Oblates work with seaquake survivors in Sri Lanka

The communities of Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate in Sri Lanka and India, who lost some of their own confreres and family members in the tsunami disaster, have added aid to seaquake disasters to their normal mission of caring for those in need. Father Paul Jeevendra, Superior Provincial of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate in Sri Lanka voiced his gratitude for numerous messages of sympathy and generous response from many confreres and friends all over the world. From Jaffna in the north of Sri Lanka where he is stationed and where the people are mostly Tamil, Fr Jeevendra sent a message to the OMI General House asking for help to provide assistance for some 48,000 homeless victims of the tragedy at the moment sheltered in churches, schools and other public buildings. Oblate Missionaries here have years of experience in helping refugees in 20 long years of civil war. In this new tragedy they are fully committed offering all their energy and experience, co-operating with civil authorities and NGOs present in the area. They are increasing awareness among local Catholics and non to offer any help they can. Local OMI Missionaries are also providing psychological counselling through religious and lay experts in the field to bring comfort and consolation to survivors and serving as chaplains in hospitals and schools, besides caring for the sick and celebrating funerals for the dead. In the long term they will try to keep up psycho-physical assistance to the victims with special care for orphans helping their human and cultural growth. For more information see www.omiworld.org. Source: Fides