This young seminarian from the island of Sri Lanka entered the minor seminary of St. Louis in Colombo in 2013 when he was 14 years old. In recent years, he has completed his studies in Philosophy.
“I have a lovely family”
Avishka is the youngest of three siblings, he has a married sister and a brother who is pursuing his higher education. His father worked at the Ceylon Cooperation newspaper in Sri Lanka and is now retired. And his mother has always dedicated herself to the home and her children.
“I have a lovely family. They are Roman Catholics. I am sure that my family environment has helped me a lot to be a Christian and to discern my vocation,” he says with joy.
A wonderful life in his adolescence in Sri Lanka
This young seminarian was born in a town called Pamunugama, where there is a very lively parish that helped him grow during his adolescence.
“After receiving Communion, I was an alter server (servant) both in my parish and in my university. I was a member of the Santa Infancy Association. These two unions helped me a lot to have a wonderful life in my adolescence. I had many friends, I worked with them, I prayed, I played, I enjoyed… it was incredible. In all those years I had the desire to be a priest,” he says.
And at the age of 14 he began his “vocational journey,” in which there were many joys, but also some tears. “However, after eleven years, when I look back, I see that the step forward that I took that day was thanks to the Love and Mercy of Christ. I don’t know how to explain it. But I am sure that He is with me,” he says.
Culture and spiritual atmosphere
How does a Catholic live in Sri Lanka, when the majority of the population, 70%, is Buddhist? How can Catholics surprise in their country?, we asked Avishka.
For him, Buddhism has spiritually enriched the culture of his country: “I am sure that, even if a Sri Lankan citizen is Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic or Catholic, he is born in a spiritual atmosphere. This really has a great impact on the growth of the nation,” he says.
The prestige of the Church in Sri Lanka
Although Catholics form minority groups, the role of the Church in the country is highly regarded. The Catholic majority in Sri Lanka is found in the coastal areas such as Kalutara, Colombo, Negambo, Chillaw, Mannar, etc.
“The Church’s stance on moral and social issues is highly appreciated in the country. For example, in the Easter Sunday bombing of 2019, the church raised its voice and stood up for justice for the innocent people and the victims,” he says.
The great joy of Catholics
As a Catholic, he reveals something surprising to us, to keep in mind: “What my non-Catholic friends identify is a great joy within us. They appreciate the sacrament of reconciliation, because we know that, in Christ, with Christ and through Christ, we sinners are forgiven and redeemed. I am sure that this aspect of reconciliation that we have through Christ’s Mercy has given non-Catholics a positive psychological impact on them.”
Priests of the 21st century
And with these opportunities, for Avishka, the most potent weapons of a young priest of the 21st century are prayer for fidelity and perseverance: “In my opinion, being a young priest is difficult. It is a challenge in this very individualistic and secularized world. But it is possible if we are faithful to the vocation we have received from God. I am sure that we must pray a lot for our perseverance, for that of all vocations and for our fidelity. For Christ, everything is possible. I ask all the friends and benefactors of the CARF Foundation to pray for our perseverance,” he concludes.
