REV. FR. NEVILLE JOE ASSUMES OFFICE AS MONSIGNOR !

The Holy See appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Neville Perera as Chaplain to the Holy Father recently in recognition of uninterrupted service for 20 years as the National Coordinator of the Sri Lankan Immigrant Catholics working in Italy.   The special ceremony for conferring this honorary office was presided over by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, held at St. Mary’s Church, Infernetto, Rome.

Chaplaincy to the Holy Father popularly known as the post of ‘Monsignor’ is generally conferred on persons by the Holy Father in appreciation of the Ecclesial service to the people of God in various realms of apostolic missions.  They are called to be of service to the Holy Father by the office.   It is a calling to work closely with the Holy See in her evangelizing mission in the world.

His Eminence, addressing the faithful in the homily during the special Eucharist of Thanksgiving, said that these titles and offices, rather than entitle one to honours and privileges, embody a deeper calling within the one common baptismal calling to shoulder the Cross of Christ in a profound manner.  Christ, who came down among us to fulfill a mission entrusted to Him by God, found, as He inaugurated His mission, that He too could not execute the task without help on the part of others.   The calling of His disciples at the seaside takes place in this context and it is the poor fisherman, under-educated and culturally ill-cultivated, whom He chose to collaborate with this divine task.   All that God wants of us is our willingness and readiness to be open to the action of the Spirit in our lives, His Eminence emphasized.   The Cardinal referred to Fr. Neville Joe’s tireless efforts in building up communities of the faithful travelling the length and breadth of Italy at a time when Sri Lankan immigrants lacked spiritual and pastoral leadership in the country.  The new office is conferred on him by the Holy See with a view to deepening his endeavours for the communities providing them with spiritual help and inspiration with deeper intensity of commitment.

The priest chaplains serving the Sri Lankan Catholic in Italy and several monsignors working in the Vatican took part in this occasion.   Minister Rajitha Senaratna, Minister of Fisheries, represented the Government and conveyed the felicitations of the President and the Republic of Sri Lanka at this celebration

Fr. Deninton Subasinghe

Rome