Catholic missionary work in Sri Lanka

Catholic Work in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. But its population of 22.235 million people lives in disarray after 25 years of civil war. Although the war (which left hundreds of thousands of civilians internally displaced) is over, ethnic tensions still remain. Only 7.4% of people in Sri Lanka are Christians, including Catholics. With your generosity, we have the opportunity to spread the love of Jesus Christ in this war-torn country.

Explore the tabs below to learn more about our mission. Click the button below to donate to our charity work in Sri Lanka.

Miracle for Sick Children & Blind Families

More and more children are born with thalassemia every year in Sri Lanka. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and a shorter life expectancy. Treatment is costly, and the frequent hospital visits have a deep impact on the children’s social and psychological development. Thalassemia patients are also often stigmatized, even by their own family members!
Send Hope and Joy to Sri Lanka this Christmas
“CWM and Rev. Fr. Sagara thank you a million times over. We love you a lot. We are grateful to all who aid us through our troubles.” – Shashini
Meet Shashini and Sanduni’s who are grappling with long-term diseases. Even though both sisters live with thalassemia, a blood disorder that requires ongoing treatment, they live to the fullest and display immense gratitude. The two sisters love to read, play outside, work in their garden, and hang out with friends. Their father works as a seasonal crop farmer while their mother stays at home to care for them. Even with all of the hard work their parents do to make ends meet, it is still difficult to properly nourish and educate their daughters.
Send Hope and Joy to Sri Lanka this Christmas
“CWM and Rev. Fr. Sagara thank you for helping us with our needs. We owe you thousands and thank you for giving us hope for a better tomorrow” – Sanduni

They are children like 6-year-old Sudarshani. She’s in first grade, and her dad is a farmer.

Or 15-year-old Malki, who’s in 9th grade. Despite her disease, she’s like any other teenage girl, except she must come to the hospital once every month for a life-saving blood transfusion.

Or 5-year-old Rashmika, who was diagnosed with thalassemia when he was just 18 months old.

The inspiration is simple: what can bless sick children and blind adults in the midst of their hardship, to help meet their material needs and allow them to experience God’s deep love for them?

For the children in the hospital, all it takes is a small toy and a simple lunch. These children are battling either cancer or a blood disease called Thalassemia. They have to stay in the hospital over Christmas, but thanks to your generosity, for the last two years these brave children have still been able to celebrate.

Visit the Updates tab to see the smiling faces of these children.
Sick children in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka child Malki
Sri Lanka father and child

Sisters of the Holy Angels Come to Kurunegala to Serve the Community

The Story of Kattimahana

In rural Sri Lanka, many families live on less than $2 each day. The poverty they face is so extreme because of the difference between the upper and lower class. Poverty perpetuates as socio-economic issues increase the number of dropouts from school. When children do not receive an education, the cycle of poverty continues, and it is years before anyone has a chance to break it again.

The Catholic Diocese of Kurunegala is working to combat their poverty by inviting the Sisters of the Holy Angels to join their community in the village of Kattimahana to live among the poor and care for their many needs. Their work in education, spiritual development, mentoring, and social work will change the future for the people of Kattimahana. You can join in this community uplift with your generous donation to build a convent for the sisters to live among the people.

Children from the Parish of Kattimahana - Sri Lanka

The majority of people from the area work in agriculture, harvesting with crops such as tea, rubber, coconut, and sugar among others. Parents work long hours just to bring home a few dollars for their whole family to live off that week. Children, who do not go to school until they are five years of age, are left home alone to fend for themselves while their parents are at work. This neglect leads to an array of health problems, and the children also grow up with deep feelings of abandonment.

The villagers in Kattimahana are in desperate need of human relief to bring about spiritual and socio-economic change in their community. Won’t you be part of the relief they need today? 

Large class in Sri Lanka
Sisters of the Holy Angels come to visit
Sisters of the Holy Angels serve Sri Lanka community

Providence Children’s Home

Providence Children's Home Key Facts

Founded in 1986, Providence Home is now home to 60 children between the ages of 8-18, both boys and girls. The orphanage provides for the physical and psychological well-being of these children, as well as primary and secondary school for each child.

The Sisters of Mary Immaculate operate the orphanage. They provide a safe, happy, and loving environment for the children.

Many of the orphanage’s residents lost their parents through death or family disputes resulting in broken homes, leaving them with nowhere else to go.

Sisters of Mary Immaculate operate Providence Home

Catholic World Mission and St. Joseph Vaz Institute Medical Mission Trip

Catholic World Mission & St. Joseph Vaz Institute Medical Mission

In 2018, we partnered with the St. Joseph Vaz Institute for our first-ever medical mission trip to Sri Lanka!

Doctors saw a total of 755 patients for noncommunicable diseases including kidney diseasediabetesheart disease, and thalassemia. Donations included blood pressure machines and a photocopier.

Locations visited included Kotawehera Rural Hospital in Giribawa as well as the village clinic there; Providence Children’s Home in Mawatagama; St. Joseph Vaz InsituteRaddegoda Village; and the Missionaries of Charity convent in Wellawa.

Click through the photos below to see the people who received medical care!

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