Bishop in Four spheres.

1. IN EDUCATION : As a student in school in Colombo, seminary in Kandy, in Urban university in Rome, and in Hastings centre , in New York , America: Later as a teacher and Rector in Kandy seminary .

2. IN HIS OBEDIENCE TO HIS SUPERIORS: The Auxiliary bishop was requested by the faithful of Rockwell center to stay on in America, and serve them as they found in him an amiable Servant of God but he reminded them of the mandate of his bishop in Colombo and chooses to get back to Ceylon to tend the local flock.

3. IN HIS PASTORAL EXCELLENCE. The auxiliary Bishop on his return from America was posted in a parish called MORATUWA, where the previous parish priest was murdered, and police investigations were on. The parishioners were to celebrate the centenary of the parish but were wondering whether it is possible with police coming and going and the parish under pressure. The Bishop organized the bewildered parish and celebrated the centenary with all the pomp and grandeur due to it.

4. HIS UNIVERSALITY. The Auxiliary bishop has been the shepherd to one and all irrespective of the caste, creed, religion and language of the people committed to him. Therefore to confine him as a Tamil bishop in Colombo would be travesty of truth.

Thambiah Fernando of Vembar thereafter spoke of the links and relationship of the bishop with him and expressed how he saw the seeds of greatness in the Bishop even as a child.

The Auxiliary bishop spoke thereafter thanking the organizers, the bishops who came from Madurai, and Palayam cottai, the Vicar General of Tuticorin Diocese, The Rector of the Basilica, and lay felicitators and the people who came and greeted him. He was overwhelmed , he said.At the end of his speech he pinned the medal awarded by the Pope to THAMBIAH FERNANDO.

To dull the monotony of speeches , the organizers have interspersed the programme with local Oyillattam— of truly a local flavor!

The RECTOR thanked one and all who made the glittering reception grand success. With the Papal Anthem the function came to an end.

As the Auxiliary Bishop got down from the dais, the people swarmed around him and vied with each other to seek his blessings and kiss his ring. I was astonished and their faith moved my heart and I thought of the biblical BARTIMAEUS –the blind man of Jericho to whom JESUS says “Your faith has made you well.”

by A.X.Alexander