Mons. Ranjith launches a Christmas collection for children affected by war
Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Church of Colombo has launched a special Christmas collection to help refugee children in the district of Mannar, orphans of war and children of soldiers killed or who remain disabled during the conflict. Mgr. Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of the capital of Sri Lanka, addressed to all the faithful a letter entitled "Our call to love the poor". The fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, December 13th, but the Bishop is calling on parishes of the diocese to extend the initiative throughout the period of Advent.
The initiative is being coordinated by Seth Sarana, head of the Office for Human Development of the Church of Colombo, who will send donations to the National Caritas - Sedec which is entrusted with the implementation of projects.
The money will be used in particular for the construction of a shelter in Adampan in Manthai West division which is part of the Diocese of Mannar. The project is aimed at children of refugee families. With funds raised the bishop of Colombo will also support the studies of children of soldiers who were killed or remained disabled during the conflict. Part of the donations will also be used for operations in favour of the poor refugees who have been left homeless.
"Christmas this year should be a time of strong solidarity on our part to all the people who are suffering," says the bishop in the letter. He adds: "I appeal to all the faithful, asking them to make a sacrifice for the happiness of these children at Christmas."
For years, the Church in Sri Lanka has been engaged in assisting so-called Internnally displaced persons (IDPs) and the same collection of 13 December launched for Advent by the Bishops Conference of the island. But the collection of Christmas will be the beginning of a renewed and continuing support for the needs of refugees and victims of war. Archbishop Ranjith invites the faithful to contribute to the Diocesan Fund for charity during the whole year to come so as to create "a more vigorous assistance program". The Bishop calls on the parishes of the diocese to make this help routine and has proposed that in future money that would have been allocated to decorations during his pastoral visits be given instead to the Fund.
To support the construction of the Adampan center and contribute to scholarships the bank details are: 1190030812 Current Account, payable to Seth Sarana - Columbus at Commercial Bank of Ceylon - Borella, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka - Swift Code CCEYLKLX.
To support the project for the poor homeless bank references are current account 1190033006, payable to the Archbishop of Colombo at the Commercial Bank of Ceylon - Borella, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka - Swift Code CCEYLKLX.
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20/12/2019 16:09
24/01/2007
