A local priest from Sri Lanka reacted to the deadly terrorist attacks that left more than 200 dead in his home country after mass Sunday.

A Catholic Priest for 46 years now, Father Pius Pathmarajah came in 1998 to the Catholic Diocese of Rochester, while his home country of Sri Lanka was embattled in a civil war.

“Tamil Tigers against the government, there was terrorism at that time," Father Pius said. "There was all kind of bombing at that time.”

But the country has been at peace for the last decade, which is why Father Pius says the news of eight bombs targeting churches and hotels, and killing more than 200 people, is so upsetting.

“It’s disheartening to know what you’ve built up over the last ten years is all of a sudden shattered by the action of some,” Father Pius said.

One of those bombs went off at a church in Batticaloa, the eastern city where he is from.

“They were at worship at 8:30 in the morning and the bomb went off," Father Pius said. "And I understand the whole church structure is out, and more than 30 people died right on the spot.”

While his immediate family is okay, he did lose some friends and acquaintances in the bombing.

These attacks are also deeply upsetting for his parishioners at the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Greece, who feel a close connection to Sri Lanka because of Father Pius.

“When you know somebody who is more directly affected, it’s not a headline anymore," said Mike Latona of Greece. "It’s something that becomes more real.”

People we spoke to say this is a time to come together.

“Light overcomes darkness, and I think we all have the Holy Spirit in us," said Michelle Arieno of Greece. "And I think it should be brought out by helping one another.”

And Father Pius says while the bombs disrupted this holy day of Easter, the message of the holiday remains and Sri Lanka will move forward.

“We will not give up. We believe in peace and unity and harmony. This is why we pray to God," Father Pius said. "And on Easter Sunday, we ask God to bless the country, its leaders. All of us together, we have to overcome the evil.”

The Islamic Center of Rochester also condemned the attacks in Sri Lanka, calling them "outrageous and despicable." Officials from the center released a statement saying in part:

"The Muslim Community in Rochester stands with our fellow citizens of all faiths in condemning such acts of violence wherever they take place and whomever they target."