1. From Sept.1986 till Oct.1996 Rector of St.Francis Xavier's Seminary, Colombogam
From 1992-7 as Vicar General of Jaffna Diocese
In Sept. 1986 I became the 2nd Rector of St:Francis Xavier's Seminary, Colombogam, Jaffna. My ten years of experience from 1976 till 1986 as Dean of Theology / Prefect of Studies helped me to take over this rectorship with confidence and introduce many changes into the life of the seminary.
2. Political situation, IPKF and LTTE
But the political Situation of the North was not conducive to any smooth life. With the war between the SL army and the LTTE and the induction of the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) in to the Northeast put enormous stress on our lives. Not only shortages of Food, lack of electricity, no telephones, but also continuous fear of Arrest Shooting deaths etc. My guiding the Seminary was a real challenge in many ways. Six of the seminarians were taken into the IPKF camp near by and tortured for 5 days under suspicion and released. The six students taken by the IPKF one night and tortured by them them under suspicion that they were LTTE supporters. I had to beg of the and get them released after 5 days.
3. Exodus out of Jaffna
The climax of our fear came on the 31st of Occt. 1995 when the SL Forces were marching into the Jaffna Peninsula with Aerial bombings. LTTE advised the peninsula Population for safety to move out. 500,000 People went through the narrow Navatkuli Bridge in one night to the south of the Northern province. I wrote my personal experience about this historic Exodus of the 500000 People out of the peninsula.
4. Six months in Wanni jungles
I also moved to Mirusuvil and did my Service as Rector and as Vicar General of the diocese. With my kerosene oil powered morris minor and a Motor cycle, I tried to help a Population Camping out in all possibel places like Schools churches hospitals.
One of my beloved Student Fr.Loret of Chempianpattu, who was only an year in priesthood, served his People and died due to Malaria for lack of medicine on 1st Jan 1996 in Hospital.
In Dec. 1995, with the help of extra boats provided by the LTTE, I moved the students and staff of the seminary to Arobanam in Uruthirapuram Kilinochchi. The Seminary was able to function here for one full semester till the 26th of July 1996. The SL Govt made radio announcements that they were to bomb Kilinochchi areas and asked even the NGOs to move out. On the 25th night with my morris minor kerosene oil car loaded with few bags of Sr. Lucilla and mine, we moved towards Madhu. Driving at night through the jungles, I passed by often women carrying a child in arms and a plastic bag in the other. How many times she was displaced? from her house, from her cows/ dog, from her bad or furniture.... Now left with a child in her arms and the miimum in a plastic bag!
After spending a few days at Madhu at the shrine of O.L.of Madhu, leaving many of my possessions - my morris minor car, computer, motor ctcle...to Fr.James Pathinathan and HF sisters, I proceeded via Colombo to London.
5. London - Catholic Chaplaincy & Lond. University-Heythrop College
while staying with Judy Jegatheeswaran, my niece I was assisting the Parish priest of St.John Fisher in North Harrow for masses. I was intending to return to Sri Lanka after a six months break in Europe. But people in Colombo, like Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam phoned me requesting not to return because the govt. and their media were very hostile to me. With Mr.Ivan Pedropillai, I went to Heythrop College, attached to the London University and they gave me a status as Visiting Scholar active in the London University with few lectures. With this appointment I got my visa to stay in London for one year.
The political situation at home was not improving. I was drawn to help the diaspora Tamils in their efforts to lobby the British govt. as well as politicians there. But my income from the university or church was very limited and had to depend on my sister's family. For a longer exile I decided to go to Germany Muenster diocese where I was Pastor and professor 1983-4
6. Germany Horneburg 9/1997 till 2/2007 -Parish Priest St.Maria Magdalena
When I met Bishop Rheinhard Lettmann bishop of Muenster, he said welcome to Muenster, "you had done well at Darfeld I have a difficult parish for you!." It was Horneburg where the Parish council and the church council have resigned in protest against their pastor Bodeweck that he be removed! He wanted me to take over this parish. I readily agreed and got Mr. Menneman to drive me to Horneburg to see the church. After seeing the church, I went to the parish house and met Fr. Bodeweck who told me that he was leaving the parish on 1/9/1997.
From London I came by van with Fr.Jeyasegaram to Mr.Singarayar. Mr Singarayar took me to Horneburg Internat and the to the parish house where I was received by Mr.Doerdelmann, Pollmueller,Sindern.I set to work organisin elections for the church council and parish council. Aux. Bishop Josef Voss was friendly and helpful. Mr.Heinz Koenig was a good friend for me. with his help I got my small pension and in 2001 with the letter of Bp Lettmann, I got a german passport.
Parish council meetings were not easy and got on my nerves, but I moved thru.
I started special children liturgy for small children with parents, dueing mass got all children to hold hands with me around the altar in reciting the Our Father, installed a screen behind altar to use my computer for the sermons, brought a statue O.L. of Fatima from Portugel, and with the help of architect Nitzbon built a Grotto O.L next to the church. Miss Anita, adopted daughter of my sister Baby Mary Anne came to live with me and worked for me as secretary.
When I completed my 40 years of priestly life, I thinking that I may not reach 50, organised a big celebration inviting my relations and friends from UK, Canada and Australia. Auxilliary Bishop Josef Voss presided the concelebrated mass with 16 priests. Miss Roshani Gnanam gave a Baratha Natyam after mass. Reception was in the parish hall.
In August 2006 got a heart attack and four stents were put placed. From that time I had to slow down my activity and thought of retiring as Vicarius Cooperator to Fr.Otto Banse in Darfeld.
7. Germany Darfeld 2/2007 till 17/2018 - asst. (Vicarius Kooperator) St.Nikolaus
The older generation in Darfeld remembered my stay in 1983-84.I was planning to take a room at the elders home in Darfeld. But fortunately just before I came to Darfeld, Mrs. Rosa of Sandweg 4 died and the house became vacant. It was very convenient for me to live so close to church, have visitors and enjoy my life and work. In May 2009 the war was over in Sri Lanka, but our struggle had to continue in the internationalised phase of the struggle.In Jan 2010 I was elected president of the Global Tamil Forum in UK parliament buildings. From then on I had to fly a lot around the world campaigning support for our cause.
In 2014 I celebrated my 80th Birthday in Darfeld followed by many celebrations in various cities of the world.
In 2015 we Tamils helped a regime change in Sri Lanka. President Sirisena on his first visit to London, invited the GTF for breakfast in Hilton London. There he and minister Mangala Samaraweera suggested that I return to Sri Lanka and work for reconciliation.
In Dec,2016 I celebrated my golden jubilee mass with Pope Francis in Vatican. After mass in private audience, he too suggested my return to Sri Lanka.
Considering my age, invitation from President of SL and encouragement from Pope Francis, I decided to return to SL for good.
From 1992-7 as Vicar General of Jaffna Diocese
In Sept. 1986 I became the 2nd Rector of St:Francis Xavier's Seminary, Colombogam, Jaffna. My ten years of experience from 1976 till 1986 as Dean of Theology / Prefect of Studies helped me to take over this rectorship with confidence and introduce many changes into the life of the seminary.
2. Political situation, IPKF and LTTE
But the political Situation of the North was not conducive to any smooth life. With the war between the SL army and the LTTE and the induction of the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) in to the Northeast put enormous stress on our lives. Not only shortages of Food, lack of electricity, no telephones, but also continuous fear of Arrest Shooting deaths etc. My guiding the Seminary was a real challenge in many ways. Six of the seminarians were taken into the IPKF camp near by and tortured for 5 days under suspicion and released. The six students taken by the IPKF one night and tortured by them them under suspicion that they were LTTE supporters. I had to beg of the and get them released after 5 days.
Ten years as Rector of the Seminary and later as VG I experienced the consequences of the war. It was first under the IPKF Indian Peace Keeping Force, sent to protect and liberate us, but disappointingly, due to their lack of communication in Tamil and suspicion that all Tamils are terrorists, their mission was a failure.
After the departure of the IPKF came the LTTE. When bombs fell on churches and schools and people perished, naturally I spoke on behalf of my people and gave As VG I had to deal with their rules and regulations. when the churches and schools were bombed and innocent people perished, naturally as VG I gave a loud cry through media and sent telegrams to President Chandrika.
Leader getting to know that I am for my people, he wanted to meet me. For the LTTE my speaking out was supportive but for the Govt. it was a terrorist-support
3. Exodus out of Jaffna
The climax of our fear came on the 31st of Occt. 1995 when the SL Forces were marching into the Jaffna Peninsula with Aerial bombings. LTTE advised the peninsula Population for safety to move out. 500,000 People went through the narrow Navatkuli Bridge in one night to the south of the Northern province. I wrote my personal experience about this historic Exodus of the 500000 People out of the peninsula.
4. Six months in Wanni jungles
I also moved to Mirusuvil and did my Service as Rector and as Vicar General of the diocese. With my kerosene oil powered morris minor and a Motor cycle, I tried to help a Population Camping out in all possibel places like Schools churches hospitals.
One of my beloved Student Fr.Loret of Chempianpattu, who was only an year in priesthood, served his People and died due to Malaria for lack of medicine on 1st Jan 1996 in Hospital.
In Dec. 1995, with the help of extra boats provided by the LTTE, I moved the students and staff of the seminary to Arobanam in Uruthirapuram Kilinochchi. The Seminary was able to function here for one full semester till the 26th of July 1996. The SL Govt made radio announcements that they were to bomb Kilinochchi areas and asked even the NGOs to move out. On the 25th night with my morris minor kerosene oil car loaded with few bags of Sr. Lucilla and mine, we moved towards Madhu. Driving at night through the jungles, I passed by often women carrying a child in arms and a plastic bag in the other. How many times she was displaced? from her house, from her cows/ dog, from her bad or furniture.... Now left with a child in her arms and the miimum in a plastic bag!
After spending a few days at Madhu at the shrine of O.L.of Madhu, leaving many of my possessions - my morris minor car, computer, motor ctcle...to Fr.James Pathinathan and HF sisters, I proceeded via Colombo to London.
5. London - Catholic Chaplaincy & Lond. University-Heythrop College
while staying with Judy Jegatheeswaran, my niece I was assisting the Parish priest of St.John Fisher in North Harrow for masses. I was intending to return to Sri Lanka after a six months break in Europe. But people in Colombo, like Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam phoned me requesting not to return because the govt. and their media were very hostile to me. With Mr.Ivan Pedropillai, I went to Heythrop College, attached to the London University and they gave me a status as Visiting Scholar active in the London University with few lectures. With this appointment I got my visa to stay in London for one year.
The political situation at home was not improving. I was drawn to help the diaspora Tamils in their efforts to lobby the British govt. as well as politicians there. But my income from the university or church was very limited and had to depend on my sister's family. For a longer exile I decided to go to Germany Muenster diocese where I was Pastor and professor 1983-4
6. Germany Horneburg 9/1997 till 2/2007 -Parish Priest St.Maria Magdalena
When I met Bishop Rheinhard Lettmann bishop of Muenster, he said welcome to Muenster, "you had done well at Darfeld I have a difficult parish for you!." It was Horneburg where the Parish council and the church council have resigned in protest against their pastor Bodeweck that he be removed! He wanted me to take over this parish. I readily agreed and got Mr. Menneman to drive me to Horneburg to see the church. After seeing the church, I went to the parish house and met Fr. Bodeweck who told me that he was leaving the parish on 1/9/1997.
From London I came by van with Fr.Jeyasegaram to Mr.Singarayar. Mr Singarayar took me to Horneburg Internat and the to the parish house where I was received by Mr.Doerdelmann, Pollmueller,Sindern.I set to work organisin elections for the church council and parish council. Aux. Bishop Josef Voss was friendly and helpful. Mr.Heinz Koenig was a good friend for me. with his help I got my small pension and in 2001 with the letter of Bp Lettmann, I got a german passport.
Parish council meetings were not easy and got on my nerves, but I moved thru.
I started special children liturgy for small children with parents, dueing mass got all children to hold hands with me around the altar in reciting the Our Father, installed a screen behind altar to use my computer for the sermons, brought a statue O.L. of Fatima from Portugel, and with the help of architect Nitzbon built a Grotto O.L next to the church. Miss Anita, adopted daughter of my sister Baby Mary Anne came to live with me and worked for me as secretary.
When I completed my 40 years of priestly life, I thinking that I may not reach 50, organised a big celebration inviting my relations and friends from UK, Canada and Australia. Auxilliary Bishop Josef Voss presided the concelebrated mass with 16 priests. Miss Roshani Gnanam gave a Baratha Natyam after mass. Reception was in the parish hall.
In August 2006 got a heart attack and four stents were put placed. From that time I had to slow down my activity and thought of retiring as Vicarius Cooperator to Fr.Otto Banse in Darfeld.
7. Germany Darfeld 2/2007 till 17/2018 - asst. (Vicarius Kooperator) St.Nikolaus
The older generation in Darfeld remembered my stay in 1983-84.I was planning to take a room at the elders home in Darfeld. But fortunately just before I came to Darfeld, Mrs. Rosa of Sandweg 4 died and the house became vacant. It was very convenient for me to live so close to church, have visitors and enjoy my life and work. In May 2009 the war was over in Sri Lanka, but our struggle had to continue in the internationalised phase of the struggle.In Jan 2010 I was elected president of the Global Tamil Forum in UK parliament buildings. From then on I had to fly a lot around the world campaigning support for our cause.
In 2014 I celebrated my 80th Birthday in Darfeld followed by many celebrations in various cities of the world.
In 2015 we Tamils helped a regime change in Sri Lanka. President Sirisena on his first visit to London, invited the GTF for breakfast in Hilton London. There he and minister Mangala Samaraweera suggested that I return to Sri Lanka and work for reconciliation.
In Dec,2016 I celebrated my golden jubilee mass with Pope Francis in Vatican. After mass in private audience, he too suggested my return to Sri Lanka.
Considering my age, invitation from President of SL and encouragement from Pope Francis, I decided to return to SL for good.
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