Volume : 3January/MarchYear : 2016/17
From the Editor’s Desk
The compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for
another who is hurting, in pain, or has misfortune and is
accompanied by a strong desire to help the suffering. Jesus Christ
is the greatest example of someone with true compassion. Not only
did Jesus have compassion and heal people from physical suffering,
he also showed the greatest compassion for mankind when he died on
the cross for our sins.
The season of Lent commenced on 1st March with Ash Wednesday.
Concept of Lent is to open our hearts to God's grace through
prayer, confession, fasting, and almsgiving as we anticipate Holy
Week. Lent traditionally lasts forty days, modeled after Christ's
forty day fast in the desert, and ends on Good Friday. During this
time we are supposed to focus on repentance for our sins and
reflection of the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. It is during Lent,
that we are reminded of what Jesus did for us.
Lent is the time most of us exercise our sympathetic feelings
towards the needy through almsgiving. Compassion for another person
is a true Christian characteristic. But It's not always easy to
show compassion, especially when we feel like the person deserves
their misfortune sometimes. However, it is not for us to judge.
The Bible verses about Prodigal Son is a great example of
compassion. Read the Scripture and see how Jesus was compassionate
to people. Likewise be compassionate to the needy not during Lent
only, and show the world how Jesus has changed you!
YL Suranganie Francis
Young Moratuwa Club once again had their Fund Raiser of Sing
–Along for their Community Services on 28th January, 2017. Yet
again it was a great evening and everyone who participated had a
memorable day with singing and dancing. Picture below shows the
Club members singing the Y’s Pledge at the commencement of the
event. (for more pictures refer the Picture Gallery at the end of
the bulletin).
Inside this Issue
Christian Emphasis Pg. 2
Club Activities & Pg. 3
Special Projects
Interclub ActivitiesPg. 4
Special Announcements pg. 5
Brother Club/YMCA Activities Pg. 6
Quotes about Life Pg. 7
Picture Gallery Pg. 8
Christian Emphasis
“Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
wiped away” (Acts 3:19)
What is meant by living lives of repentance? From the very
beginning of our Catholic tradition, there were those who withdrew
into the desert to pray and do penance. This was considered to be
living a life of repentance—not just for themselves—but for the
Christian community as a whole.
These saints were witnesses, calling us to examine our own
patterns of living the gospel life. Their lives shone as a sign
post, encouraging their neighbours to remember to imitate
Jesus.
St. Peter’s repentance came at the moment Jesus looked at him
after he had betrayed him the third time. Peter then sorrowfully
wept because of the pain he had caused Jesus. During this
season of Lent we should sorrowfully ask for forgiveness for our
self-centered actions and mean- thoughts. We must examine our
actions daily, identifying those times we were not Christ-like in
our relationships. Then seek true forgiveness and try to feel
complete repentance, and turn our focus to living the Gospel life
of Jesus in our daily lives.
Repentance is the key to our Lenten practices of fasting,
prayer, and almsgiving. We must recognize that we need to
amend our ways from things which pull us into selfish and sinful
ways of behavior. It is a call for conversion of hearts and
compassionate living after the example of Jesus. It is turning
towards Jesus with renewed love for God and neighbor.
Wishing you all a fruitful Season of Lent this year followed by
a Great Easter.
Club Activities :
The following micro projects were done monthly, sponsored by
club members as indicated – total value for the quarter ended
Rs.63,000/-. I thank the members who extended their support by
undertaking these projects individually and hope the other members
too would be encouraged to support the community services
· Donation of 10 kilos of rice to the ‘David Jayasundera Home
for Elders’ monthly - RDE Ranarajah and Menette Mystica. Cost –
Rs.1,000/- .
· A deserving student coming to the YMCA Moratuwa were given
monthly Rs.1,500/- for educational purposes. - YM Mahes and
Mnt.Sunethra.
· A deserving student coming to the YMCA Moratuwa were given
monthly Rs.1,000/- for educational purposes. - YM Deepthi and
Mnt.Shanthikusum.
· Rs.4,000/- worth of milk powder packets were given to The
Blessings Child Care Moratumulla monthly - PRD Godfrey and RS
Suranganie.
· Rs.1,000/- given monthly to a poor child for educational
purposes through the Moratuwa YMCA - PRD Godfrey and RS
Suranganie.
· Rs.1,000/- is given monthly to a deserving student at Princess
of Wales’ College, Moratuwa for educational purposes. - YM Anil and
Mnt. Srikanthi.
· Rs.2,500/- is provided monthly to a poor family in the
community for sustenance - RDE Ranarajah and Mnt. Mystica.
· Provide financial assistance monthly to two under-privileged
children in the community for educational purposes at Rs. 500/-
each = Rs.1,000/- - YM Deepthi and Mnt.Shanthikusum.
· Rs. 2,000/- is given monthly to David Jayasundera Home for
Elders for their expenses. – YM Sunil and Mnt.Madubala.
· Rs.1,500/- is given monthly to a deserving boy of Boys
Industrial Home, Wellawatte for his educational purposes - YM Joe
and Mnt.Sayana.
· Rs.3,500/- is provided monthly to a poor family for sustenance
- YM Sunil and Mnt.Madubala.
· Rs.1,000/- is provided monthly for a child at the Moratumulla
Methodist Church Day Care Centre - YM Deepthi and
Mnt.Shanthikusum.
Special Projects –
· Donated a Rice Cooker to the Sarvodaya Orphanage in Lunawa,
Moratuwa – Value Rs.4,050/-
· Donated Rs.6,435/- to clean the sewerage pits of the David
Jayasundera Elders Home in
Panadura.
Proposed Club Projects –
· To build a recreation room to the elders of the David
Jayasundera Home at a cost of Rs.200,000/-.
· Decided to donate 10 Sinhala Bibles to St.Mathias Church,
Laxapathiya at the request of Rev. Malinga.
Our Club donated Rs.30,000/- to the Sri Lanka Region at the last
Regional Board Meeting in March, to subsidize the Registration Fees
of the members who are participating at the Regional Convention in
June 2017. YM Deepthi Perera handed over the cheque to RD Prasantha
who handed it over to Regional Treasurer, Mohanraj.
Handing over the Rice Cooker to Sarvodaya Handing over the
cheque for Rs.30,000/-
Orphanage in January 2017. to Regional Treasurer - Sri Lanka
Region by RD.
Inter Club Activities :
In spite of their busy schedules, our club members have
participated at the combined event of Y’s Men Sunday and Time of
Fast Service held on 26th February, at Methodist Memorial Church,
Moor Road, Wellawatte. 1st Reading and 2nd Reading of the Bible was
carried out by Mnt. Lilanthi and RS Suranganie. My sincere thanks
for the members who participated at this Regional Event.
12 of our members participated at the Fund Raiser of the
Wellawatte Club on 26th March, after attending the AGM of YMCA
Moratuwa. Such commitment by them should be appreciated and an
example to others.
YL Sugi of Wellawatte club at Some of the members who Young
Moratuwa Members
the Commencement of Combined attended the event at Wellawatte
Fund Raiser
Service - Y’s Men Sunday & TOF after fellowship &
dinner
Special Announcements
DG Errol Gibson was awarded with a Brotherhood Fund Grant to
visit Missouri, USA In August 2017.
Congratulations!
Regional Convention for 2016/17 will be held on Saturday, 24th
June 2017 from 10.30 a.m. (full day event) ending with fellowship
and dinner.
Members are informed in Advance to keep this date free as this
will be a proud occasion for our Club as RD and RDE is our own
members.
Jason Daniel, Son of Joe and Sayana returned from a fruitful
visit to Denmark under STEP Programme (Short Term Exchange
Programme) and will be presenting a report of his visit to the Club
members at the next meeting.
Elizabeth and Marguerite Halvosen from Norway are visiting Sri
Lanka in April and our Club has invited them to meet our members at
the next meeting . These two sisters have been assisting us
financially for our Projects at “ Blessings Child Centre” Indibedda
and “Bethany Home” for Street Children.
Be there in time to welcome them.
Brother Club Activities
We are in communication with our Brother Clubs constantly and
exchange our Club Bulletin with them. 2nd Quarter Bulletin was
e-mailed to them.
Elizabeth and Marguerite Halvosen from Arendhal, Norway are
visiting Sri Lanka and will be hosted by our Club for fellowship
and dinner on 2nd April, at our Club Meeting .
YMCA Activities
As you are aware, 09 of our members are serving in the Board of
Moratuwa YMCA and actively engaged in their activities. Almost all
of them are heading various Committees and currently YM Nihal
Ferdinando of our club is the President of YMCA Moratuwa.
They had their Annual General Meeting on 26th March 2017 and our
own member YM Deepthi Perera has been elected as the President of
YMCA Moratuwa. YM Nihal Ferdinando and RD Prasantha have been
elected as Vice Presidents of YMCA, Moratuwa
RDE Ranarajah Seresinhe, PRD Godfrey Francis, PRD Nihal Peiris ,
DG Errol Gibson, YL Nilani Manthrinayake are appointed as Directors
of the Board for a further year.
O3 Members, namely YM Deepthi Perera, YL Nilani and PRD Godfrey
are serving in the NCYMCA, Colombo. Congratulations to YM Deepthi
and his Board members on behalf of the Club.
Quotes for Life :
PICTURE GALLERY - Photographs of our Fund Raiser – Sing along
held in January 2017.
Group singing by Guests Kurunegala & Mahanuwa Club members
singing
Dancing CompetitionWatching the Dancing competition
Registration Desk Handing over a Raffle prize Band stand
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