A Minibus for Pastoral Work in Sri Lanka  

The Diocese of Mannar is in northwestern Sri Lanka. A while ago, we received an appeal for help from the Vavuniya deanery, where a vehicle was urgently needed for pastoral work.   

The deanery includes 10 separate parishes, each of which serves several smaller villages. Altogether, there are more than 16,000 Catholics living here. The distances are considerable, however, and the area is fairly inaccessible, being covered in bushland and, in some places, by jungle. This is an area that was particularly hard-hit by the terrible civil war that raged from 1983 to 2009. Many were forced to flee and lost all they possessed, and many others were killed. In many cases, people still don’t know what happened to relatives who were abducted. Women were raped, and to this day, many people still cannot forget the atrocities they were forced to witness. Even today, the spiritual wounds have not yet healed. And many families still suffer great material poverty. Most live a precarious hand-to-mouth existence as agricultural day laborers.  

The COVID-19 pandemic was yet a further blow, and a grave economic crisis, with sharply increased prices, has made life harder for people who were already poor to begin with.  

As always, the Church has stood by the people and brought them hope. But her pastoral outreach has long been difficult. Traveling by motorcycle in this region is dangerous, with poor roads and the danger of attack by wild beasts. And besides, the priest would normally be accompanied by religious sisters when visiting the villages, where there is so much need. So they required a vehicle capable of transporting several people and other necessary goods.  

Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to provide $44,562 for a minibus, which has now arrived safely in Vavuniya. In fact, it is already working, visiting the remote villages and bringing help. Now, the children and young people can be given a better and more intensive preparation for their First Holy Communion and Confirmation, and young couples can be better prepared for the sacrament of Matrimony. There is support for families and counseling for those in difficult life situations, and care for the sick and dying. And now, all the faithful can have more frequent access to the Sacraments and play a more active part in the life of the Church.  

The Bishop of Mannar has expressed his thanks to all of you who helped make this happen: “I truly appreciate and treasure your support for the Church in need, and I assure all your benefactors of our united prayers. May God bless you all!” 

312-01-39