The shrine of St. Jude in Indigolla, Gampaha is today widely known in Sri Lanka and draws thousands of pilgrims every week. The most popular day for devotions is Thursday and the first Thursday of every month is of special significance. Begun as a small shrine in the remote village of Indigolla, it now enjoys wide fame and popularity attracting even devotees from other faiths.

The shrine was initiated by the late Fr. Philip Dissanayake an Oblate of Mary Immaculate around sixty years ago during the episcopate of the late Cardinal Thomas Cooray OMI. It was initially entrusted to the Carmelite Fathers OCD as monastery, but later transferred to be administered directly by the priest of the Archdiocese of Colombo. Within a short period of time the relatively small church turned out to be a place of great devotion and thousands began turning in here to plead for the Saint's intercession.

Most of these pilgrims experience the lively presence of the Saint at the shrine as they come here on bended knee to invoke his mediation. St. Jude Thaddeus, popularly known as the Saint of Desperate Cases was relatively unknown at the time of commencement of this church. Today he is one of the best known Saints not only among the Catholics but also among others as could be evidenced at the celebration of the annual festival each year on the last Sunday of October. And this is due to the many favors received by the devotees. Today it has become a haven of prayer where thousand flock for consolation and solace.

I am happy that the present Administrator of the shrine is inaugurating a website for the shrine to introduce furhter to so many others who today are in need of spiritual solace and consolation. While wishing this effort every success I trust this will help lead thousands of others who are today in distress and grief to the feet of the Saint to be consoled and spiritually comforted.

I bless the effort most cordially.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

+Oswald Gomis

Archbishop of Colombo