FROM THE SEA COAST TO THE HILLS
On December 18th 1908 at 9 o’clock in the morning the sisters destined for the mission left Galle escorted by Mother Tiburce.
This is taken from a letter written by Mother Tiburce :-
“We arrived at Polgahawela at 5 in the evening; Rev. Fr. Closet was waiting for us at the station. He installed us in a carriage drawn by two horses. The Catholics from Kegalle had sent the carriage decorated with flags and greenery. For as hour and a quarter we traveled along wonderful scenery to reach the place where the reception was to taken place.
The whole population of Kegalle and its surroundings was there. After giving us an exquisite bouquet of flowers the procession started. At the head twelve trained elephants, then followed a group of dances, a long line of carriages, the alter boys and the school children, boys girls with banners and baskets of flowers.
At the foot of the parish Church, His Grace Mgr. Van Reeth gave us his paternal blessing with some kind words of welcome. We mounted the 46 steps between two rows of curious onlookers. In front of the church raise our beautiful convent like a strong fortress. The convent is built in pavilion style. The center is the convent, around it the Sinhalees and English schools, the bordering is the orphanage.
After the ceremony in the church, we went to the boarder’s playground. There the dancers performed to the sounds of tom-tom. When the darkness put an end to their entertainment, the fir works began. It was so beautiful.
The solemn blessing of the convent took place on the following day. After the ceremony the Bishop, the Father and the Catholic notables assembled in the boarder’s large hall. There we were presented as a sign of welcome; a beautiful statue of St. Joseph’s which was already installed in the front piece of our house, a good bell for our chapel and a carriage for the use of our school or for special circumstance. The rest of the morning was spent giving large portion of rice, bananas and sugar to a large number of poor people.”
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