Pastoral journey of a Shepherd in print

“Out of the Depths”- A collection of Articles 

by Bishop Valence Mendis

The article on “The Renewal of the Islands of Kalpitiya” is quite moving and descriptive of the simple life of the island dwellers and their unwavering faith

The launch of Bishop Valence Mendis’ latest book ‘Out of Depths’ will take place at 4.30 pm on Saturday, July 11 at the Grand Maitland, Maitland Place, Colombo 7. 

Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Kandy which comprises the administrative Districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale of the Central Province, Bishop Mendis  did his Post Graduate Studies at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka,  and was a visiting lecturer at the same University. He was the first Director of the National Seminary Philosophate and the Rector of the National Seminary from 2001-2005. 

He  obtained the Doctorate in Philosophy at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. For the past 21 years as Bishop,  his main interest has been the shepherding of the Diocese of Chilaw (2005-2024) where a large number of Catholics from the coastal belt and some rural interior parts of Sri Lanka live. In 2022,  he was appointed as the Bishop of Kandy. 

Writing an enlightening forward to the book,  Rev. Fr. Quintus Fernando, Rector of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Kandy, says: “The Book ‘Out of the Depths: A collection of articles’ authored by Bishop Valence Mendis is a timely and inspiring contribution to the theological, pastoral and social discourse of our times. This work of Bishop Valence Mendis embodies the words of His Master:  “...Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (Mathew 13:52).

Formed in the Catholic intellectual tradition and erudite in secular sciences, the Bishop has with him a wealth of pastoral experience of forty years as a priest,  of which twenty years were as a senior prelate of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. In this present work, he draws upon his treasury of wisdom to reflect on a wide range of subjects with clarity, compassion and conviction. 

The collection of articles on a number of subjects such as mission of the Church, human religiosity and piety, mental health and wellbeing, inter-religious Dialogue, sustainable development, social justice and ecological integrity, etc. engages the reader with some of the pressing challenges and enduring hopes that shape the life of the Church and our society today. 

The Church believes that her heart must beat in rhythm with those of her people: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ” (Gaudium at Space, no 01). 

Being a true pastor, Bishop Valence, journeying closely together with the people of our times, shares in their hopes and anxieties, and these are the subjects of his intense and profound reflections in this present volume.

Several articles are related to the lived experience of the Bishop among the people in the Diocese of Chilaw as their chief Shepherd for nearly two decades. They offer a firsthand account of the struggles and triumphs of a local Church committed to the protection of human dignity, the environment, and the rights of the marginalised. The article on “The Renewal of the Islands of Kalpitiya” is quite moving and descriptive of the simple life of the island dwellers and their unwavering faith. The unbreakable bond between the faithful on these islands and their pastors testifies to a Church deeply embedded in the lives of her people. The narrative on the Shrine of St. Anthony at Pallekandal is highly informative, and traces the centuries-old history of its development based on hard evidences, from its beginnings to its present state,  being one of the most popular pilgrim centres in Sri Lanka.

Legacy of his predecessor

Following the legacy of his predecessor, late Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando who courageously opposed the Norochcholai Coal Power Project in defense of the rights of the people and the environment, the prophetic voice of Bishop Valence in the area of social justice echoes in the pages of the present volume.

Being an experienced pastor, spiritual leader and learned theologian Bishop Valence is at pains to convince the contemporary men and women, who are frenetically and lopsidedly running after material success, of the vital importance of a solid and integral spirituality that is indispensable for a meaningful and truly successful life. The author  condemns outright any agenda for economic development that does not care for the dignity of every human person and environment, as being unethical and unsustainable. 

The Bishop invites us to reflect on the Covid-19 Pandemic experience and guides the reader to decode the powerful messages it offers to humanity, calling for a change in the way we think and live. In many pages of this volume the author highlights value-based holistic education as a catalyst for social change, remedy for numerous evils in our communities and the way forward for a better world. As a pastor sensitive to the pains and agonies of the people of our times who are wounded in many ways, Bishop Valence recognises the importance of meditation and counselling for personal and communal healing.

Sri Lanka is a multi-religious and multi-cultural society. Buddhism is the religion of the majority which has shaped the mainstream culture and social fabric of our country with its noble and sublime values and traditions. Bishop Valence, a qualified scholar in Buddhism, treats the theme of inter-religious Dialogue systematically and comprehensively from a Christian perspective, dispelling all prejudices and misgivings prevalent in our society regarding religious freedom and propagation of one’s faith. He presents Dialogue as an integral part of the mission of the Church and a sure pathway to build bridges across religious and cultural boundaries in our pluralistic society.

Most of all, “Out of the Depths” is not simply a collection of articles but a compendium of rare reflections which is an ardent invitation coming from the heart of a Pastor to journey deeper into the true meaning of life, faith and our mission on earth,” National Seminary Rector described. 

Published by the St Joseph Vaz Media Centre Kandy, the book will be available at the Catholic bookshop in Borella and other book shops.