Colombo (AsiaNews) – The annual annual "Pada Yaathraa", the Lenten pilgrimage organized by the Diocese of Mannar, came to an end this morning. More than 1,658 Catholics - men, women, young people and children - left at dawn on March 30 last from the Cathedral of St. Sebastian, in Mannar, and are now in the parish of Komarasankulam in the district of Vavuniya. The entire route is 97 kilometers. "Peace, penance and repentance is what we seek with our pilgrimage," Fr Victor Soosai, vicar general of the diocese he AsiaNews.
"Fasting, penance and prayer - says the priest - during the period of Lent remind us of how, in this land, there was a war."
"This year - adds the vicar - is the year of young people for our diocese: for this reason many young boys and girls attended the event." 5 thousand other pilgrims joined the faithful gathered today in Vavuniya.
Now that the "Pada Yaathraa" is finished, about 1,500 youth of the Diocese will begin their Lenten retreat, the first of three days at the shrine of Madhu. The second retreat will begin for 800 young people, on 12 April.