Sri Lanka, at Easter a "second chance" for Catholic prisoners
Colombo (AsiaNews) - Not a punishment from God, but an opportunity given by the Lord to reflect on the crimes committed and not repeat them again. This is how some inmates of the women's prison in Welikada describe their lives in prison after Easter Mass celebrated by Fr. Prasanna Fernando, OMI to AsiaNews.
Among the inmates of Welikada, more than 100 are Catholic, both tamil and sinhalese. These women are serving sentences of varying length, from one to 11 years in prison. Together they organized the Easter Mass on March 31 last. During the offertory procession each of them carried a candle, a symbol of "new life."
"Our life here is sad - some of them say- but God has given us the opportunity to think about our bad deeds." "I believe the Lord - says a woman - forcefully put in to me in the prison to teach me a good lesson to my life. Now I want to go home and start a correct life with my family members".
"It is my firm intention - says one of the oldest held - not to repeat the same mistake, but to live a life in the presence of the Risen Christ."
In addition to the Easter mass, the prisoners also organized the Way of the Cross, with the help of Sister Deepa Fernando, Sister Saroja and Sister Jesmine Fernando, of the Sisters of the Holy Family, who regularly visit the prison. During the procession, many were brought to tears, especially when Sister Deepa described the various stations with episodes from the lives of these women.
The Easter liturgy was celebrated in Sinhala, but some readings and several hymns were recited in Tamil and English.
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