In a heartfelt and meaningful observance earlier this week, Sri Lankan diaspora in Romania came together to pay homage to two cherished figures of their faith: St. Anthony of Padua and Our Lady of Madhu. Though such joint veneration is uncommon beyond Sri Lanka’s shores, the event beautifully reflected the living faith and spiritual unity that binds the community together in Christ’s love.
The celebrations were held in Bucharest, where Sri Lankan expatriates spread far and wide from their island homeland, came together for prayer and reflection. Across Sri Lanka, St. Anthony is a quiet source of trust and hope. As a revered intercessor, he touches the hearts of people, each turning to him for his gentle guidance and the comfort of his prayers. Our Lady of Madhu, the Marian shrine at Mannar, continues to be a refuge of hope and solidarity, drawing pilgrims by tradition even amidst ethnic conflict and civil war.
The conclave was a profound witness to the enduring faith and deep devotion of the diaspora towards these saints. St. Anthony shrines, especially the famous Kochchikade shrine, in Sri Lanka are places where people go seeking solutions to the problems of the world, lighting candles, and doing acts of charity. Our Lady of Madhu has long stood as a gentle beacon of peace, a refuge in the darkest hours of Sri Lanka’s history, and a sacred sign of hope that calls people of all backgrounds to come together in faith and harmony.
At Bucharest, the mood was one of reverence and also familiarity. Participants exchanged prayers for peace, healing, and intercession of the saints. Hymns and liturgical readings were offered both in Sinhala and Tamil as a gesture towards the shrine’s past history of transcending divides. The move towards coming together regardless of background, hit very strongly, particularly as the shrine had a history as a zone of reconciliation and hope.
The occasion was more than one of prayer and ritual. For many who attended, it was an emotionally powerful experience — a rare opportunity to reconnect to the faith practices of their youth and pass them on to young people brought up far from Sri Lanka. Parents shared stories of pilgrimages to Madhu and miracles performed by St. Anthony, and children lit candles and sang hymns that they had only ever heard within their own walls. It was, in a way, a homecoming of the soul — one that overcame distance, generations, and even language.
To most Sri Lankans in the diaspora, these religious rituals not only bring spiritual fulfillment but also serve as a touchstone for cultural identity. Far from home, these ceremonies affirm communal bonds, reminding participants of shared legacies of strength, compassion, and mutual support.
This Romanian congregation is proof of how religion can transcend barriers. Wherever we may go, the unbreakable tie that binds us to the hallowed soil of Mannar and the enduring power of prayer are two things that the Sri Lankan community attested through the devotion of St. Anthony and Our Lady of Madhu. We are reminded that God’s presence is always with us, guiding us through every trial and bringing peace to our hearts.
