In Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, devotees and pilgrims gathered in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s statue at the Shrine ground, to pray for His Holiness the Apostolic Father Rohan Lalith Aponso, when He was born at 12 mid night.,(01st February 2011) marking the exact time of His birth.
Holy Apostolic Father, celebrated his 54th Birth Anniversary on 02nd February 2011. He has spent precisely more than half of his journey of life that means he has spent 36 years as an Apostle in the Vineyard of Lord Jesus Christ for the well being of all the people in the world.
His Holiness the Apostolic Father was born in Negombo town on mid night of 01 February 1957. In 2011 He celebrated His 54th birthday. Holy Apostolic Father, already one of the most powerful figures in Christianity. His guidance is a consolation to defuse the flames of hearts of the people. All of us extremely value his advices. People come to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine where he lives from far away places. They come to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine on the day of his birthday as they want to be in the Shrine Ground at the time he was born. The time he was born to this world is not a time convenient for them to reach Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. He was born at 12 midnight. He was born precisely at 12 midnight on 1st February. A time similar to this is also mentioned with regard to the Birth of Lord Jesus Christ and with regard to the birth of Blessed Mother Mary. Lord Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day precisely at 12 midnight and Blessed Mother Mary was also born precisely at 12 midnight. Our Most Holy Apostolic Father was also born precisely at 12 midnight when a day is ending and when a new day is dawning. People from all groups of ages from mothers who carry infants to elderly people who walk with the help of others converge every year on 1st February in the Shrine Ground of Our Lady of Katunayake where he resides. On 1st February precisely at 12 midnight they light candles. They also light oil lamps for the Number of years he has completed in his journey of life and celebrate his birthday by distributing sweets. They sing hymns in the midnight of 1st February and commemorate the Birth of a Noble Person in the likes of Most Holy Apostolic Father with a display of fire works in the Shrine Ground of Our Lady of Katunayake. This situation was seen in the midnight of 1st February 2011. Every year people make additions to this celebration. The Birth of Most Holy Apostolic Father has become a “Little Christmas” to them. People love Most Holy Apostolic Father to that extent because Most Holy Apostolic Father also loves them so much.
