Two historic spiritual milestones were recently observed by the Sri Lankan Catholic community in Romania, reinforcing their faith and cultural identity while fostering unity and interfaith harmony within the Sri Lankan diaspora.
According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bucharest, St. Anthony of Padua was officially declared the Patron Saint of the Sri Lankan Catholic Community in Romania during a solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Bucharest, on 27th July 2025. The Mass was presided over by Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest, His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. Aurel Percă and attended by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Romania, Madurika Joseph Weninger. The event took place at the invitation of the newly appointed Chaplain to the Sri Lankan Catholic community, Rev. Fr. K. Claude Perera, TOR.
During the celebration, a new community committee was also appointed to guide the religious and cultural life of the Sri Lankan Catholic diaspora in Romania.
On 15th August 2025, coinciding with the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Feast of Our Lady of Madu, a significant religious ceremony was held at St. George’s Cathedral in Timișoara. Ambassador Weninger, accompanied by Attaché at the Embassy, Ratheesparan, attended the celebration on the invitation of the Catholic Church in Timișoara, the Chaplain of Sri Lanka, and the local Sri Lankan Catholic community.
Before the liturgy, the Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Bishop of Timișoara, Dr. József-Csaba Pál and held meetings with Vicar General, Very Rev. Msgr. Johann Dirschl and Director of the Diocesan Archives, Dr. Claudiu Sergiu Călin, expressed appreciation for the Diocese’s continued support of the Sri Lankan Catholic faithful.
The Mass culminated in the solemn coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Madhu, performed by Bishop Pál, officially designating her as the Patroness of the Sri Lankan Catholic Community in Timișoara. A devotional procession followed, marked by traditional hymns, prayers, and strong community participation.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bucharest stated that both events demonstrated the devotion, spiritual resilience, and cultural unity of the Sri Lankan Catholic community in Romania. The Timișoara celebration also included the participation of Sri Lankan Buddhist and Hindu community members, symbolizing interfaith harmony within the diaspora.
The Embassy further extended its sincere gratitude to the Archdioceses of Bucharest and Timișoara, their clergy, and the Romanian Catholic faithful for their warm welcome and spiritual solidarity. (Newswire)
