Michael McNulty, of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, is flying to Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, after Christmas to help train local helpers in counseling skills.
• • Background: After the 2004 tsunami Batticaloa lost 3,700 residents in less than half an hour. A former priest at Sacred Heart Church in Winnetka, the Rev.. Paul Satkunanayagam, was already in Batticaloa bringing social services to thousands of people, including orphaned children, ex-child soldiers and traumatized adults. McNulty, who had been the priest's altar server in his youth, was summoned to help.
• • Update: Since then, McNulty has returned six times. This time he and several professors will teach courses to get locals certified as counselors. "Now residents live in fear of abductions, violence and torture due to civil war. Or they have debilitating post-traumatic distress. Father Paul's work is amazing.
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