A home for elders with no family, in the grounds of the Church of the Ascension, Bandarawela. It was the vision of two Bishops of Colombo, Duleep de Chickera and Dhiloraj Canagasabey, and it was built with help from friends in Sri Lanka and abroad and from the parish itself. It opened in 2008 with eight residents and three staff.
There are sixteen elders now, eleven women and five men, of different races and religions. They are looked after by a matron, two helpers and a cook. The household keeps the major festivals of every faith followed in the country, which is a small thing that says a good deal.
The only condition for admission is that the applicant has nobody to care for them. The Home is run by a ten member Board appointed by the Bishop of Colombo and headed by the Archdeacon of Nuwara Eliya, and the Board decides each case.
Staff salaries are met by the Bishop of Colombo, and the electricity, water and telephone bills by the parish. Food and medical costs come from parishioners and well-wishers of every community, many of whom give a meal to mark a birthday, a wedding or the anniversary of a death. Upkeep of the building comes from what the Board raises.
Residents can be lonely and anxious. The Board and staff spend time with them, listening to their stories and singing with them. The Board asks people to give what they can and, just as much, to come and visit.
- Isaiah 46:4 -