The Way of the Cross through the eyes of civil war victims
Anuradhapura (AsiaNews) - Members of the Catholic parish in Mihintale, Anuradhapura diocese, travelled to several local towns to visit civil war orphans, senior citizens abandoned by their families and the patients of an oncology ward. In doing this, they experienced the suffering of the Lord through the pain of other human beings.
Their parish priest, Fr Lasantha Abrew SJ, went with them. Speaking to AsiaNews, he described this experience as "a special Way of the Cross".
"We did not kneel in front of statues or images of the suffering Jesus," he said, "but we met him through people who are still carrying their own cross."
The parish council decided to divide the community into three groups. The first visited the Avanthi Devi Orphanage for Girls in Anuradhapura, home to 58 children from the first to the last grade. Here, parishioners offered each of the children lunch and ice cream, and then left a few gift packs of dry food, soap and other necessities. Some Catholics also cleaned the garden.
The second group visited the Oncology Ward at Anuradhapura General Hospital. Here, men built a pathway, whilst women gave buckets and clothes to cancer patients.
A third group visited the Shanti Sevana in Saliya Pura (Anuradhapura District), the largest home for the elderly in Sri Lanka. Divided into small groups, they were able to take care of some patients, cutting their nails and hair, washing dishes and tools, talking to the residents.
The latter explained that their children had abandoned them, unwilling to take care of them.
Visitors gave the home soap, 50 kilos of rice, two watches and sarong (traditional clothing).
After these three visits, "We all gathered at St Joseph's Cathedral for Mass. During the service, we talked about what each of us had seen and experienced during the meetings," Fr Abrew added. "Everyone said they were very impressed."
Moreover, again in Mihintale Parish, a youth group visited orphans at the Good Shepherd convent in Mankulam village (Northern Province), who are under the care of Fr James and Sister Rajesh.
The nun talked about the children, including the story of a girl of 10 who saw her entire family die in an explosion.
After the story, they all took part in the Mass, had lunch and then spent the rest of the day with games, songs and dances.
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