The local fishing community, which had established the over century-old St Anthony’s shrine in the uninhabited Katchatheevu islet and the Verkodu Parish, which coordinated the annual pilgrimage to the islet, expressed their dismay that the Jaffna diocese has laid foundation stone for building a new church without their consent.
Legend has it that the shrine was built by the Ramnad Diocese with thatched roof more than 100 years ago and dedicated it to St Anthony, the guardian angel of fishermen. It was taken over by the Jaffna diocese after India ceded the island to Sri Lanka in 1974. Even after taking over the administration of the shrine, the Jaffna diocese extended an invitation to the Verkodu parish here for the annual festival and the “Way of the Cross” procession on the eve of Feast Mass was jointly taken out by the Indian and Sri Lankan pilgrims as per the custom. After this year’s celebration on February 20 and 21, Rev Fr. Amalraj, former Vicar General of Sivaganga diocese and Rev Fr L Sagayaraj, Verkodu Parish Priest had suggested to the Jaffna diocese that they could jointly build a new church, replacing the existing tiled roof shrine.
However, the Jaffna diocese unilaterally laid the foundation stone on May 9 for building a new church and requested the Lankan Navy to complete the construction before next year’s annual celebration. “This was shocking and totally unexpected,” Rev Fr Sagayaraj told The Hindu.
The Jaffna diocese did not even have the courtesy to inform us about the construction of new church, he said and wanted the Indian government to ensure that the shrine was jointly built by the two dioceses. He tried in vain to contact Rev Fr Antony Jeyarangan, Assistant Parish Priest of Delft island and seek details, he said. The foundation-stone laying ceremony was presided over by Rev Fr Joseph Das Jebarathnam, Jaffna Vicar General in the presence of Commander Northern Area Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva. As requested by the Jaffna diocese, the Navy would help construct a new church prior to next year’s celebration, its official website said.
