Church of Our Lady of Expectation, Pallansena, Sri Lanka

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Church of Our Lady of Expectation, Pallansena, Negombo is a “place for worship who is waiting for a baby.” This church is famous among locals and is dedicated to Our Lady of Expectation (Mother Mary). Devotees gathering in this holy place, Garbawasa Church, firmly believe that this church does miracles for those who offer prayers.

Those families who are gifted with children, pregnant mothers, and ladies who are expecting babies would attend the Holy Mass so that they might honor Our Lady of Expectation and seek a blessing upon themselves. At the entrance and the side of the church stands a statue of Our Lady of the Expectation, Blessed Virgin Mary, about to give birth to the Savior of the world, peaceful and calm, yet bearing the Word in the quiet activity of pregnancy.

Related Post: Supuwath Arana, Seeduwa, Sri Lanka

How to reach Our Lady of Expectation Church Negombo?

The Church of Our Lady of Expectation is located in Pallansena, Negombo, Sri Lanka. See the map.

The Angel Gabriel Comes to Mary and the Announcement of the Birth of Jesus

Extract from the Holy Bible (Luke 1:26-38 )

Gospel Luke ( 1:26-38 )
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

The angel Gabriel comes and tells Mary that she will bear a son, to be named Jesus. ” And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. ” ( Luke 1:28 )

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:31-32)

“ Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. ” Then the angel departed from her.

According to St. Augustine, “She kept truth safe in her mind even better than she kept flesh safe in her womb. Christ is truth, Christ is flesh; Christ as truth was in Mary’s mind, Christ as flesh in Mary’s womb; that which is in the mind is greater than what is carried in the womb.”  From the moment of the Annunciation, every aspect of Mary’s body and soul was suffused with love for her Son, and that love overflowed in a calm yet powerful longing, an expectation, to look on the face of her Son, the Word made flesh.

Hail Mary Prayer

Let us Pray to Mother Mary

Hail, Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Let us pray to Our Heavenly Mother and Our Lady of Expectation, bearing Christ in her holy womb to Bless us with the gift of Children and Bless pregnant mothers with safe delivery. Amen.

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