Appreciations

JOHN RATNAJOTHY IREANEUS HOOLE:

Unforgettable personalty

Jothy, as he was lovingly called passed away on December 28, 2011. He was the son of Fr. Richard Hoole and the grandson of Canon Somasunderam. He had his beginnings in Jaffna. It was discovered that he was virtually a genius in Maths.

He went to the UK for his studies where he acquired degrees but also worked and got involved with the Church.

On his return to Sri Lanka, he worked as an Engineer in the private sector and thereafter in the Government sector. However he discovered that his calling and vocation was not in Engineering and therefore began work as a missionary pastor.

This was the time when his first wife died leaving three children including a new born. This personal tragedy did not lessen his desire to work for God and people. Therefore during the last 20 years he had been a shepherd in Mannar. Till the end both in good times and bad, despite all the difficulties he remained in Mannar with his people.

It was my good fortune to meet him about two weeks before his death and whenever I visited him in hospital or at his friend’s residence, he was full of life. He was always very grateful for a visit and did not allow the visit to be over without a prayer.

May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.

Sydney Knight

SEETHA MALLIKA MERCEDES PERERA

She understood the unconditional love of animals and loved them back many fold in return.

She simply did her part to be a genuine friend for animals

She remained a wallflower all her life and yet she did not demand attention.

She spent her money not to achieve fame.

She did not dress to impress anybody. She was always groomed and cleaned.

Her clothes were humble and nicely pressed and clean.

Her beauty and poise showed though her humility often kept others from noticing.

She could see through people and never hesitate to speak her mind.

If she did not say “thank you,” it was because she saw through the person who needed the thank you.

Some acts of kindness are done to seek fame and recognition for the giver.

Such acts of kindness are not generous or worthy of acknowledgment.

She loved gardening because of the sincere love she had for plants. She always saved the ordinary plants because of their origin was a gift from her mother’s plants.

She did not want to make a fortune though she did have the talent to do so.

She loved her parents even though it was not apparent that they celebrated her.

She did not fuss for attention or demand respect.

She never attempted to be politically correct. She was never afraid to express her views.

She respected people not for their fame and fortune. She had the gift for understanding people’s true nature – good and bad – that is hidden beneath the surface.

She loved to sing. She loved poetry. She had boundless wisdom for more than I can imagine.

She stopped to notice – the trees, the weeds, stray dogs and cats, flowers and butterflies. Isn’t it beautiful and pleasant to go through the world like that.

On November 12, 2011, as I was sitting by her bedside, trying to laugh and joke to lift her spirits up, Seetha Akka recited this poem...

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”

– Thomas Gray (English Poet, 1716-1771)

Then when I asked her what it meant, she told me, “There are people who do not get the opportunity to use all their talents.”

She was so simple, so childlike.

Lynn Ramalingam(Minnesota-USA)