Former National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka, Father George Sigamony, has been appointed as the new Manager of Community Engagement for Caritas Australia.
Having held a series of leadership roles with member organisations of Caritas Internationalis, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, Fr Sigamony brings enormous experience in social justice, aid and development and the building of inter-faith dialogue to his new role.
Fr Sigamony, who will now oversee a team of 16 staff, 24 Diocesan Directors and a large contingent of volunteers based around Australia.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1993, Fr Sigamony discovered his passion for the issues of aid and development and the poor in 1994 when he was sent by his superiors to serve a small parish in a district surrounded by a series of tea plantations.
Fr Sigamony set about bringing dignity to the lives of his community, after being confronted by the poverty of plantation workers who were forced to live on less than one dollar a day and were also victims of violence.
“My passion started with seeing the opportunities for these people to empower themselves. I also realised that as one person, I could make a real difference,” Father Sigamony said.
As National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2016, Father Sigamony worked tirelessly as the country continued to struggle with the devastating impacts of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.
He also successfully steered Caritas Sri Lanka as it met the challenge of providing shelter to the thousands of people displaced by the civil war, he delivered a range of reconciliation programs and sought the endemic discrimination against women.
Prior to joining Caritas Sri Lanka, Father Sigamony served as the National Director of the Migrants Commission. An expert in the problems faced by Asian migrant workers, in his role he worked collaboratively with dioceses across Sri Lanka to support those workers who had left for overseas and the family members that had been left behind.
A frequent visitor to Australia who addressed supporters during the annual Project Compassion appeals of 2002, 2011 and 2013, Father Sigamony says he is excited to be part of the “great” Caritas Australia team and to be able to share in the passion that Australians have for social justice.
“I’m inspired by the passion that the people of Australia have for social justice and for assisting the most vulnerable communities throughout the world,” Father Sigamony said.
“With the great team that I have at Caritas, I can bring the good news of our people to others who need more hope in their lives.”
Father Sigamony believes that the Catholic Church and in particular the members of its clergy are integral to the ability of Caritas Australia to continue with its work.
“Caritas Australia is part of the Church and each Church leader, the bishops and the clergy are a special part of Caritas’ work, as we seek to continue to work together to help those most marginalised globally,” Father Sigamony said.