Catholic Verbum TV turns six
The auxiliary bishop of the capital led a Mass on Saturday to celebrated the station’s work. The event offered an opportunity to celebrate 35 years of marriage of its founders and owners. For Catholics, the broadcaster has been an important voice during the coronavirus lockdown. The bishop appeals to the faithful to support its activity.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Sri Lanka has one Catholic TV station, Verbum TV, which has been operating for the past six years. The broadcaster is a medium of communication that benefits the local Church, and intends to guarantee “good spiritual service” to the country’s Catholics.
Since its founding, the station has become a tool to proclaim the Word of God and promote evangelisation, a blessing for the nation and a means to reach the hearts of Christians, so that they may bear “witness to the Good News”.
It is with this spirit that the station broadcast a thanksgiving Mass last Saturday led by Mgr Maxwell Silva, auxiliary bishop of Colombo. The service, concelebrated with Fr Cecil Joy Perera, director of the diocesan seminary, and Fr Linton Joseph, took place in the Church of St John the Baptist in Nagoda (Kandana), a suburb of the capital. Verbum TV’s top officials and staff were present, while the faithful were able to follow the function live on television.
In the homily, Fr Perera thanked God “for the gift of Verbum TV” (God’s Word), which, over the years, has become a “means to give him grace for the blessings received in these six years” of activity for the benefit “of all Catholics, not only in Sri Lanka “.
The Mass also provided an opportunity to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the marriage of Milan and Mallika De Silva, the owners of the Catholic station.
The faithful present at the service gave their thanks for the blessings received over time and for the courage and strength to face future challenges. “This is a journey of faith” said Bishop Silva, and “I thank and congratulate all the staff, starting with the director” for the work done so far.
The prelate offered his wishes of “health, strength and blessings” to the TV station and its owners, who celebrated their wedding anniversary, so that “you may share the Word of God” for a long time to come.
Addressing the faithful, he urged them to show “all possible support for Verbum TV, because it is essential for its survival”.
Talking to some Catholics, AsiaNews can confirm how important it is to have a Catholic television channel in the country, especially in this period of lockdown designed to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The station has been a major medium to keep alive and nurture the faith of the community.
“We only have Verbum TV as a God-gift to satisfy our spiritual needs,” said some Catholics. The fact “that there is no advertising” is “what we appreciate the most,” said 76-year-old retired teacher Nicholas Anthony.
“We strongly believe that the Gospel is the most important message of love we can share,” station president and owner Milan De Silva told AsiaNews. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between the Church and her people”, bringing the teachings of Christ closer to the “thoughts, words and deeds of people”.
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08/06/2020 17:27
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