St. Sebastian’s Church Rukmalgama to Hold Annual Feast Jan. 24–25

St. Sebastian’s Church in Rukmalgama will hold its Annual Feast Programme for 2026 on January 24 and 25, featuring religious services and ceremonies marking a major milestone for the parish, Parish Priest of the Pannipitiya Parish said.  

The programme will begin on Saturday, January 24, with the Anointing of the Sick at 9 a.m., followed by vespers at 7 p.m. The evening service will be led by Rev. Msgr. Robinson Wijesinghe, director of Charis, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Archdiocese of Colombo.   

The main Feast Day will be observed on Sunday, January 25. A festive high mass is scheduled for 8 a.m. and will be followed by the laying of the foundation stone for the new church building, according to the programme.   

The high mass and foundation stone ceremony will be celebrated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo and apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Batticaloa.   

A religious procession will take place after the conclusion of the festive high mass.   

Parish officials said the annual feast is expected to draw parishioners and visitors from surrounding areas, combining spiritual observances with an important step in the parish’s development.

The programme is being organized under the guidance of the parish priest of Panipitiya Parish, with preparations focused on accommodating worshippers and ensuring the smooth conduct of all religious events.