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Catholic group sets up base in Katuwapitiya to counsel blast victims
View(s):What the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks need most is counselling and protection, a senior Catholic leader said.
Commenting on the counselling and other assistance that CARITAS Sri Lanka (the social service arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference) has been offering the victims of the Katuwapitiya church blast, Fr. Neville Fernando, Superior of the Franciscan House at Katuwapitiya, said: “Each family affected has been entrusted to a group of experienced hands. One group is constantly visiting them and helping them spiritually. Another group helps them in counselling, while yet another group coordinates with the concerned parties to help them in their needs — like schooling, health and legal matters.”
A special CARITAS office has been set up at the Franciscan House in Katuwapitiya to cater to the needs of the affected people. It is open 24 hours.
CARITAS under the guidance of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has launched a programme focusing on three areas — spiritual development, counselling and social needs.
Fr. Fernando said, “They need our love, protection and guidance. One person had come to the parish priest and handed over the key of his vehicle and the deeds of his lands to him, saying, ‘Fr I have lost all my family members. Now there is no use in living alone’. Later we came to know that this person, in his 50s had committed suicide,” he said, stressing the importance of counselling.