OMI Colombo Sri Lanka

A prompt pastoral Response to the cry of the Fisher-families

On August 13, 2020, Bishop Justin Gnanapragasam, the bishop of the diocese of Jaffna blessed and opened the newly constructed mission house at Mohotuwaram, Kokilai. Having addressed the people at the end of the Eucharistic concelebration, he added: “I, for one, could not understand why these Sinhala Catholic fisher folk at Kokilai should be deprived of a resident Sinhala priest in close proximity to them in order to guide them, when Tamil priests are being sent to serve the Tamil Catholics living in other countries. Bishop Justin thanked Fr. Roshan Silva, OMI, the newly elected Provincial of the Oblate Province of Colombo for agreeing to enable Fr. Leslie Fernando, OMI to reside at Mohotuwaram and serve the fisher-families. He thanked also Fr. Leslie for his readiness to serve the fisher-families while residing at Mohotuwaram.