Rev. Fr. Bernard Kurera, TOR, age 77, of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Vice Province of our Lady of Lanka, Sri Lanka, died of prostate cancer on Monday, December 14, 2020 at 11.45 am, at St. Anthony’s Friary, Chilaw, Sri Lanka.
Rev. Fr. Bernard Kurera was born on February 15, 1944 in Pitipana Weediya, Negombo. He hailed from the Parish of Duwa, Negombo. He was the son of late Mr. Mihindukulasooriya Peter Kurera and Mrs. Mihindukulasooriya Arachchige Anaththasia Fernando, and the youngest child of three children. He was baptized on February 18, 1944.
He attended Roman Catholic school in his native city (Pitipana) for his primary education and joined the Franciscans at Maggona in 1960. He was very good at playing the violin and passed the G. C. E. Ordinary level examination in 1960. He entered the Novitiate on March 16, 1963 at St. Vincent De Paul Friary at Maggona and professed his Temporary Vows on March 19, 1964. He professed his Solemn Vows on March 16, 1970. Thereafter, he obtained a diploma in Catechesis in Aquinas College, Colombo. For priestly formation, he entered the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Ampitiya, Sri Lanka and was ordained as the first priest of the Vice Province of Our Lady of Lanka on September 08, 1985. Fr. Bernard Kurera also received a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and obtained his postgraduate degree on Franciscan spirituality from St. Bonaventure University, USA.
Rev. Fr. Bernard was elected as the Minister Provincial of the Vice Province for two consecutive terms (1986-1990, 1990-1994). He was elected again as the Minister Provincial from 1998-2002 and for a fourth time he held the position of Minister Provincial from 2007-2009. The TOR Provincialate at Bolawalana, Scholasticate at Ampitiya and the Child Development Centre at Maggona are some of the houses that were constructed during his tenure.
During his long and faithful consecrated Franciscan life, Fr. Bernard Kurera served many years as the Director of Novices (1982-1983 and 2007-2009).
Fr. Bernard also ministered in the fields of education, healing and pastoral care. As a teacher, he served at St. Joseph`s College, Colombo 10, from 1966 to 1967. As a pastor he rendered a yeoman service at Mihinthale (2002-2003), at Naththandiya (2003-2007), and at Kongodamulla (2010-2012).
Praise the Lord! Fr. Bernard Kurera lived a long healthy life. At the age of 75 he suffered a heart attack and underwent a bypass operation. A year later, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After an ultrasound and bone scan, it was determined that the cancer had spread beyond his prostate.
Fr. Bernard was called to the eternal life on December 14, 2020, on the feast of his favourite saint, St. John of the Cross, at St. Anthony’s Friary, Chilaw, at the age of 76, in the 56thyear of profession in the TOR religious life and 35 years as a priest.
His remains were kept at Queen Virgin Church, Pitipana Weediya, Negombo from 8:30 pm Monday December 14, 2020 until 6 am Tuesday, December 15, 2020 and then taken to Maggona. Friends were received at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lanka Friary, Maggona on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. During this time, many friars, relatives, bishops, priests and nuns from the parishes of the Dioceses of Colombo, Chilaw and Galle, and many faithful from the different areas of the country were present to bid their farewell.
Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lanka Friary with Very Reverend Father Malaka Fernando, TOR, Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Following the Mass, burial took place in the TOR Franciscans’ Cemetery, Maggona.