The 110th anniversary of the founding of the Guild of Mary Immaculate at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, is to be celebrated on 02 Dec., 2023. The Guild of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was inaugurated 110 years ago in a very modest, quiet atmosphere.

The Very Rev. Fr. E. Nicolas, O.M.I., the 3rd Rector, initiated the movement in 1913, and when the Guild was founded by him the same year, it started with a modest enrolment of 35 members, who were old boys on the registers of the College. The only record extant that perpetuates these pioneers in detail is a photograph.

It is good to know the objects of the Guild. The aims and objectives of this association, as detailed by Fr. Emil Nicholas, are twofold: (a) to promote the personal sanctification of the members through practices of virtue, the frequent reception of the sacraments, and devotions to the immaculate Virgin Mary. (b) To work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls by praying in union with the Blessed Virgin for the conversion of sinners.

For this reason, the Guild has formally aggregated the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy and “Immaculate Heart of Mary,” established in the Church of Our Lady of Victories, Paris. By virtue of this aggregation, every member of the guild is at the same time a member of this archconfraternity, sharing in its privileges and indulgences as well as in the prayers and good works of its millions of members around the globe.

First Saturday devotions to our ‘Divine Mother are being carried out every month at the College Grotto and in the Chapel. It is a solemn promise given by our blessed mother that she will assist everyone at the last moment who follows the first Saturday devotions.”

It is our sincere prayer that our guild will go from strength to strength with the blessings of our heavenly mother for generations and generations in the years to come.

Felix V. Cooray