We are delighted to share that Fr Basil, the National Director of Missio in Sri Lanka, recently agreed to be our guest contributor for Fr Anthony’s blog this month (with Fr Anthony’s blessing, of course!). You can see the ‘brother’ National Directors here, when Fr Anthony visited Fr Basil in Sri Lanka in 2016 on behalf of Missio.

Fr Basil kindly took the time to share his thoughts with us. Here is his interview:

Father Basil, can you tell us a bit more about Missio’s role in Sri Lanka? 

Father Basil: Missio’s role in Sri Lanka is a vast thing, as Missio is always supporting the church to go out, to proceed. We are involved in formation and animation, of children, of animators, of youth and liturgical functions; the catechists… so many things! And always Missio is involved in the formation and animation of priests, religious and lay people.

It’s not easy for us but we are not doing it alone as we get support from donor countries. Without this support – like the building for retired Holy Angel Sisters funded by Missio England and Wales (see above image) – we couldn’t function at all or continue sharing faith in Sri Lanka.

How have Missio supporters been helping people in great need throughout Sri Lanka? 

Fr Basil: When we talk about spreading the Gospel, it is not a matter of just reading out the Bible, it is a matter of the action of the Bible and the practical side of mission.

And that is of course possible because of the people in other countries, those who can support – they are supporting the people actually doing it. So, with their support we continue our mission.

How does Missio help us to live out unity, communion and universality in Sri Lanka?

Fr Basil: I would say Missio IS the Church, and we are in communion. For example, if one country supports another country for the formation and animation of children, by supporting the animators or catechists, automatically, they become one. Communion is there, and unity is there, because whatever we have, we share with those who do not have. The beauty of Missio and the mission of the Church is that we are one.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, where do you see signs of hope for the Church in Sri Lanka? 

Fr Basil: For the Jubilee Year, I think we need a renewal in Sri Lanka, and in the universal Church. And the synodal journey – to journey together – is a very important thing. Because Church belongs to everyone, and everyone has responsibility. If we don’t work together as one family, there won’t be any hope at all.

Our hope is a journey towards the Kingdom of God Hope is a beautiful thing to have in the Church, not only for this Jubilee Year, but all throughout each day, each minute, each second, the Church must have hope.

How can we be signs of hope for each other? 

Fr Basil: We see there is so much corruption going on, so much conflict. Why are we fighting? What is the reason at the end of the day? You don’t get anything from it at all!

We each have a Baptismal call. Everyone, from children to the elderly, are responsible for a renewed Church. This Baptismal call is very serious and must be respected – that is our only hope.

What are some of the challenges for our sisters and brothers in Sri Lanka? 

Fr Basil: As a whole, we are sinking because of the problems we’ve had. Thank God with the new President we are trying to come back, because he has stopped the corruption.

In relation to the Church, people are not able to support it as we have experienced many disasters and our country became bankrupt. Everything affected the ordinary people in Sri Lanka, and the majority are very poor.

In Sri Lanka, ten of our twelve dioceses are missionary dioceses. As people become more and more poor, they are not capable of supporting our Church. This affects our mission because lay people are unable to support the priest and if they can’t, the priest will also get into a difficult situation. So, it’s a huge challenge today.

Is there limited access to education and healthcare facilities?

Fr Basil: One of the biggest problems we have across the whole country is that most of our children don’t go to school. Most of our children have nothing to eat for breakfast. Their parents are farmers who don’t earn much money, and our living costs have become very high. Meanwhile, many sick people can’t afford medicine or proper nutrition.

People are suffering. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, but for over 70 years corruption destroyed the whole country, and it is not easy to come back within a year or even ten years. It will take more time.

Can you share a little bit about the prayerful element of Missio’s work? 

Fr Basil: When we’re talking about Sri Lanka, the only thing we can do is we can pray for those who are helping us. Continually we are praying. In my office every Friday, we have a special Mass for all our donors whoever around the world because this is the thing in return that we can give them in return for their generosity, their kindness, their loving care.

Children are also praying so much for other children, in other countries. Because we know in some countries the children sacrifice so much to send a little help to us in Sri Lanka.

That gift can be used for education, or for so many children’s homes, which we cannot look after unless we get that support. So, the children in the homes are praying for them. Our exchange is the prayer.

Do you have a word of encouragement for supporters here in England & Wales? 

Fr Basil: I want to sincerely thank each and every donor for their generous contributions, love and concern – especially those offering Mass Intentions that help priests live day-to-day. We continue to pray for you all.

To all the volunteers here in England and Wales who go house to house collecting for countries in need: you are a blessing. God won’t ask ‘How many houses do you have?’ but ‘How many people did you look after? How many hungry people did you feed?’ And God will bless the cheerful giver!

I ask all donors to be courageous. My patron saint, St Basil says: When you open your cupboard and find two shirts, take one and enjoy it – that’s God’s blessing. But the other belongs to the person with no shirt. Give it to them, and you both are happy.

I don’t say give away everything! But share what extra you have. The more you share, the more you receive. Be assured of our continuous prayers – it is you that God has elected to carry out his love in material ways.

Missio England and Wales always stretches out generous hands to Sri Lanka. You have helped to do so much for our priestly formation; for our people, our children.

Thank you very much for everything and we continue to pray for you. Please remember us also in your prayers. God bless you and enjoy the life God has given you!