A Letter* and Reflection from Sr. Beatrice Fernando, SDS
Provincial Superior, SDS-W, Sri Lanka
December 29, 2004
(*The letter has been edited for clarity.)
My dear Sisters, Fathers, Brothers and Lay Salvatorians,
In the poem below you will find my feelings of pain and struggles. On the 26th I had a very small experience of being with the terrified villagers. I heard the cry of the children, the lamentation of mothers, the heartbeat of the elderly as I helped evacuate the families of three villages in my home area. I happened to go home for a Christmas lunch but we could not have it. I joined my brothers and the villagers in this struggle of exodus.
At night, of that same day, I reached the provincial house only to be with Sr. Mary who was lamenting upon hearing the news about her home Mullathew at North East coastal area. By now you have heard or seen how cruelly this area was hit. The next day early morning I put Sr. Mary in the bus to go in search of her only brother’s family. The two Sisters who were ready to go with Sr. Mary had to wait for an hour or two to know what had happened to their families in the West coastal area. As soon as we knew that they were safe, the Sisters took the next bus to reach Sr. Mary.
They returned to the provincial house last night at 12.00. What they have seen cannot be described. They met Sr. Mary’s brother and his son, who are alive. Her sister-in-law and the eldest daughter could be identified and they have buried them. But they still did not find the second daughter.
I asked the Sisters to bring the living to us, but Sr. Mary’s brother did not like to come now because, naturally, he wants to find his other daughter. Most of the relatives of Sr. Rajeswary who lived in Trincomalee, in the East are washed out.... Our Northern Sisters’ families are safe. So far.
In the mean time one good thing happened to this divided land. This natural disaster was merciless to all without selection of Tamil, Sinhala or any religious denomination. It brought us together. Some of the Buddhist Monks are with our Priests. Some Tamil families in South are being taken care of by the Sinhalese. I hope and pray that at least now we will open our eyes as a nation and listen to nature’s cry with a message – Unity through forgiveness.
As you can imagine the entire nation has stopped other movements and activities to provide relief work....our Sisters are .....involved in various ways. I have a feeling that we might have to step in later when this emergency relief slows down. Our people will find religious like us for after-effects like food, shelter, healthcare, education and counselling. I am just contemplating. Our charity fund is not that big. Our budget does not support us (here in the Convent) even. Sr. Mary’s brother and son will need our support. I trust in the Divine Providence and your generosity.
Thank you for your solidarity. Thanks for your telephone calls and e-mails....
Please pray that the Sri Lanka Salvatorians will light a lamp of hope of life to our people.
Sr. Beatrice
29.12.2004
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Reflection
Made this pearl and the paradise of the Indian Ocean
A river of tears and one burial ground – another Hiroshima!
We adored you and loved you,
We often visited you when in need,
In search of peace and serenity,
You had been our temple of contemplation,
You prepared a playground and a park all around Sri Lanka
For our children,
You welcomed our poor children, youth, adults and families
To enjoy life free of charge,
You were a physical and psychological health resort to all of us
And so to the foreigners
What happened to you on the 26th of December 2004?
Your Christians were commemorating the Birth of Jesus
And for your Buddhists, it was Poya (full moon)
You called them to worship and enjoy life,
What happened? Why did you become a water dragon?
And swallowed up tens of thousands of your people,
Especially the elderly, women and children?
Why did you devastate our property and land
That was built up with hard labour and the sweat of our peoples
After the civil war?
And
Above all made us fearful of you!
We are terrified of you!
We want to run way from you,
Oh Beaches of Sri Lanka!
When will you become once again our mother and friend?
When will our fisher folk find a home in you again?
Do not threaten us.
Help us to be hopeful and to live again
We accept the message you gave us -
Unity through Forgiveness
Accept one another as sisters and brothers
Of one family, one nation!
Sr. Beatrice Fernando, SDS
Sri Lanka
29.12.2004