by Melani Manel Perera

Card Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, announces a Marian Year to start on 30 November. For him, the Virgin "is the best possible example of how to live a life of faith". The country's Catholics are invited to take part in the pilgrimage to the shrine of Madhu, an event that always raises great expectations.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Sri Lankan Catholics will mark the end of the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI with a solemn Mass in Colombo's St Lucia's Cathedral. Card Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, will lead the service along with his auxiliaries.

In a pastoral letter on the matter, the cardinal announced the beginning of the Marian Year on 30 November as planned by the archdiocese. "Mary is the best possible example of how to live a life of faith," he wrote. Indeed, "The Marian Year is a natural continuation of the Year of Faith," Card Ranjith added.

By saying "yes to the Lord, she allowed the divine plan to become a reality: a life lived in deeper faith. This should be a year of true renewal spiritual, for the archdiocese and for the faithful."

In view of this, every parish in Colombo received "special orientations" in order to raise awareness of the Catholic faith.

For the prelate, it is necessary "to raise awareness among individuals and families about praying, especially the rosary prayer, and about the mysteries of God's love towards man".

For this reason, the letter was translated into the country's three languages​​ - Sinhala, Tamil and English - and sent to every parish.

As part of this, the cardinal wants Sri Lankan Catholics to take part in the pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Madhu on 14-17 May next year, during the Marian month par excellence.

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