President sends good wishes to His Grace the Archbishop

[Saturday, February 02, 2008 - 05.25 GMT]
 

Respected as a pragmatic leader of the Catholic church at a time of considerable difficulties with regard to political and social transformation, he brings both wisdom and dignity to his office, and displays a mature understanding in aspects of tolerance and coexistence in society, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a felicitation message to His Lordship, the Most Reverenced Dr. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop, on the golden jubilee of his ordination as priest in the Catholic Church, today (February 2).

He has always had very close relations with members of the Buddhist clergy, and plays an important role in the promotion of inter-religious dialogue and understanding, President added.

Full text of the felicitation message

I am pleased to send this message of felicitation to His Lordship, the Most Reverenced Dr. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop, on the golden jubilee of his ordination as priest in the Catholic Church.

In the past fifty years as a priest he already had made his mark as teacher, spiritual director of those aspiring to priesthood, write and editor when elevated as a Bishop in 1968 at the age of 36. Since then His Lordship has carried out the challenging duties as the Auxiliary to the former Archbishop of Colombo, and the Second Bishop pf the Diocese of Anuradhapura until he assumed duties as the Archbishop of Colombo in 2002.

As former Manager of the Colombo Catholic Press and Editor of the “Gnanarthapradeepa” he has made a great contribution to journalism and religious writing in Sri Lanka, as seen his authorship of the “Mahopadeshaya”- an adult catechism in the Sinhala and Tamil; the launch of the “Lama Pradeepaya”, a weekly for children, and the publication of three series of books for adult education: “Pradeepa Poth,” “Pahan Poth” and “Mini Pahan Poth”. His abiding interest in education saw him serving on many university committees and councils, and later his appointment as the Chancellor of the Colombo University, the oldest national university in the country, and was concurrently head of Aquinas too. His commitment to the spread of education saw him take the lead in opening ten branches of leading Catholic colleges outside the main cities, to help suburban and rural education.

His Lordship Oswald Gomis had held many important positions in the Catholic hierarchy of Sri Lanka and Asia with distinction. These include the office of Secretary General of both the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka and the Federation of Asia Bishops’ Conferences, being the first Sri Lankan to hold the latter. He has been associated with the Media and has been conferred a doctorate for services to the Media in Asia.

Born in Kelaniya, he has always had very close relations with members of the Buddhist clergy, and plays an important role in the promotion of inter-religious dialogue and understanding. Respected as a pragmatic leader of the Catholic church at a time of considerable difficulties with regard to political and social transformation, he brings both wisdom and dignity to his office, and displays a mature understanding in aspects of tolerance and coexistence in society.

I wish His Lordship long life, many more years in his position of leadership in the Catholic hierarchy of Sri Lanka and all blessings for success in the tending of his flock and service in the vineyard of Jesus Christ.

Mahinda Rajapaksa