Meeting the priests and seminarians of Jaffna |
It was one of those news items that did not attract much attention. Yet it was, in fact, an event of major importance when the staff and students of the Our Lady of Lanka Major Seminary in Kandy, Sri Lanka, decided to visit their counterparts in Jaffna in the far north of Sri Lanka.
Sadly, Sri Lanka has been torn by conflict for many years as the Tamil Tigers battled for autonomy in their traditional homeland. There is, for the moment, an uneasy peace following a bloody defeat of the Tigers on 17 May 2009. However, in spite of all the publicity given by the media to Sri Lanka over the course of the years, many people in this country do not realise the deep-seated variation between the two peoples who live in the country. The Sinhalese and the Tamils have many differences in language, culture and traditions, differences which are not always readily reconciled.
This is why the recent encounter of the staff and students of the Our Lady of Lanka Major Seminary in Kandy to Jaffna with those in Jaffna was such a vitally important, ground-breaking act towards greater mutual understanding and reconciliation.
It was also an occasion for rejoicing for those from England and Wales who support the Kandy seminary through Missio and the Society of St Peter the Apostle (SPA). Many of the students whom they sponsor were part of the group which travelled to Jaffna.
Fr Anthony Jayakody is the Rector of the seminary of Our Lady of Lanka and was eager to speak of the encounter between the two seminaries, an event which deeply touched the hearts of all concerned.
Why was it important for Sinhalese students to visit a Tamil area of Sri Lanka?
Meeting the people of Jaffna |
The National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka was the home of the Major Seminarians from all the dioceses of Sri Lanka till 1983. But due to the unfortunate communal riots which occurred in our Motherland in that year, the Major Seminarians of Jaffna dioceses had to say goodbye to this institution in 1984.
Although we were distanced by unavoidable circumstances, we maintained a good and friendly relationship between the two Major Seminaries. Due to the war we were not able to visit each other.
This year, since the war ended, it was unanimous the students in our National Seminary were unanimous in wanting to visit our brother Seminarians in Jaffna to show our continuous brotherhood and solidarity with them in their difficult situations. We want to show them that we were with them and we are with them in all circumstances. We, whether Sinhalese or Tamil, are going to do the same mission in the vineyard of the Lord. Our unity will be a sign and encouragement to all others in Sri Lanka to shed all differences and come together for peace in this island nation.
Does the seminary in Kandy cater for both Tamils and Sinhalese? If not, where do Tamil seminarians study? Why do they not study in Kandy?
The National Seminary caters for both Tamil and Sinhalese Seminarians. Though the Tamil students from the diocese of Jaffna could not come to the National Seminary since 1983 due to the closure of the roads, Tamil students from other dioceses (Mannar and Trincomalee-Batticaloa) continued to come here. Even the Tamil students from other religious congregations are attending lectures at the National Seminary. At present there are 74 Tamil Seminarians studying at the National Seminary. During the ceasefire in 2005 even some of the students from the Jaffna Diocese came here for studies.
There is now a Major Seminary in Jaffna, where the students of the Jaffna Diocese study. When we went this time to Jaffna, we discussed the possibility of exchanging students so that we may come to know one another.
How far is the Jaffna Peninsula from Kandy?
From Kandy to Jaffna it is about 220 miles by road. But it takes about 8 hours to reach Jaffna.
What did your seminarians and priests learn when they went to the Jaffna region?
Our Seminarians who have never been to Jaffna were able to gain first hand information about the Geography of the Jaffna region and the lifestyle of the people. Moreover, they learned of the effect of the war on the region and its people.
Meeting Jaffna schoolchildren |
First the Seminarians met a group of children who were victims of war. The children re-enacted their escaped from the battleground. Whilst they relived their experiences with tears in their eyes, there was also not a single dry eye among the Seminarians. We all felt the experience that they had undergone.
We also had the opportunity to visit the families who are trying to resettle themselves in their own lands. Seminarians spent one whole morning with them listening to their stories. Though our students are not very good in the Tamil Language, language was not a barrier to communicate their feelings. On their own initiative, the Seminarians had collected some food and school items which they distributed to the families. Whilst in Jaffna the Seminarians from Kandy spent one whole evening having an informal meeting with the Seminarians from Jaffna. They had shared all their experiences with one another. Nobody felt their differences but, instead, shared the common mission to which they are going to commit themselves.
Priests from Kandy had a meeting with the priests from Jaffna Seminary. We all discussed the ways and means of coming together, through a possible exchange of students and professors etc. After dinner we had a joint cultural show which helped all of us to understand the cultural background of both ethnic groups.
What all of us felt was that, although we were separated physically, we were feeling for one another during the time of war. Our common mission had kept us united amidst all difficulties. We felt that we have a greater responsibility as Catholic Priests to restore peace and unity to this beautiful nation. We feel that we are ready for it.
What did the Tamil seminarians learn?
Seminarian gives gift of biscuits to pupils |
The Tamil Seminarians were very grateful for our visit for it was a sign of solidarity for them and it encouraged them in their journey towards the priesthood. They were thankful for the spiritual and material support our Seminarians extended to them during the time of war. Some of them said that certain opinions they had about the Sinhalese had vanished after talking to the Seminaries. They too are eagerly waiting to visit Kandy and to strengthen our bonds.
What is the social background of your own students?
Most of our Seminarians are from lower middle class families. Their parents are Government teachers, farmers, fisherman etc. Most of them are from suburbs or rural areas. But they come from families which have a good value system. From their own families they have inherited good values such as love, kindness, concern for others irrespective of differences etc.
Anything else that you might think interesting....
We feel that Church in Sri Lanka is in a better position to be involved in the rebuilding of this island nation ravaged by war. In fact, the Church is doing so much already in this endeavour. Some parishes in the Sinhalese regions have undertaken to rebuild and look after some villages in the war torn areas. Priests and Parishioners are already involved and almost every month they visit those villages.
The Seminarians of our Seminary too are determined to do their best in this process. I feel that this visit was not only an eye-opener for the Seminarians from the South and the North, but also an encouragement to be a powerful sign of unity. They are determined to learn each other’s language in order to facilitate communication.
May God be with us.
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