As a result of the tsunami
which hit 9 Asian countries on 26 December,
150,000 have lost their lives and
1 million more are in need of aid.

This assembly may be used to help children think positively about the children in
Sri Lanka and in other Asian countries affected by the tsunami. The assembly
may be used with the whole school or adapted for individual class use.

Will you help?

FOCUS:

To help children understand

1) that we are all one family of God and we need each other.
2) that they can make a difference to the lives of others through prayer and action.
3) after initial emergency aid, long term support is needed to rebuild lives.

DISPLAY:

A large map of the world/globe, a bible, candles.
 

INTRODUCTION

On Boxing Day in the coastal town of Mullaittivu in Sri Lanka ( indicate on map) Fr James Pattinathan celebrated Mass with 1,500 parishioners in a shrine on top of a hill overlooking their town. Fr James’ sermon that day was a bit long, 15 minutes longer than usual. That turned out to be a life saver. When Mass was over Fr James and his parishioners went back down the hillside to their town. When they arrived they found that their town had been destroyed. A huge wave called a tsunami had struck their village just 15 minutes earlier.

1,900 people lost their lives and 2,500 were missing. Everything was devastated. All their homes had been swept away. All that remains of Fr James’ church in the town is a statue of St Bernadette of Lourdes.

Mr Thieva and his family, also in Sri Lanka, had to climb up on the roof and stay there for four hours. ‘I thought my end had come,’ he said. ‘Now my family is in the refugee centre. Everything was lost. It is unbelievable.’
Show acetate
Many children in Sri Lanka are sad and lonely because they have lost their parents; they are frightened. We need to pray for them and help them in every way we can. CAFOD and Mission Together will help to provide essential needs.

With others we can work together to support the children and families of Asia: help them to start again.
 

REFLECTION

Let’s be still for a few moments and think about the children and families of Sri Lanka who are suffering because of the tsunami.
 

A MINUTE’S SILENCE

• How do you think the people felt when
  they saw their devastated town?
• What help do you think the children who
  have survived need first of all?
• What help do you think they will need to
  rebuild their lives in the months to come?
• What would you like to say to the children
  of Sri Lanka?

CHANGE DARKNESS INTO LIGHT

Open the bible at John 8:12

Jesus asks us to be children of the Light and to bring light into the lives of others. He asks us to share the light of love. Listen to him, “I am the Light of the World. If anyone follows me they will not walk in the dark. They will have the light of life.”
 

SONG:

Light in the Darkness
Here I Am Rejoice 2 no. 67 may be sung
or other suitable song.

LIGHTS OF LOVE

(1)

We pray for the children in Sri Lanka and all children suffering because of the tsunami that they may be filled with the light of love.

We pray for children who have lost their parents.

Response:

May they be filled with the light of love and consolation.
Place candle beside globe.

(2)

We pray for children who are sick and wounded.

Response:

May they be filled with the light of love and healing.
Place candle beside globe.

(3)

We pray for children who are lost and lonely.

Response:

May they be filled with the light of love and comfort.
Place candle beside globe.

(4)

We pray for children who are sad and frightened.

Response:

May they be filled with the light of love and peace.
Place candle beside globe.
Children’s own prayers may be added here.

CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN

Jesus asks us to be his friends and to share the light of love. Let us remember that we are all brothers and sisters in God’s big family.

Children in Mission Together and supporters of CAFOD work together to share friendship with children everywhere, especially those who need our help at this time. We can share friendship with the children of Sri Lanka by thinking of them, praying for them and raising funds to help them begin to build a new life.

SONG:

World Children
Here I Am Rejoice 2 no.23 may be sung
or other suitable song.

CAFOD

CAFOD has so far pledged £2.8 mil lion to help countries hit by the tsunami. The funds CAFOD receives will be used to provide food, clothing, drinking water, shelter, and medical assistance as well as more long term support to help people rebuild their lives. The scale of the disaster means that it will take months and years to rebuild the devastated communities.

Please see our website at
www.cafod.org.uk
for updates on the situation and the appeal.

Will you help?

Mission Together

Last year Mission Together, the Church’s main mission support agency for children worldwide, sent £115,316 to Sri Lanka to support 45 children’s projects in 11 dioceses.

This year the focus of Mission Together in our schools is Sri Lanka.

Mission Together has provided support for families fragmented by the 20-year war through the pastoral care of children in orphanages, homes and dispensaries.

Now many of these children’s projects have been destroyed by the tsunami and a huge programme of rebuilding and enormous pastoral support is needed.

Mission Together will be there with them for as long as we are needed.

You can help to make a difference!

Your money will be entrusted to safe hands, and help given where promised.

Will you help?