Comboni Nuns In Sri Lanka

INTRODUCTION

Newly-arrived in Sri Lanka, where Catholics represent around 6% of the total population, the Comboni Sisters have taken up the commitment of education. Besides, the missionary nuns are sensitive to the plight of women who are exploited in the tea industry.

WRITTEN BY

SHARE THE WORD

PUBLISHED ON

A Comboni Missionary, in Sri Lanka? More than once I have had to respond to this question. Before the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings (six near-simultaneous suicide bomb attacks on April 21, 2019, that targeted three churches and three hotels perpetrated by two Muslim groups that pledged alliance to the ISIS) people had a hard time understanding a missionary presence in one of the trendiest tourist destinations. After the terrorist suicide blastings that caused more than 300  dead and 500 injured, the question comes disguised with a mantle of heroism that has little to do with missionary vocation.

I live in Sri Lanka. I am neither a tourist nor a heroine. I am a Comboni missionary nun at the service of the God of life, sharing every day with the Sri Lankan people.

The first Comboni Sisters arrived in Sri Lanka in March 2012. Monsignor José Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy in central Sri Lanka, visited Dubai and met the Comboni sisters. He saw how our school functioned, how we run the catechetical center, and how we attended to the different migrant communities.

The Bishop wanted us in his diocese after almost thirty years of civil war in the country. Any help was welcome to strengthen education and heal the coexistence between Sinhalese and Tamils, the two ethnic groups at odds.

Sister Libanos Ayele, Sister Quy Thi Dinh, and Sister Nelly Kangogo were the pioneers. They started from scratch on a mission called to live and grow as a minority. The beginning was complex but, with patience and a lot of love for God and his people, they managed to integrate themselves in the daily lives of the people of the central region.

 

Five Nationalities
I arrived in Talawakelle in August 2017. Only one of the pioneers remained. They all got sick and had to leave one by one. A Polish sister was waiting for me there, Sr. Anna Kozuszek who was still young and had experience in the Persian Gulf. Later, Sr. Patricia Lemus and Sr. Amira Wiliams joined, while Sr. Libanos returned. A community made up of sisters of five different nationalities was called to bear witness to the Gospel with their lives.

I remember the day I arrived at Talawakelle. Instead of four and a half hours, it took us six hours to get to the mission because of the pouring rain. Three years later, every time I make this journey I am still amazed by the majesty of the jungle, the vivid colors of Hindu temples, and the impassive serenity of the Buddhas lying in the middle of the mountain. The nature and religiosity of this town are its best welcome card.

Young and inexperienced, I arrived full of passion and desire to revolutionize everything as soon as possible. Now I am still young but time and people have taught me that in addition to passion, the mission requires patience, perseverance, prayer, and a lot of humility and freedom to know, collaborate, love, and let ourselves be loved by the people who receive us.

 

Suffering People
Our people here are suffering. They are descendants of the slaves brought in by the British in the 19th century to work on the tea plantations. Due to their Indian roots, many did not enjoy Sri Lankan citizenship until 2003. Despite legal recognition, the Tamils ​​of the central region continue to be one of the communities that suffer the most discrimination and the greatest economic, political, and social inequalities.

The majority of the population depends on the tea industry, either for harvesting or further processing. Behind every cup enjoyed in the Western world are the lives of thousands of women. Sunburned and anemic, women bear the brunt of the tea plantation work under the scorching sun. Humidity favors the presence of animals. Based on greed, the tea industry pays three Euros at best for twelve kilos of tea leaves.

 

Mission
With eyes wide open to that reality in which life, especially that of women, is exploited, our mission unfolds. We share the joy of working in a diocesan school where Christians and Hindus (students and teachers) try to form good people and honest citizens.

Education is the most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and the stigma of slavery. In addition, it is the appropriate place to discover that ethnic and religious differences, rather than being a threat, can be a mirror of the wealth and plurality of the country.

The other pillar of our presence is the parish. More than 1,500 Christian families spread over 60 communities belong to the parish of St. Patrick’s. There is a variety of groups: more than 300 kids in catechesis; Legion of Mary; Divine Mercy group; the group of San José Vaz; and a group of youngsters.

We work in collaboration with Frs. Matthew and Dilan, the two diocesan priests of our parish, and with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux. Our Christian community looks like a mustard seed. Despite being the smallest of the religious presences in the country, it has within itself the vocation and the strength to become a tree capable of providing shelter and bearing good fruit.

I thank God and our people for the three years I lived in Sri Lanka. The constant prayer of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians has strengthened my prayer life. The priority accorded to the family in Sri Lankan society has made me value my own even more. The simplicity and poverty with which my neighbors live have led me to try to find what is truly necessary.

The solemnity of some celebrations, the symbolism, the colors, and the smells have made me understand  infinite Beauty. The serene joy of seeing the shyness that quickly becomes confident and many chats with a thousand questions have taught me to appreciate the importance of stopping and talking with people. The suffered life of these people who have been slaves reinforces the promise of Christ: “I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance.”

The unshakeable faith of a minority, sometimes persecuted and massacred, confirms that the Church is mother and body; that she is called to come out of the temples and the barriers of fear and privilege; that even if persecuted, is called to be the announcement of the full Life in Christ.

Share Your Thoughts

All comments are moderated

From The Same Issue

The articles and content about this issue

From The Same Issue

The articles and content about this issue

From This Topic

The articles and content about this topic

From This Topic

The articles and content about this topic

Frontline

Jesus wept!

Explore Other Topics

Browse other coverage

Explore Other Topics

Browse other coverage

WM SPECIAL

Presents, discusses and draws readers to reflect on issues of outmost relevance to the world today.


FRONTIERS

Very often, mission is carried out in frontier situations around the world. Those who embrace these situations have much to share.


UNITY IN DIVERSITY

Writer Ilsa Reyes will be exploring the richness of Pope Francis’s latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti with a view of helping our readers to get a grasp of the this beautiful papal document.


FRONTLINE

Puts to the front committed and inspiring people around the world who embrace humanitarian and religious causes with altruism and passion.


IN FOCUS

Focus on a given theme of interest touching upon social, economic and religious issues.


FAITH@50

As the Philippines prepares to celebrate 500 years of the arrival of Christianity. Fr. James Kroeger leads us in this series into a discovery journey of the landmark events in the history of faith in the Philippine archipelago.


INSIGHT

Aims to nurture and inspire our hearts and minds while pondering upon timely themes.


FILIPINO FOCUS

The large archipelago of the Philippines, in its richness of peoples and cultures, offers varied and challenging situations for mission.


FOLLOW ME

Reflections and vocation stories that shape up the lives of young people.


MISSION IS FUN

As humor and goodness of heart are qualities of Christian and missionary life, the new column “Mission is fun” will be publishing some anecdotes and stories that have happened in a missionary context to lighten up the spirits and trigger a smile in our faces.


LIVING COMMUNION

To help readers of World Mission live this year dedicated to Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples, Tita Puangco, writer and lecturer, shares in this section insights on the spirituality of communion.


WINDS OF THE SPIRIT

A historic view of the Catholic movements that emerged from the grassroots as an inspiration by the Holy Spirit.


BRIDGE BUILDERS

On the Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples, radio host and communicator Ilsa Reyes, in her monthly column, encourages Christians and people of good will to be one with their fellow people of other sects, religions and tribes.


INTERVIEW

Questions to a personality of the Church or secular world on matters of interest that touch upon the lives of people.


WORLD TOUCH

News from the Church, the missionary world and environment that inform and form the consciences.


CARE OF THE EARTH

A feature on environmental issues that are affecting the whole world with the view of raising awareness and prompting action.


EDITORIAL

The editor gives his personal take on a given topic related to the life of the Church, the society or the world.


YOUNG HEART

A monthly column on themes touching the lives of young people in the Year of the Youth in the Philippines by radio host and communicator I lsa Reyes.


SCROLL

A missionary living in the Chinese world shares his life-experiences made up of challenges and joyous encounters with common people.


EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Life stories of people who deserve to be known for who they were, what they did and what they stood for in their journey on earth.


ONE BY ONE

Stories of people whom a missionary met in his life and who were touched by Jesus in mysterious ways.


INCREASE OUR FAITH

Critical reflection from a Christian perspective on current issues.


SPECIAL MOMENTS

Comboni missionary Fr. Lorenzo Carraro makes a journey through history pinpointing landmark events that changed the course of humanity.


PROFILE

A biographical sketch of a public person, known for his/her influence in the society and in the Church, showing an exemplary commitment to the service of others.


WM REPORTS

Gives fresh, truthful, and comprehensive information on issues that are of concern to all.


LIFE'S ESSENTIALS

A column aimed at helping the readers live their Christian mission by focusing on what is essential in life and what it entails.


ASIAN FOCUS

Peoples, events, religion, culture and the society of Asia in focus.


THE SEARCHER'S PATH

The human heart always searches for greatness in God’s eyes, treading the path to the fullness of life - no matter what it takes.


INDIAN FOCUS

The subcontinent of India with its richness and variety of cultures and religions is given center stage.


AFRICAN FOCUS

The African continent in focus where Christianity is growing the fastest in the world.


JOURNEY MOMENTS

Well-known writer and public speaker, Fr. Jerry Orbos, accompanies our journey of life and faith with moments of wit and inspiration based on the biblical and human wisdom.


IGNATIUS STEPS

On the year dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyala, Fr. Lorenzo Carraro walks us through the main themes of the Ignatian spirituality.


THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS

Fr. John Taneburgo helps us to meditate every month on each of the Seven Last Words that Jesus uttered from the cross.


INSIDE THE HOLY BOOK

In this section, Fr. Lorenzo delves into the secrets and depths of the Sacred Scriptures opening for us the treasures of the Sacred Book so that the reader may delight in the knowledge of the Word of God.


CONVERSATIONS

Reflections about the synodal journey on a conversational and informal style to trigger reflection and sharing about the synodal path the Church has embarked upon.

Shopping Cart