Colombo (AsiaNews) - Being "one family", where "there are no differences between Buddhist, Catholic and Muslim," so that "we can work together with common goals", say the students of Buddhist Catholic girls' school St. Joseph's Girls of Nugegoda, a suburb of Colombo (Sri Lanka). Like every year, at Christmas they have organized a traditional carol concert, for the start of the holiday season. Held on 6 December in the garden of the institute, the concert was attended by families, school staff and several priests and nuns.
Unlike other countries, where religious symbols are removed as a form of "respect" for the faithful of other religions, here images of the nativity scene or Christmas tree represent elements of aggregation.
Founded 70 years ago by the Sisters of the Holy Family, St. Joseph's Girls school has 2,330 students. 60% of them are Buddhist, while the remaining are Catholic and Muslim.
"Christmas - school principal Asuntha Chandani Perera, told AsiaNews - is an important event in the life of all Christians. But if we think of its meaning, it becomes something unique. The love of Jesus that can not be measured. He gives us light, wisdom, and directs us to a life full of love and unity". So, says Sister Goretti Fernando, the deputy head, "through these programs, we teach our girls the meaning of being together, to give a stable foundation for their future."
Among the programs planned for this Christmas, in the coming days students will distribute dry food rations to poor families in the village of Nedunkarni (Northern Province).