South Asian Jesuits pay homage to massacred Sri Lankans

Inaugurating a four-day seminar on “Interculturality for Reconciled Life and Mission” at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, April 25, the Jesuits observed one -silence in honor of the slain in the serial bomb blasts in different parts of Sri Lanka.

More than 200 Jesuits from 19 provinces and regions of South Asian Assistancy are attending the April 25-28meet to discuss on Interculturality.

Convener of the seminar, Jesuit Father Joe Arun said that due to the carnage, representatives from Sri Lankan Jesuit province had cancelled their participation in the seminar. Seven members from Sri Lanka were expected, he added.

Father Arun said that later the participants of the seminar would draft a letter of empathy for the Jesuits of Sri Lanka and forward the same to them.

At the inaugural Mass, presided over by Jesuit Father George Pattery, president of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia and the Zonal Chairs, said that in the midst of carnage and violence, Jesuits are called to promote reconciliation and justice, the theme for the seminar.

The Sri Lankan province forms part of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia, with its headquarters in New Delhi.

According to Sri Lankan police officials, as many as 359 have been killed by the serial bomb attack, carried out by the Islamic State group, which had claimed responsibility for the same.