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Tissera, who has been in Enfield for eight years, was scheduled to leave the United States either late Tuesday or early today, estimating it would take about 28 hours to reach Sri Lanka.
Besides Indonesia, Sri Lanka was the hardest hit by the tsunamis. The country's rising death toll now hovers around 21,715, with more than a million people displaced.
The magnitude-9.0 underwater earthquake that struck Sunday triggered sea surges accompanied by monstrous 20-foot waves that devastated many countries in southern Asia and as far away as Somalia on the west coast of Africa.
Tissera was last home in August for a month, and attended a pair of family weddings. He also has 12 nephews and three nieces in Sri Lanka.
Tissera's family lives in Negombo, which is situated on the west coast of Sri Lanka north of the capital city of Colombo. He is hopeful his family was spared any devastation from the historic tsunami because the bulk of the damage in Sri Lanka occurred along the eastern and southern coastlines.
"I have reason to believe it was not hit that hard in our area," Tissera said. "I want to help people while I'm there."
Negombo is home to the largest Catholic community in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, gained its independence in 1948. Its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972 and its current population is nearly 20 million.
Tissera, 48, expects to stay in Sri Lanka until Jan. 18 and assist in relief efforts, which have been hindered due to severely damaged communications and transport systems.
According to the World Bank, about 500 miles of railway line in Sri Lanka have been destroyed. A packed train traveling between Galle and Colombo was caught in a sea wave Sunday and swept off the tracks, killing more than 1,000 people.
Since Sunday's prodigious natural disaster, Tissera has contemplated its effect on his family.
"The first thing is it's scary," he said. "You don't know where they're at and you can't contact them. Not knowing is the toughest part. My brothers don't have phones. I won't know anything until I see on my own."
Tissera credits the Rev. John Gwozdz, pastor at St. Martha Church on Brainard Road, and parishioners for their support.
"We have a pastor here who has been very helpful since he heard the news," Tissera said. "American people are very thoughtful and very concerned. The people at St. Martha's are beautiful. They're extremely nice and thoughtful."
Tissera was ordained 15 years ago and is the youngest of four children. His father, a former fisherman, died in 1994, and his mother died last year.
He is currently pursuing a master's degree in marriage and family therapy at St. Joseph College in West Hartford.
In Sri Lanka, emergency aid workers are struggling to ensure people have clean water and sanitation to prevent any outbreaks of disease. United Nations officials have sent food and supplies to the areas hit by the tsunami, saying it would be the largest relief effort the world has ever seen.
Tissera remembers many storms growing up in Sri Lanka, but none packing a deadly blow.
"Storms are common and fishermen stay on one side of the country for six moths, and then when the seas get rough there, they go to the other side of the island for the other six months," he said.
His two older brothers were fishermen, but have since given it up, he said.
"I feel so bad for these people," he said. "Our economy has not been so good. I just can't believe what's happened. I expect temporary homes or shelters will be set up with medical supplies, clothing, and food. We have to find housing for these people."
While he prays for the safety of his family, Tissera also plans to celebrate Mass as often as he can while he is home.
"I'm only one person and there are a lot of Sri Lankan families affected by this," he said. "I want to bring the Good News to them."
