Troops guard church mass
Lankan village holds what is likely first religious gathering since attacks
The checkpoints started just outside of an east Sri Lanka village, the strictest seen in the days after Islamic State-aligned militants launched suicide attacks that killed over 250 people.
The trucks stopped first, soldiers digging through crates and produce. Buses disgorged their passengers. Cars lined up so soldiers could open their hoods to inspect engine blocks and trunks.
The reason became clear soon after, as the sound of hymns filled the air of Thannamunai.
The small village in eastern Sri Lanka held likely the first mass since Catholic leaders closed their churches for fear of more attacks.
Under tight security, worshippers watched a priest be ordained as they hoped for a future when mass would not need hundreds of armed troops to defend it.
“People wanted to celebrate mass, but they – even myself – were afraid,” Father Norton Johnson said.
“However, security personnel gave us good protection.”
The mass in Thannamunai, about 225km northeast of Colombo, was planned two weeks earlier to mark the ordination with the participation of some 200 priests.
They expected thousands to attend the ceremony at St Joseph’s Catholic Church.
But then came Easter. The morning of April 21, suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels.
Catholic leaders then closed all their churches.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, celebrated mass this past Sunday at his residence, with the country’s leaders attending.
The faithful prayed on their knees at home, watching his homily on television. But the invitations for the ordination in Thannamunai already had been sent out.
After confirming with the military, Johnson and other Catholic leaders agreed to quietly hold the mass for the community.
Johnson said he believed it to be the first mass held in the country since the attack, outside of small gatherings for prayers quietly held at believers’ homes.
An expected crowd of 3,000 turned into several hundred. The 200 priests expected became 80.
But still they came on Tuesday morning, the priests laying their hands on the new priest’s forehead as he knelt before them.
Security personnel remained tense, in part because Thannamunai is wedged between Muslim neighbourhoods and authorities believe militants remain at large.
Johnson made a point to say that those behind the Easter attacks were “only a few terrorists”.
“In every religion, every race, there are extremists. But we can’t blame one community for these problems,” the priest said.
“The Muslim community, they are afraid, and they are sorry about this incident. And what I can say is we are with them.”
Police officers arranged separate lines for men and women outside of St Joseph’s.
The officers carefully patted down those entering the service.
Around 300 soldiers, 60 police officers and special commandos stood guard, some behind the church looking at the blue still waters of a nearby lagoon.
“It’s a very risky thing,” said one army officer, smiling.
But inside, worshippers prayed with their eyes closed, some barefoot. A choir sang hymns backed by a synthesiser and drums, their Tamil verses peppered with hosannas, exclamations praising God.
Orange streamers hung from the rafters. Bouquets of flowers ringed the chandeliers.
St Joseph’s earlier was near the frontlines of the government’s decades-long civil war against the Tamil Tigers.
Mortars once struck the church, damaging it, Johnson recounted.
But it was rebuilt, as he hoped peace would soon be across all of Sri Lanka.
“We are all the same,” he said before walking back into the church.
“All of our blood is red.” — AP