Sri Lankan preacher

AN Annual Remembrance Day service will be held at St James Anglican Church on Sunday 8 November.
St James would like to especially express to widows, children, relatives of ex-service personnel and give thanks for those who have suffered in times of conflict and show the support that others in the community feel for them.
This is an ecumenical service to which members of other denomination and public are cordially invited to attend.
The Preacher for the service will be the Rev“Prem” Premarajah who is currently Assistant Priest at St James and is well equipped to preach on an occasion such as Remembrance Sunday having regard to the atrocities experienced by members of his family and communities in Sri Lanka, the land of his birth.
Prem, born and bred in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), received his theological training in Bangalore and was ordained into the ministry of the Jaffna Diocese, Church of South India.
He obtained his Masters degree in Counselling from Princeton, New Jersey and served the people in war-torn Tamil region of the North and East in the capacity as a Priest and trauma counsellor. His leadership in the church and community, his engagement in the field of mental health and spiritual support to the victims of war, torture and violence, his work in the training of future priests were his significant contribution in the ministry of the church in Sri Lanka. His commitment to justice and peace led him to express his prophetic ministry which earned him to leave his church, people and country. He was invited to be the Priest-in-charge of a large Tamil Christian Congregation based at All Saints Anglican church East Malvern. After completing twelve years of ministry with these two congregations, he moved to Deloraine Tasmania for a short-period of ministry, and St James Pakenham as its Associate Priest a year ago. He visited Sri Lanka periodically, especially after the 2004 tsunami and took a group from Melbourne to South India and Sri Lanka on a study tour. His leadership among Sri Lankan Tamil community in Melbourne and in the cross cultural ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne is valued in the work for Peace and Justice.
EX service personnel and their kinsfolk are asked to wear appropriate honours and awards. It is hoped the service will be meaningful for the RSL Legacy, war widows, Beaconhills Cadets, like organisations and those attending the Service.
The service at St James Church, 31 Pakenham Rd will commence at 9.30am.
A ‘cuppa’ will be provided at the conclusion of the Service.
“Lest We Forget”