Helena of Gonawila, the diocesan phase of the beatification process has been completed

The diocese of Chilaw has sent the findings of the investigation into the sanctity of the consecrated lay woman, the first servant of God of Sri Lanka, to Rome. Bishop Don Wimal Siri Jayasuriya: ‘Even without knowing how to read or write, through her participation in the suffering of Jesus she left us a divine message’.

Colombo (Asia News) - Coinciding with the 94th anniversary of her death, on 9 February the diocese of Chilaw concluded the local phase of the beatification process of Helena of Gonawila, a consecrated lay woman and the first Sri Lankan Catholic woman to be on the path to sainthood. Bishop Don Wimal Siri Jayasuriya officially handed over to the Holy See the results of the diocesan inquiry into her sanctity and the canonical process will now continue in Rome. The ceremony took place during a Holy Mass attended by a large number of devotees linked to the memory of ‘Sister Helena’.

Born on 18 March 1849 in Gonawila, in the Central Western Province, Helena died on 8 February 1931 at the age of 88. For most of her life she suffered with the pain of the stigmata, which she received on 12 October 1870 at the age of 22. She had asked the Lord to bless her with his wounds, to share his pain for the redemption and conversion of her father and brother, who were Buddhists. According to a biography written by her contemporary, Bishop Edmund Peiris, her prayer was guided by a deep desire to give herself completely to Christ.

‘The theme of this Jubilee Year is to bring you closer to Jesus in the Eucharist and in the liturgy,’ said Bishop Don Wimal Siri Jayasuriya during the homily. Helena invites us to consider another aspect of faith: while we pray to be freed from pain, to be healed from illness, to receive joy instead of tears, the servant of God Helena reminds us that to be a disciple of Jesus also means to share in the suffering and pain of Christ. She bore the wounds on her body with patience, without complaining. More than 100 years ago, she could neither read nor write, but she left us a divine message’.

Cicily Kanthi Perera, a woman from Jaela who two years ago turned to the intercession of Helena of Gonawilla during her tough battle against cancer and experienced a complete recovery, expressed her joy to AsiaNews at the progress made in the beatification process. Rita and Clarence, a couple from Colombo, also told AsiaNews that we Sri Lankan Catholics should prepare ourselves more and pray to God for this recognition, so that ‘soon we may all call her our Saint Helena Gonawila’.