By Norman Palihawadane

It was the wish and hope of all Catholics in Sri Lanka that servant of God His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray would be canonized by the Vatican, Rev Fr Dr Camillus Fernando said last week. Delivering the homily at the 34th memorial mass of Thomas Cardinal Cooray, at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka Church, at Tewatte, Rev. Fr Fernando said that within the Catholic community, Cardinal Cooray had always been regarded as a person of sanctity who pursued and gave primacy to spirituality in all his undertakings.

The striking witness of his life, bolstered also by facts and documents pertaining to his work and activities, made it possible for the cause of his canonization as a saint to be introduced by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith in October 2010, It was completed in 2017. All documentation pertaining to this process now rest with the relevant departments in the Vatican City for review and final approval. With an eventual miracle of a cure or healing through his intercession, that will attest to the sanctity of Cardinal Cooray and declared to be so by medical experts, the path to sainthood will be assured. If declared a saint, Cardinal Cooray OMI will become the first ever Sri Lankan saint, one from our own soil, who will be a source of jubilation and pride not only to the Catholics here and the universal Church, but also to the entire Sri Lanka, Rev Fr Fernando said.

Cardinal Cooray was the first priest student from the seminary to enter a Sri Lanka university, the first Lankan priest to pursue higher education in Rome, and also the first Lankan priest to secure a degree from Rome. “He was the first Sri Lankan Archbishop. He brought glory and recognition to this small island by becoming the first Lankan priest to become a Cardinal. Now, it is our hope that he becomes the first Sri Lankan saint,” Fr Fernando said.

The memorial mass was presided by Colombo Archbishop, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and auxiliary bishops of Colombo Rev Drs JD Anthony Jayakody and Anton Ranjith.  Among those present were Rev Fr Nicholars Senanayake, Rev Fr Freely Muthukudaarachchi and Rev Fr Jude Samantha.