Identify with suffering civilians, share their grief – Bishop's Easter Message

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 April 2009, 12:18 GMT]
Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, Jaffna Bishop, in his Easter message appealed to the people in Jaffna district to identify themselves with the civilians held in the detention camps, sharing their grief and sufferings, and to be frugal in their daily lives, sources in Jaffna said. Sixteen Catholic parishes in Mullaiththeevu have been forced to close down due to the artillery fire and aerial bombings by the Sri Lanka military, driving members of the parishes into the ‘safe zone’ announced by the government within the LTTE administered area where they continue to spend their lives in the bunkers, Catholic Guardian current issue said.

17 priests and 22 nuns who had sought refuge in Valaignarmadam in the ‘safe zone’ continue to serve their congregations even amidst artillery fire and aerial bombing, it said.

The parishes of Ki’linochchi, Uruththirapuram, Jeyapuram, Valaippaadu, Muzhangkaavil, Kumizhamunai, Mallaavi and Mangkku'lam, Amaithipuram, Vaddakkachi, Paranthan, Tharmapuram, A’lampil, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Mullaiththeevu have been forced to close, Catholic Guardian said.

Meanwhile, Jaffna Bishop House sources said that SLA in Jaffna has consented to lift the night time curfew in Jaffna peninsula Saturday night to enable people to attend Easter Mass, in response to the request made by Jaffna Bishop’s House.