Sri Lankan Catholic children celebrate the Way of the Cross without priests or teachers

(March 20, 2013) In Sri Lanka, children stage the Via Crucis every Friday in Lent without the help of teachers or priests. Children at a government primary school in Uch-cha-munai Island (Western Province). Wearing their school uniforms, the pupils leave their school and go as far as Annai Velankanni Catholic Church, which is part of Kalpititya Parish in the diocese of Chilaw . Uch-cha-munai Island is home to about 175 Tamil Catholic families, all involved in the fishing industry. Because of its remoteness, there is only one Mass a month and the children cannot get a religious education in school, or on Sundays. Once in a while, a nun from the Order of the Holy Family visits to teach catechism. The five teachers who are supposed to teach at the school cannot always get to the island. Sometimes it takes them two hours by boat from Kalpititya, when boats are available, which is not always the case.
In order that children do not feel neglected, the school principal decided to use the situation constructively. He asked the older pupils to stage a Via Crucis involving the younger ones. Thus 11 and 12 year old kids lead the way for the 5 and 6 year olds, with everyone reciting and praying in Tamil. A student who will graduate this year said "We like to remember each year the Passion of Jesus Christ because it helps us keep us on the right path."