By Bishop James Conley
Last summer, Father Christopher Eckrich and I had the opportunity to visit the country of Sri Lanka, at the invitation of His Eminence, Malcom Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo. As many of you know, the Diocese of Lincoln has had a long and warm friendship with Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. More than 10 years ago, we sponsored four seminarians from the Archdiocese of Colombo. These four “Sri Lincolns,” as we affectionately call them, are now very active priests serving in various capacities throughout the Archdiocese of Colombo as pastors, teachers and street evangelists.
See photos from Bishop Conley's pastoral visit
Sri Lanka is largely a Buddhist country, with some 70% of the population adhering to Buddhism. The largest religious minorities are Hindu, 12.6%; Muslim, 9.7%; and Catholic, 6.1%. Most of the Catholics live in the western part of Sri Lanka, in and around Colombo, and have an outsized role of influence, both politically and culturally.
In 2024, we welcomed Father Prageeth Chamara to the Diocese of Lincoln to serve for a three-year term. He first served at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, and for the last 18 months has been serving as parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Hastings.
Although the media coverage was not very widespread, in late November and early December 2025, Sri Lanka experienced its most severe flooding in decades. Cyclone Ditwah swept through the country, bringing prolonged heavy rainfall, triggering landslides and widespread devastation. Whole villages and parishes were wiped off the face of the earth.
Flooding and landslides have affected all parts of the country, with the government declaring that there have been more than 640 deaths, with more than 180 people still missing and over 611,530 families affected nationwide. According to government figures, approximately 720,000 buildings were destroyed, as well as miles of railways, roads and bridges.
I think it’s worth noting that this natural disaster came as Sri Lanka was still rebuilding after the catastrophic tsunami in 2004, a devastating civil war that ended in 2009, and a severe economic collapse in 2022 that forced the president’s resignation. The country also suffered greatly on Easter Sunday 2019, when terrorist attacks at Catholic churches and hotels killed 269 people.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, Cardinal Ranjith reached out to the Diocese of Lincoln, to ask if we might be able to help. There is still a need for essential food items and clothing for the families directly affected. Parishes in Colombo have been tasked with this relief work through the Archdiocese of Colombo “Caritas Office” (equivalent to our Catholic Social Services).
The relief work is seeking funding for rehabilitation work in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, which includes 16 flood-affected deaneries. Some of the projects already underway include cleaning and purifying polluted trash stagnated in houses, providing kitchen utensils and cutlery for immediate use by those returning to their homes, repairing damaged homes and washing the walls, and providing electrical installations, and many more projects.
To meet these needs, we will be asking all the parishes across the Diocese of Lincoln to take up a second collection the weekend of Feb. 21-22 in response to Cardinal Ranjith’s plea. Please consider helping out our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. We are working closely with Catholic Relief Services to make sure every dollar goes directly to the Archdiocese of Colombo and to the victims of Cyclone Ditwah.
Father Basil Rohan Fernando, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Colombo, spoke with the news agency Fides about the devastation brought by Cyclone Ditwah, and the time it will take to see reconstruction. The Catholic community in Sri Lanka, he said, is “committed to a single goal: to instill new hope. We have assumed a special responsibility, namely, to keep hope alive.”
When I visited Sri Lanka last summer, I was moved by the vitality and vibrancy I saw in the priests and lay faithful there. It is therefore with joy —despite the tragedy—that I announce that three more Sri Lankan priests will be coming to the Diocese of Lincoln at the beginning of March, to serve for a three-year period. I have assigned Father Harold Maximus Rodrigopulle as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in York; Father Markawitage Malcom Pushpakumar Perera as parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln; and Father Jayakody Arachchige Don Joseph Francis as parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish in Lincoln.
I know all of us in the Diocese of Lincoln will welcome these priests, these new “Sri-Lincolns,” to our diocese. Let us be moved by their spirit, and let us share our own faith in the Lord with these new priests, as well. Let us assume the responsibility to be the face of hope to suffering brothers and sisters in Christ.
Last year was the Jubilee Year of Hope, but our call to be pilgrims of hope has not ended. The spirit of hope must persevere, even as we see new challenges and tragedies. St. Paul reminds us in Scripture (Romans 12:9-11): “Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”
