This year, in a country which is facing a major economic crisis, the Christmas services of the Catholic Church took on a different touch. Acutely conscious of the plight of men, women and children, the season which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ was seen as an opportunity to share whatever mite people could with others……not just with other Catholics but all who make up the tapestry of Sri Lankan society.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the body which makes crucial decisions on behalf of the Catholic community, currently being guided by Bishop Winston Fernando, along with all the priests and nuns working at the grassroots had been wholeheartedly ‘for’ the project.

This was the “miracle” that resonated within all churches big and small, whether in the bustling cities or the remote villages, as long and winding queues wended their way to the altar during the offertory procession, to place essentials and basic necessities such as dry rations and school items in the form of gifts. The message too this season was all powerful – Catholics showed that they cared deeply for their impoverished brothers and sisters.

The Director of Seth Sarana, Fr. Lawrence Ramanayake, who handled the logistics within the Archdiocese of Colombo which covers the whole of the Western Province says that this is the very essence of Christianity and its teachings.

The archdiocese comprises 152 parishes which include numerous sub-stations and is home to around 50% of the country’s Catholics. Its social arm is Seth Sarana.

Fr. Ramanayake goes onto explain what ‘JOY’ means – ‘Jesus’ first, ‘Others’ second and ‘You’ last. This was the message that was reinforced among the flock of the Catholic Church by the Bishops’ Conference and in the Archdiocese of Colombo by Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

“Enjoy Christmas and the New Year, while choosing the better way,” was the underlying message, he says.

The approach was at different levels: diocesan, grassroot and institutional/schools.

The churches put up Christmas trees and invited those in need – irrespective of their religion – in their areas to string up little notes on urgent requirements or inform the Parish Priests, all in utmost confidence. Thereafter, a plea went out to parishioners to pick a note and fulfil that need. The offerings were then collected, packed and without fanfare but discreetly so as not to embarrass the poor, distributed with the help of the churches’ zonal leaders who work at ground level.

Lauding the support at grassroot level as done on a “huge scale”, Fr. Ramanayake says that the groups which worked tirelessly included the Vincent de Paul Society, Young Catholic Students’ Movement, Youth Societies and Elders’ Societies. Another aspect of this spirit of giving is numerous scholarships to children and also the purchase of the long book lists along with schoolbags which would be distributed in January, as the school term begins in March. This is while in the Colombo area, 152 children received their school items valued at Rs. 4 million on Tuesday (December 27).

He says that times are hardest for widows, people with disabilities and even the middle class as they cannot appeal for help. This spirit of sharing was not just at Christmas time. It started a while ago, when Seth Sarana picked 600 families, irrespective of their religion, and began the delivery of a pack of dry rations or cash valued at Rs. 5,000 each, monthly for six months. At Catholic institutional/school level too, fees have been waived for children from humble homes.

It is the Director of Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC, the social arm of the Bishops’ Conference, Fr. Luke Nelson Perera, who looks at the bigger picture – the whole of Sri Lanka which falls under 12 dioceses, each guided by a Bishop.

The Catholic Church along with a private bank launched a fund-raising drive in early December to help schoolchildren who are facing immense hardship in finding their requirements to continue their education, he says, explaining that along with a radio station, the church also sought support from people to boost the monies collected for this project. The distribution of school items is taking place through 13 Caritas centres in the dioceses.

He too underscores that the church’s efforts to relieve the burdens on the poor in the current economic crisis began several months ago. Caritas facilitated the distribution of Rs. 1.5 million to each of the 25 districts back in July, August and September 2022, followed by the disbursement of Rs. 1.6 million to each of the dioceses in November which is ongoing until May.

“Around 260 eda wela hoya ganna beri pavul walata (those who cannot find their daily meals) in the dioceses, dry ration packs worth Rs. 5,000 are being delivered monthly,” says Fr. Perera, adding that 45 children are also being provided education packs worth Rs. 2,500 each and 21 people are getting health packs worth Rs. 5,000 each.

Appreciating all the donations from abroad which have made these initiatives possible, he says that those in dire need are being identified in coordination with the Divisional Secretariats, Parish Priests and SEDEC’s community-based organizations (CBOs).

Meanwhile, Verbum TV, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the Word of God, too turned words into action in the Kristhuraja village in Seththapola, close to Norochcholai by distributing dry rations to 80 families and school books to 45 children and handing a small cash donation to a child with disabilities.

Through the TV, its constant message to Catholics had been to help their “neighbour”, whoever is in need, in keeping with Christ’s teachings.

The strong hope of all who were part of this true spirit of Christmas is that its gentle benevolence would spread throughout the year, bringing joy and a smile to the poorest of the poor.

 

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