Archbishop initiates ‘Refugee Fund 2007’

COLOMBO: Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis has appealed to all catholics to contribute generously to the Refugee Fund 2007 initiated by the Archdiocese of Colombo.

In a letter to the Catholic Community His Lordship Gomis states as we come to the climaxing period of Lent, the sad plight of over 150,000 persons displaced from their homes in different parts of the country is something that cannot escape our attention.

Reminding that the displaced live in refugee camps and in some cases food items and clothing could not be sent due to prevailing condition has appealed to send financial contribution to the “Refugee Fund - 2007.

I warmly invite each one of you to forego a meal during one day of the Holy Week and contribute the cost of it to the Refugee Fund that will be collected at parish level and institutionwise.

The full text: Dear Reverend fathers/brothers/sisters and Faithful in Christ,

As we come to the climaxing period of Lent, the sad plight of the over one hundred and fifty thousand persons displaced from their homes in different parts of the country is something that cannot escape our attention.

As Catholics we have always come forward to help those in distress - be it tsunami, floods, drought or any other. Irrespective of race, creed, caste or colour, we have helped those in distress to the best of our ability. I must confess proudly that the Catholic community always did its best at such times.

Confident of this goodwill and trusting in your generosity, I appeal to you in this moment of crisis to help our brothers and sisters who are displaced and living in refugee camps especially in the dioceses of Jaffna, Trincomalee-Batticaloa and Mannar (Madhu). In the prevailing circumstances, it is not possible for us to send anything in kind such as food items and clothing.

However, we could help them them to purchase these items with our financial contributions.

Therefore, we propose to send this assistance to the respective diocesan Bishops through the regular banking channels which any security sources may inspect.

Accordingly, in keeping with the spirit of this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, I warmly invite each one of you to forego a meal during one day of this final week of Lent (the Holy Week) and to contribute the cost of it to the Refugee Fund that will be gathered in your parishes and institutions.

The Reverend Parish Priests and Heads of Catholic Institutions are requested to credit these collections to the “Refugee Fund - 2007” at the Archbishop’s House, Colombo 8 at the earliest after Easter Sunday.

Anyone wishing to make contributions directly to the fund is also free to do so. Cheques should be drawn in favour of the “Refugee Fund - 2007” and addressed to the Procurator General, Archbishop’s House, Colombo 8.

Rev. Parish Priests and Heads of Institutions are kindly requested to give this letter maximum publicity and to arrange for the collections in their respective jurisdictions in an appropriate manner.

I thank you and wish you all a very Happy Easter filled with the blessings of the Risen Lord Alleluia!