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| Devotees at the Katchatheevu St Anthony's shirne |
Over 9000 Catholic faith across Indo- Lanka Palk straits will gather at an uninhabited island of Katchatheevu islet tomorrow to mark the annual festival of St Anthony- the guardian of fisherfolk communities.
Since Friday (14) hundreds of both Indian and Sri Lankan devotees have arrived on the island in fishing boats to attend the annual mass.
Bishop of Sivagangai Diocese Lourdu Anandam of Southern India is scheduled to participate in the feast- this is the first time a Bishop from India attending the feast along with over hundred clergy personnel.
Addressing local media in Jaffna on Thursday (13), Bishop Anandam noted the historical role the island played between the fisherfolk communities of the two countries.
From Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu, at least 4000 devotees are attending the feast this year.
“Though this feast is conducted once every year with the participation of two fisherfolk communities, it is something the communities remember and recall the blessings of St Anthony throughout the year,” Bishop Anandam said.
Bishop Anandam who is already in Jaffna following an invitation extended by Jaffna Diocese will join with his some 4000 parish devotees from India tomorrow.
The feast is organized by the Jaffna Diocese with the support of the Sri Lanka Navy and the District Secretariat.
The South Indian Bishop along with the Vicar General of Jaffna Diocese Rev. Fr. P. J. Jebaratnam will conduct the (15) mass prayers and feast on Saturday.
"People come from very far away places to the shrine of St Anthony to receive his blessings. This is not a carnival event. We urge people to join the feast of St Anthony in the name of unity and engage in prayers that would help us to move forward,” Fr. P. J. Jebaratnam, Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese told reporters on March 10.
Jaffna District Secretary M. Piratheepan said final preparations are underway in coordination with the Sri Lanka Navy to mark the annual feast of St Anthony with the participation of Catholic devotees from the two countries.
Despite the ongoing fishing conflict between the two fisherfolk communities, the Catholic faith unite in the premises of St Anthony to pray together.
Rameshwaram Mechanized Fishermen Union leader A. Sesuraja said that he looks forward to meeting his Sri Lankan counterparts and engaging in discussions where the fishing disputes can be resolved through talks. “ I think this is a great opportunity to revive our ties with Sri Lankan brethren and engage in healthy discussions,”
Sri Lanka's Northern fishermen repeatedly claimed that Indian fishermen engaged in destructive bottom trawling practice in Lankan territorial waters in the North at the expense of their livelihood.
A.Annarasa, a fishermen leader fr om Velanai, Jaffna told said that if the Indian fishermen genuinely care about the Sri Lankan fishermen, they should avoid poaching in Lankan waters and drop bottom trawling practice which threaten marine resources and equilibrium.
The Sri Lankan Navy has deployed its craft to transport essential supplies to the island and undertaken all the necessary steps for the festival.
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