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75 YEARS IN VANKALAI
 Vankalai is a predominantly fishing and farming village situated in Mannar District of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It lies along the Nanattan Road with the sea on its west connects to Indian Ocean. Its northern boundary is the historic Hindu shrine of Thiru Ketheeswaram. Apart from fisheries and farming, there is also an educational and professional tradition. There are a number of teachers, government officials, clergymen, nuns and professionals from the area.
Vankalai is a Christian village with Roman Catholics being more than 99% and Protestant groups comprising the remainder. Vankalai has become now one the largest village in Mannar. Currently its population figure is a little over 8,000.
 The Portuguese invasion and destruction of the Tamil territories between 1505–1658 caused most of Mannar including villages such as Vankalai to become Catholic villages. In the center of this village there is a huge ancient Catholic church called St. Anne's Church. St. Anne's Church was originally built during the Portuguese colonial period, an important landmark in Vankalai.
Today we with gratitude look back last 75 years of the presence of the Holy Family in Vankalai we are overwhelmed with lots of feeling of gratitude, joy, togetherness and family. To make our long story of the Holy Family presence in Sri lanka short, the sisters arrived in Vankalai at the request of the then Parish priest Fr.Soosaithasan OMI, Holy Family sisters came to work in Vankalai in1935. Rev.Srs. Monica, Louisa and Alphones were the three chosen strong young women who set foot in the soil. Their main apostolate was education by which they tried to inculcate Christian values in the society and they concentrated on the wholistic formation of the younger generation. They established Christ the
King
Girls
School in the same year and were able to give a sound education to the girls of Vankalai and of the surrounding villages. Their leadership and discipline attracted many students and they maintained a good standard so that under their guidance many came up in their life.
The services of our sisters were very much appreciated by the people. Having attracted by the exemplary life and service of our sisters young girls came forward to embrace religious life with us and other religious congregations as well and they even opted to be missionaries. This is a great witness to the fact that how our sisters toiled hard to work for the people of God. For this reason Vanakalai has gained a name –“A fertile ground of Vocations”. Vocations to priesthood and religious life flourished and still it continues. The credit goes to the Holy Family sisters who by their witnessing life, continuous animation and pastoral care promoted vocations.
With the aim of raising standard of the school to the higher grades it was amalgamated with St.Annes’ M.M.V and started to function in a different place. With the creative Leadership, the sisters were able to extend their services through pastoral work such as family visits, Catechetical work, preparation of the Sacraments, distributing communion to the sick and youth ministry etc…
6th of January 1985 was a sad and unforgettable day in the history of Vankalai.
Rev.Fr. Mary Bastian who was ordained as a priest in the year 1975 served as parish priest in Vankalai along with 10 others were shot allegedly by the Sri Lankan Army personnel, point blank range in front of the local St. Anne’s church.
His body was dragged and laid at the entrance of the convent. The sisters were asked to come out to the main church and to stay in knees for a long time. They were interrogated by the Security forces.
Due to continued harassments and fear, the people moved out of the village and so the sisters, and the convent too was closed in 1990. The people returned in 1992 and at the request of the people the sisters came back in 1997. The sisters were real source of strength and support to the people who lost everything and their near and dear ones. It was the time the formation of the associates was born. The members were very much taken by the spirit of the family and began to offer their service to the needy. It followed by the formation of the children of the Holy Family. The convent which was destroyed by the war was renovated and the sisters started a home for the girls who were the victims of different kinds. There are 22 girls now in the home continuing their education.
 Now at present we form a community of five sisters one is engaged in the teaching in the state school. Another one is looking after for more than 6 months the elderly people who were released from the IDP camps and who have no one to care. The diocese was providing all the help they need. Now some of them were reunited with their families and the rest was sent to the home for the elders in Mannar. The other three are actively involved in pastoral activities.
Together with the associates they are trying build communion and to work for the glory of God Alone! Join us to thank and praise the Lord for the marvels He had done for us.
Holy Family Sisters
Vankalai
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