CSI Jaffna Diocese

Historic event hails JDCSI as a National Church
The founding of the Church of South India in 1947 marking the historic union of several churches in southern India should have inspired a similar union in Sri Lanka. But for sixty one years, the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) with congregations largely in the north remained the sole hope for such a union. But on Sunday June 8, 2008 an Ordination Worship Service not only became a historic turning point for this church, but thanks to the leadership of the new Bishop in Jaffna, the Rt Rev Dr Daniel Thiagarajah, the JDCSI has assumed the status of a national church with churches in the south, west, east and the central hills apart from those in the north. These include a Sinhalese congregation in Galle, a new language community within the Church of South India family. Bishop and Bishop's Spouse with the clergy. Ordanied Priests are seated in the front row along with the Diocesan Secretary Rev. I. Rajkumar, Bishop's Chapliain Rev. S. Ariaratnam and Bishop's Spouse Dr Mrs. Thayalini Thiagarajah
Bishop officially declares the ordained Priests as Deacons and Presbyters
ORDINANDS DEACONS Mr. Veerakathy Annalingam (Pandateruppu) Mr. Selvanayagam Selvantha (Periya Nilavanai, Eastern Province) Mr. P.W. Nelson Balakumar (Gonamulla, Galle) PRESBYTERS Rev. P. Jerome Paul (Paalameenmadu, Eastern Province) Rev. James Shanthakumar Gnanapragasam (Ontachchimadam, Kaluwanchikudy, E.P.) Bishop Dr Thiagarajah with the five newly ordained Priests (3 Deacons and 2 Presbyters)
The event that hailed this landmark was an Ordination Worship Service that took place yesterday at the Colombo Church of the JDCSI led by the celebrant, Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah during which three deacons and two presbyters were ordained including three who have now returned to the mother church. A fifth candidate for deacon ordination from Wanni, could not reach Colombo due to transportation difficulties Bishop washes the feet of a Deacon
Our media persons report that a large number of participants at Sunday’s event felt God’s leadership that has inspired the JDCSI to become a national church. This appears to have been brought about through challenging circumstances that demanded the church to march onwards with unquestionable faith. God’s ways are amazing and are not always possible to comprehend easily but our faith will move mountains. This also gives a new hope to the people of Sri Lanka with the JDCSI now in a position to speak out for peace and amity in Sri Lanka as a national church.