“Marawila Kurusa Palliya: A Beacon of Faith and Heritage in Coastal Sri Lanka-by Kalani-eLanka Marawila Kurusa Palliya, also known as the Marawila Holy Cross Church, is an iconic Catholic church located in the coastal town of Marawila, Sri Lanka. The church holds significant historical, religious, and cultural value, particularly for the local Catholic community. The origins of Marawila Kurusa Palliya date back to the Portuguese colonial period when Catholicism was first introduced to Sri Lanka. The church stands as a testament to the deep-rooted Catholic faith in the area, a faith that has survived centuries of both religious expansion and political change. Over time, the church has grown to become not only a place of worship but also a central hub for the religious community in Marawila. The church’s architectural design blends traditional Sri Lankan aesthetics with colonial European influences, particularly reflecting the styles introduced by the Portuguese and Dutch. ...
Blog Archives
Pope Francis clears the way to recognise the first millennial saint, but who is Carlo Acutis? A tapestry portrait of Carlo Acutis at his beatification ceremony in Assisi in 2020.(Vatican Pool/Getty Images) Source:ABC A London-born teenager known as “God’s influencer” could become the first millennial saint after two miracles were attributed to him Pope Francis has recognised Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006, and has cleared the way for him to become a saint. On Thursday, Francis issued a decree following a meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Here’s what we know about Carlo Acutis and the miracles that have been attributed to him. Who is Carlo Acutis? Born in London, Carlo grew up in Milan, Italy, and has been informally dubbed “God’s influencer” because he created a website to document and spread word of the Catholic faith. The ...
A Deathbed Conversion – By GEORGE BRAINE My grandfather Charles Stanley Braine was born an Anglican. In 1924, he married Engracia Nonis, who was a Catholic, at a Catholic church. (The two witnesses were Catholic nuns.) Their nine children were brought up as Catholics attended Catholic schools. Charles Stanley is buried in the Anglican Section of Negombo’s General Cemetery. But, on a visit to my aunt Bridget in England about 10 years ago, I found a yellowed newspaper clipping among her papers which told a strange story. My aunt later confirmed its veracity. The clipping is from the Catholic Messenger dated 5 March 1944. (Charles Stanley died on Feb. 11, 1944, in Negombo.) The article is written by a Catholic priest, going by the acronym XYZ. He does not identify Charles Stanley by name (only as Mr. X, an Englishman) nor does he even mention the town where the incident occurred. I ...
