They walked around the streets of the town and into the nearby villages singing Christmas carols. The Holy Mary parish and local schools join forces to gift moments of happiness to the local community. The enthusiasm of the students. Books and school materials will be donated to the poorest families.
Colombo (AsiaNews) - “We will not let the coronavirus destroy the meaning of Christmas. We want the younger generations to live its tradition and that of its songs”. This is the spirit with which the Catholic community of Negombo - the "little Rome" - approaches the holidays, Father Manoj Fernando, an assistant pastor at the local church of Santa Maria, tells AsiaNews.
On December 21, about fifty teachers and Grand Street Sunday School students walked the streets of the town in the archdiocese of Colombo singing Christmas carols (see video): a way to bring Christmas to the many people who cannot move because of the health restrictions.
Due to Covid, the faithful cannot gather to celebrate the holidays, and they cannot go to Mass. Sebastian Vincent, a teacher at St. Nicholas Sunday School, explained that the parish and local schools have come together in a common effort to bring some happiness to the people in this difficult time.
The students also prepared decorations for the Christmas tree in the church of Santa Maria. Ashen Shesantha, who attends the 9th grade class, enthusiastically spoke about the experience of touring the parish - small villages included - singing Christmas carols: “It made us happy to see so many people listening to our songs in front of their homes. and along the roads ".
Given the current difficulties, the population of Negombo - mostly fishing families - could not help the parish with offers of money or food for the poorest. Fr Manoj said however that the Catholic community is organizing the donation of school materials and books to the neediest families; a group of young parishioners will take care of the charitable initiative.