Caritas helps victims of Cyclone Ditwah. Cardinal Ranjith calls for a Christmas of ‘compassion’
In a message to the faithful, the Archbishop of Colombo talks about a “very painful situation”, calling for holidays without excessive celebrations, extravagance, and waste. A Catholic NGO is leading the way in providing aid – food, drinking water, medical supplies, and cash – to various parishes.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, issued a Christmas message addressed to Catholics and non-Catholics in Sri Lanka to celebrate the season with compassion and restraint.
This comes as the country grapples with the tragic aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters to hit it (and much of Asia) in recent history, battered by heavy rains, floods, and landslides, with hundreds of deaths and millions of displaced people.
Given the situation, many Christian NGOs, led by Caritas Seth Sarana, are involved in aid and relief efforts in the capital, which is reeling from the effects of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.
In his Christmas message, published yesterday evening, the cardinal says that more than 1.5 million people have been displaced and that "an uncounted number" remain buried under rubble and earth in the upper regions following landslides and severe flooding. "It is a most painful situation,” he added.
The prelate stressed that the Christian community is entering a season traditionally associated with joy and the celebration of the Nativity. “Yet, how could we celebrate with all the externals when thousands of our fellow citizens are without their loved ones, buried under rubble due to earth slips, in refugee centres and without any of their belongings except the clothes they were wearing when they had to flee the floodwaters?”
For this reason, the archbishop of Colombo is appealing to the faithful to refrain from excessive celebrations, extravagance, and waste during the Christmas holidays, urging them instead to focus on helping those affected by the disaster.
“Celebrate, by all means, yes, but make it more of a moment of spiritual happiness and concern for the needs of those who suffer,” he said.
"Assist as much as possible those who need a helping hand, those who lost their loved ones, and those who lost their houses and belongings," the cardinal added. This way Christmas can be a “deeply spiritual and joyful experience,” full of blessings for those affected.
For its part, Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo, the human development arm of the Diocese of Colombo, in collaboration with Caritas SEDEC Sri Lanka, is coming to the aid of flood-impacted parishes in the capital.
So far, Catholic charities have handed out non-perishable food rations, drinking water, cooked foods, sanitary items, and cash donations.
According to Father Heshan Fernando, Seth Sarana has helped flood victims in five phases.
In the first phase, on 1 December, Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo put aside one million Sri Lankan rupees in cash as an emergency fund to facilitate relief efforts in 18 parishes affected by the recent floods in the Archdiocese of Colombo.
In the second phase, the Catholic NGO, thanks to donor support, completed the emergency phase by distributing dry rations and sanitary items worth one million rupees to affected families in several villages of 10 parishes in the archdiocese.
In the third phase, on 2 December, Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo distributed dry rations in several villages across 13 parishes. Additionally, SEDEC-Caritas Sri Lanka contributed ready-to-eat meals to support affected communities during this difficult time.
In the fourth phase, the charity distributed 200,000 rupees in cash donations to support relief efforts among the faithful of four parishes.
Finally, in Phase 5, it distributed dry rations and bottled water worth 1.3 million rupees to affected families in eight parishes.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and well-wishers who came forward to support this humanitarian mission,” said Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo in a message to AsiaNews.
“Their generosity empowers our mission. A special appreciation goes to the Kotte, Wadduwa, Koralawela, Dehiwala, Kalutara, and Kamaragoda parishes for their generous contribution of dry rations and water bottles, which greatly strengthened our relief efforts.”
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03/04/2019 16:13
12/04/2022 18:08
