Less money on Saint Anthony celebrations, more for war refugees

(June 16,2009): In Sri Lanka, on the feast day of their Church’s patron Saint Anthony, members of the Dalupoth parish in Negomobo, near Colombo, decided to collect aid for Tamil war refugees living in camps.
The local parish priest, Fr Roshan Fernando, told Asia News that together with the members of his congregation, they talked it over to see how they could best celebrate the feast day without forgetting the dramatic situation of thousands of war refugees. He said without much friction they decided to help the refugees rebuild a normal life.Thus the main theme of this year’s celebration of St. Anthony’s feast was ‘Sharing our feast with war victims’.
Fr. Fernando said the parishioners cut back on spending for decoration, food, firecrackers and clothing and used the money instead to buy something useful for the refugees The aid that was collected from the population was enough for two truckloads, he added.