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by Very Rev. Fr. J.P.E. Selvarajah

"The angels who assembled his body had made a mistake somewhere. The mistake was a good one, however. They had put together a diplomat's mind, an air pilot's reflexes, a prophet's vision, a soothsayer's uncanniness to penetrate the dark places, a watch maker's precision. This made him half man half superman". That was how Rev. Father Marceline Jeyakody poetically described Bishop Emilianuspillai at the latter's death in 1972.

It was a very rare privilege for me to have been closely able to work with Bishop Emil and to have been under his watchful care for twelve long years, six of them as his personal secretary and the next six as the one in charge of Tholagatty Ashram where the Bishop placed me to carry out his instructions for the Rosarian Congregation which was very close to his heart.

From my personal observations, I could say without hesitation that Bishop Emil was primarily a man of prayer immersed in deep and living Faith in the Lord. He was always open to the Holy Spirit and filled by Him.

The action of his Spirit in his life, in his mission and in his relation with others was nearly transparent, empowering him to accomplish so much for the Church and Society.

He inspired everyone to pray with trust and deep conviction. His sermons which reflected his profound faith were simple and clear and touched the hearts of his hearers. Nothing escaped his all-observing eyes and he was able to embrace one and all in his tender love, attention and care.

He took particular care over his young priests and seminarians. He had the philosophy and theology students stay with him at Valalai where he showered them with much love and care. Because he observed everyone closely, he came to know them personally and all about their family background as well.

Those who had the fortune to be under his care at Valalai considered themselves fortunate and chosen. The Bishop visited often even those students who were studying in Tamil Nadu, South India with whom he had close contact. The sanctification and growth in holiness of his priests was his constant concern. He was convinced that only priests who prayed could effectively be true pastors of souls. He knew each member of the clergy very well.

He visited the priests often, especially those who worked in far-off and difficult missions. The sick and the elderly priests found in him a loving and caring friend and father. He took much interest in the spiritual and material well-being of all Religious Congregations. He followed closely their growth and ongoing formation, helping and encouraging them.

The Catechetical Apostolate of Jaffna diocese was revamped and a number of lay catechists were recruited and sent to India for training. Credit should be given to him for having placed this much-needed apostolate on a sound footing. Education was one of his special concerns. As General Manager of Catholic Schools he established schools in most remote villages where there was none earlier. He faced the crisis of the School-take-over unruffled with firmness and courage.

He was able to keep five schools going private. He always found friends and benefactors to support them. After his death, the diocese was unable to keep all these private schools as resources got dried.

In the last lap of his life Bishop Emil was quite ill, yet the end was dramatic and most unexpectedly sudden. I had accompanied him on his flight from Palaly to Colombo on 17 July 1972 in the afternoon. While arriving in Colombo he entered St. Michael's Nursing Home.

His condition took a turn to the worse when he experienced a three hour agony like his divine Master and in spite of the best medical attention, the Good Lord welcomed his faithful servant to his eternal home on the same night. It was the greatest shock of my life and I never experienced such deep grief in all my priestly life. The events are yet fresh and vivid in my mind that I cannot ever forget.

"H.L. Bishop Emilianuspillai Memorial Home for Retired Priests" is the humble monument the diocese of Jaffna is gratefully dedicating to mark the birth centenary (1901-2001) of this illustrious son of the soil. This Home will be blessed on 19 January 2002.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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