The Mothers’ Union works towards a world where God’s love is seen in respectful, loving and flourishing relationships. Its theme for 2026 is One Worldwide Family: Growing in Faith, Living in Action, United in Fellowship.
Worship
Mary Sumner Day, when the new executive committee is commissioned, in the chapel of St Francis Boys' Home, Minuwangoda. Remembrance Day at All Saints', Pettah, for members who have died. Lady Day at the Cathedral. The United Service at St Thomas', Ginthupitiya. The Feast of the Visitation at Christ Church, Mirihana. A quiet morning of meditation at St Peter's, Koralawella. Last Thursday prayers, monthly or quarterly, in all three languages at different venues, the Sinhala prayers held regularly at Sunshine Elders' Home in Moratuwa.
The carol service, and the cyclone
The annual carol service was held at Christ Church, Kotte, with branches from across the Diocese singing. The outstation service planned for St Mark's, Badulla, was called off at the Vicar's request, because Cyclone Ditwah had struck the Passara area around it. The offering from the Colombo service went straight to people affected by the cyclone.
At Battawatte Estate Chapel the Union ran a day of counselling and fellowship for parishioners hit by the disaster, with breakfast and lunch for fifty people, dry rations for twenty families, and school bags and stationery for twelve Sunday School children. Seventy one more Sunday School children in remote parts of Koslanda, Wellawaya and Monaragala received bags and stationery. Committee members went to Gampola and paid towards the repair of a road the cyclone had damaged, and twenty families at Helasirigama and Uda Nuwara received dry rations.
Mary Sumner Day
About two hundred and fifty members came, from branches across Colombo, for a day of games and fellowship. Between them the branches gave shoe vouchers to twelve school children and made a donation to the Boys' Home. The Bible quiz trophies were presented on the day.
The Bible quiz and the art competition
The all island Bible quiz is run over WhatsApp: forty questions from a set syllabus, answered against the clock, with no age limit. More than a hundred and fifty members took part. The Sunday School art competition, in three age groups on a Bible theme, also drew more than a hundred and fifty children. The best drawings are printed in the Mothers' Union calendar for 2026, and children from outstation Sunday Schools took winning places in two of the three age groups.
Outreach
Free English classes every Saturday at Gongithota, taught by five volunteers, for around thirty five children in the area who would not otherwise get them, with a Children's Day celebration and a Christmas party paid for by a donor in memory of her father. Help towards the medical treatment of a child from the class. A teacher's salary paid each month at Ingiriya. Tuition fees for two children at House of Joy, Talawa. Support for a child with diabetes at Passara. School bags and stationery for twenty Sunday School children at St Barnabas', Avissawella.
A hundred and fifty years
The worldwide Mothers' Union is a hundred and fifty years old this year and keeps the anniversary in Durban, South Africa. In Sri Lanka the Church of Ceylon Mothers' Union planned a full day at the Cathedral on 29 August 2026, with a Eucharist, bringing members together from across the island. An Avurudu sale and a sing-along musical show raised money for the work that comes next.
President: Eileen William