Cause for the Beatification of –
Blessed S. Johnpillai (1890 to 1974) The Sillalai Catechist

PRAYER FOR CANONIZATION
Almighty and Eternal Father, source of all holiness, You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication. You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of Your faithful servant, Blessed S. Johnpillai. He has served Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in touching the hearts of several generations of people of Sillalai. If it be according to Your Will, for the greater honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls, we ask You to move the Church to proclaim him a saint. We ask this prayer through Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Cause for the beatification of Blessed S. Johnpillai, the Sillalai Catechist
Note: At the Annual General Meeting of Sillalai Social and Cultural Association of Canada held on December 18th 2009, the members adopted unanimously the proposal for the Association to sponsor, promote and commend the cause for the beatification of Blessed Sebastiampillai Johnpillai, the Sillalai Catechist of glorious memory, to the Sacred Congregation for the cause of Saints at the Vatican Secretariat through the proper channels.

Introduction
The Catholic World News reported in March 2009 that ten new Saints were to be canonized shortly by Pope Benedict XVI. The majority of the ten are from Italy and others also mostly from Europe.
The fact that most of the saints canonized are from the West begs the question whether there is a dearth for saints from the East! The answer is an emphatic NO. There may be equal or more saints from the East, but they are not recognized which means not officially proclaimed by the Church. It is just like the saying in Tamil that “Money lent is lost by NOT asking”! Similarly, it is the lack of interest or indifference at both lay and clerical levels to espouse the cause of those perceived to have led saintly lives and to initiate the necessary process may have deprived many being proclaimed saints. The maximum recognition, to my knowledge, is that of late Mr. Stephen, who was Sacristan at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena and who was honored by the Pope with a citation in 1963/4.

A Saint from Sillalai
It has to be mentioned that the number officially recognized and proclaimed by the Church is only a fraction of Saints. For that it has to be understood that all the departed souls, both within Christendom and outside, who have inherited the Kingdom of Heaven are called Saints. It is in this context that the cause of late Mr. Sebastiampillai Johnpillai, better known to Sillalaians as “Upathesiyaar” (Catechist), calls for due process to be officially recognized and proclaimed a Saint by the Church.

Sillalai the “Little Rome”
Sillalai is a small Catholic village, better known as “Little Rome” in North Sri Lanka for her Catholicity and for her rich spiritual harvest in dedicating a great number of her sons and daughters as priests and nuns to serve the Church and the people of God. Sillalai is also renowned for giving refuge and protection to Blessed Joseph Vaz during the Dutch persecution.

Pious Parents who dedicated three of their six children to serve God!
Born to Mr. Soosaipillai Sebastiampillai and Mrs. Anasi Sebastiampillai of Sillalai in the year 1890 and single throughout, Mr. Johnpillai dedicated his entire life to serve God in the community. Perhaps, he was very much influenced by his pious and God-fearing parents who have also offered another son to join the Congregation of Christian Brothers of St. Joseph (SSJ) and a daughter to join the Congregation of Sisters of Holy Family of Bordeaux. Living a simple and modest life in a room next to the weaving centre in the parish compound adjoining the Mission House, he rendered a valuable and exemplary service to the Church and generations of Sillalaians in a multi capacity, as Catechist, Sacristan, Organist, Choir Master, Custodian and Caretaker of the Church property.

The Parish Priest gives public testimony to his Humility!
Mr. Johnpillai’s humility, piety and obedience to over a dozen Parish Priests under whom he served was unparalleled in the history of Sillalai. His life was a model and example of a true Christian reflecting Bible values. It was reported that during the time Fr. Benedict (Aseervatham) was Parish Priest, one night the priest had asked him to lock all the church doors and he was waiting in front of the Sacristy for the keys. It was late in the night and he was waiting so long that he lost his patience and went inside the church to see what was happening. There he found Mr. Johnpillai kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament with outstretched hands, in deep meditation and adoration. He was so furious that he went and kicked him hard from behind. Though Mr. Johnpillai fell down prostrate, hitting his face on the floor, he got up quickly, apologized to the priest for his delay and gave him the keys.

The Parish Priest apologizes to our Saint!
Next morning, the first thing the priest did was to go up to Mr. Johnpillai and apologize to him profusely for his violent conduct. In the good old days, a priest apologizing to a layman was out of the ordinary and unheard of. Much to his discomfiture and in his usual humility, admitting the blame on himself, he assured what the priest did was right. Subsequently, while being parish priest at Kayts, Fr. Benedict was reported to have exhorted the parishioners there in a Sunday sermon that if they wanted to learn humility, that they should go and learn it from Sillalai Upathesiyaar!

His piety and spirituality had tremendous influence on the people.
Mr. Johnpillai taught catechism and prepared several generations of children to receive the Sacraments. As a member of the Church choir from 1946, at 8 years, to 1957 when I left for Colombo for employment, I have experienced his fatherly love, care and guidance. His piety and spirituality had tremendous influence on the people of Sillalai, who had high regard and respect for him. They revered him next to the priest as evident from the following incident.

‘Calming of the storm’! People mesmerized by the Saint’s moral force of character and personal sanctity!
This happened in the year 1951 when Fr. Vanderkone was the Parish Priest. The priest had brought a few choristers from his former parish to sing in our church for one Sunday Mass. The priest had thus made two “blunders” by the standard prevailing at that time! One was that of bringing outsiders to sing in our church which was taboo and the other one was more grievous and ‘unpardonable’ that the outsiders happened to be from a ‘lower caste’. When the people assembled that Sunday evening for Benediction, they were instigated by a few ringleaders and the whole crowd, young and old, stormed the mission house to assault the priest. The priest had locked himself inside and the crowd surrounded the mission house and was attempting to break in. Some threw sand and stones inside the refectory through open windows. It was at this stage that saintly Mr. Johnpillai went round appealing to the people to calm down and to refrain from violence. While pacifying the people, he spoke to the ringleaders to back out. Though initially one or two retorted at him angrily, his persuasion and moral force of character mesmerized them into submission and they dispersed quietly. Thus Mr. Johnpillai averted a very unpleasant and violently explosive situation through the merits of his personal sanctity and moral force.

Acknowledgement of his glorious services to the people of God.
The long and dedicated service of Mr. Johnpillai extended to nearly three quarters of a century and until a few years before he went to meet his Creator on the 21st of October 1974 at the ripe old age of, in Psalmist’s words, four score years and four. The people of Sillalai gratefully remember him and his valuable services. It is their firm belief that the selfless, dedicated, spotless and holy life of Mr. Johnpillai; a life full of love and service to God in his community, surely earned him the promised reward of eternal bliss in Heaven. It is also their belief that his cause be taken up and due process initiated to raise him to the altar.

A. Jesuthasan
Easter Sunday, 12th April 2009.

Family Details etc.
Sebastiampillai Johnpillai

Father:
Soosaipillai Sebastiampillai

Mother:
Sebastiampillai Anasi

Siblings:
Sebastiampillai Thangam
Sebastiampillai Mariampillai (a member of SSJ brothers - Society of St. Joseph’s)
Sebastiampillai Anthonipillai
Sebastiampillai Elizabethamma (a member of Holy Family of Bordeaux congregation)
Sebastiampillai Amirthanathan

Year of Birth:
1890 (date and month yet to be verified)

Death:
21.10.1974

Duration of his Services:
He started his service at the Church of Our Lady of Remedies at Sillalai in 1901.
He served till October 1965.

His work areas:
He was a full time worker in the parish of Sillalai. He stayed at the Nazareth hall belonging to the Legion of Mary.
He was collaborating with the parish priests of Sillalai, many of whom were foreign missionaries. Sillalai parish had many substations at that time. They were:
Holy Rosary Church, Moolai
St. Francis de Sales, Chankanai
St. Theresa’s Church, Sandilipay
St. James Church, Sillalai
Christ the King community centre
Our Lady of Lanka community centre
He was instrumental in building a grotto at Saanthai, one of the fractions of Sillalai, whose inhabitants were Hindus and downtrodden by others. This was to extend the services of the Church and education to those people also.

He was voluntarily helping the neighbouring parish priests at Pandatheruppu and Mathagal. It is acknowledged that he collaborated with the late Rev. Fr. Gesland OMI, then parish priest of Sillalai, to build a new church for Our Lady of Fatima at Pandatheruppu.

He put his body and soul in the completion of the present new church at Sillalai which was built by the late Rev. Fr. Dessey OMI. At the opening ceremony of the new church, Fr. Dessey openly said that he has to thank God first and next the cgNjrpahH for the success in completing the building of the church.

His multifaceted services in the church included:
opening and closing the church preparing for the daily Holy Mass preparing the Alter for Holy Mass and other services ringing the church bell (for the services and 3 angelus daily) playing harmonium and leading the choir preparing the candidates for baptism, first Holy Communion, confirmation and matrimony conducting catechism classes for the children (for such purposes he used rpwpa Fwpg;gplk;> nghpa Fwpg;gplk;> nka;tpthf Fwpg;gplk; instructing the catechumens (for those expressed the desire for conversion to Catholicism) helping the parish priest in the pastoral house visits preparing the sick and senior persons at homes to receive the sacrament of penance and Holy Communion ringing a small bell and going in front of the priest to notify the people about the proper veneration for the Eucharist when the priest carries viaticum for the sick served as an inspiring person in all the pious associations at Sillalai and its substations
Rev. Fr. Kulas OMI officiated at his funeral rites.

Annex I
Miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Johnpillai.
I solemnly declare and state the details of my firm belief of a favor obtained through the intercession of late Mr. S. Johnpillai, the holy soul in heaven. The details in brief are as follows:- It is the reconciliation of a Hindu couple separated for nearly two years and who, after all their efforts to reconcile failed, finally decided to divorce. It was at this point, I sought the intercession of Blessed Johnpillai to pray for the couple and to obtain their reconciliation. The fervent prayers continued for three months and at the end of three months, on Maundy Thursday, 09th of April, Mrs. SB called with the glad news. The prayers were answered and the impossible to human efforts became possible to Divine intervention through the intercession of Blessed Johnpillai. There was an apparent change of heart and the couple was reconciled. The lady thanked God profusely from the bottom of her heart. I too join her in thanking the Almighty for His mercy and love and especially to the holy soul of Mr. Johnpillai in Heaven for his intercession.

A. Jesuthasan
13th April 2009.
(NB: The report in full is filed separately)

Comments:
From Rev. Dr. Paul Rohan I have just finished reading your write up about John Thaththa. It is interesting and inspiring. God works through many persons in many ways. I feel that he had also inspired you to honour His worthy servant John Thaththa. I will do the needful. April 14, 2009

From Fr. Peter Gitendran
I read the attachment about Ubathesiar. We all know him personally as we have gone through his training to be altar servers. I will look for more information about him. Good luck in your effort. April 16, 2009

Thanks. It is very well written. Rev. Dr. Joseph Chandrakanthan April 13, 2009.

From Rev. Dr. Paul Rohan
I give my strong support for the cause of John Thaththa which is started by Mr. Jesuthasan. I feel that it is a worthy effort by which we can also preserve the Catholic history of Sillalai from getting lost in the tides of time and modernity. Wishing you all the success in all your efforts. Yours in Jesus Christ and in the service of the people, November 06,2009

By: A. Jesuthasan

The village Sillalai is situated 10 miles (16 kilo meters) away from Jaffna town, to the Northwest. “Aalai” in Tamil means a factory or a machine used for irrigation or crushing sugar cane. It also refers to canal put up by farmers for the flow of water pumped from the well to the crops. There are several villages with names ending in “aalai”, like Meesalai, Sarasalai, Thunnalai, Ilavalai, Erlalai, Ponnalai etc. One of the explanations is that Sillalai derived its name due to small factories functioning there. However, from the archaeological findings and reports of research scholars, there is evidence that Sillalai was the seat or sub-seat of Chola King and or his Ministers/Administrators with regal names still in use such as “Adikarikallati” - the place of administration; “Neervaviyadi” - where the royal swimming pool was; “Poomananthaan” – royal garden/ ‘anthappuram’; “Oottukuli” – place of execution of criminals, near “Adikarikallati” etc.

Sillalai is also renowned for giving refuge and protection to Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz, the missionary priest from Goa, during the Dutch persecution of Catholics. The Crucifix he gave to a family in the year 1687 is reverently preserved to this day by the descendants and the request from the emissary of Papal Secretariat for the Crucifix for the cause of his canonization and to be kept in the Vatican Museum was politely declined by the present holder of the Crucifix.

If Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz introduced Sillalai to the Catholics world over through his resident Missionary work there in the 1680s and Sillaiyoor Selvarajan made Sillalai a household name in literary circles through his poetic prowess to the extent of his statue being erected at Kanatte in Colombo, and Mr. Alan Navaratnam from Denmark opened the gateway of Sillalai to the world through his website (sillalai.com) with descriptive maps, photos and details of importance, the Twin Jewels of Sillalai, the Ayurvedic Physicians Dr.S.P. Innasithamby and Dr. S Athanasiyar made Sillalai known throughout the Island by their medical excellence!

These two Ayurvedic Colossuses, whose family practice in Sillalai extend for over ten generations, were held in high esteem and regard not only by the residents of Sillalai but also by many from the four corners of the Island due to their highly effective treatment of patients. It was the island wide acknowledgement of their curative power that they earned the sobriquet “Kaakkum Karangal” (fhf;Fk; fuq;fs;) meaning ‘hands that save’ and for the village “ellaarum kaividdaal Sillalai Vaithiyam” (vy;yhUk; iftpl;lhy;> rpy;yhiy itj;jpak;) meaning ‘even if all others give up, yet there is succour from Sillalai Physicians’.

I vividly remember the funeral of one of the daughters of Dr. S. Athanasiyar, who died in an accident in the early 1950s, which I attended with my mother. As the funeral procession started and the coffin was being taken out of the house, a car came and stopped nearby. People thought that it was a last minute call to pay respects. But it turned out to be a patient from far down South, either Galle or Matara, seeking urgent treatment from Dr. Athanasiyar. Despite the mental stress due to the loss of his daughter and the most inappropriate time for practice, the urgency of the patient and the distance travelled by him influenced Dr. Athanasiyar to forego formalities and attend to the patient promptly. Such was the dedication and care of patients by these two medical geniuses.

Alas ! Tragedy struck in the form of civil war and displacements, depriving the people of the services of these healing hands. What an irony that the village, which had physicians in every nook and corner, is now bereft of any and in case of illness, the people have to go to the neighbouring villages in search of doctors for treatment. If displacement is a tragedy, it is catastrophe of inestimable and indescribable proportions that the priceless ‘Vaahadam’ (thflk;) of the former is rendered idle due to cessation of practice by the progeny. It is however a consolation that the progeny of the latter is continuing practice in Colombo.

The Sillalaians are now living in hope that the war will end soon and the progeny of these geniuses would come back not only to resume practice in their midst but also to safeguard the ‘Vaahadam’ (thflk;), the priceless heritage left behind by their ancestors, and pass it on to their offspring for continuity and future.

Source: Daily Mirror (11th August, 2007);

Sillalai is a village ten miles away from Jaffna town. People of Sillalai are proud to celebrate the 50th Jubilee of the new church on August 15th. The church flag will be hoisted on August 6th, by the Parish Priest. The vespers will be followed by the Eucharistic procession on August 14th. On the August 15 the Golden jubilee will be celebrated with the procession of our Lady’s statue.

This feast is celebrated annually by the people of Sillalai. This feast has awakened the anxiety of not only the people of Sillalai, but all Sri Lankans as well as foreigners. It is a feast that reminds us of the assumption of our Lady into heaven and is celebrated not only in Sillalai but all over the world by people who used to live in the village of Sillalai, who are unable to come here for the celebration.

People of Sillalai are proud to celebrate the 50th Jubilee of the new church on August 15th. The church flag will be hoisted on August 6th, by the Parish Priest. The vespers will be followed by the Eucharistic procession on August 14th.

This historical shrine of our Lady of Remedies is situated in the Jaffna diocese. This is considered the oldest church in the Northern Province and it is over 400 years old.

In this beautiful church, built by Rev. Fr. Daisey, the original miraculous statue of our Lady of remedies adorned with ornaments takes pride of place, seated on a throne with a golden crown studded with a ruby and the Child Jesus on her lap. This statue is placed on a beautifully carved wooden altar.

This church along with the statue has a rich history to relate to us. History shows us that the Portuguese missionaries who came to Jaffna in 1554 to propagate Catholicism built a few churches in the Peninsula. They built a church at Pandateruppu named “American Mission” and they decided to present our Lady’s statue which they got from Portugal to this church. People honored her with great piety and devotion.

It’s believed that the Dutch persecution of the Catholics took place during this period and the Catholics of Sillalai took this statue form the American Mission and hid it safely in a well, at midnight fearing that the Dutch might destroy the statue. People who sought blessings from this statue received it in abundance. By this many people have been converted to Catholicism.

Our Lady blessed not only the people of Sillalai but also people from the neighboring villages as well. By this, the church became famous especially among people of the North. Due to the increased number of devotees visiting it a cadjan shelter was erected and it was named Our Lady of Remedies.

In 1687, Joseph Vaz, came to Sri Lanka from India, to preach and spread Christianity. He landed on the shore of Colombogam and walked up to Sillalai. He is known as the patron of Sri Lanka. He lived in Sillalai for 3 years, thinking that Sillalai was the safest place in Jaffna. Sillalai became famous because of Joseph Vaz. He propagated Catholicism Secretly with the help of Sillalai people Who harbored him, fed him and listened to his gospel teaching and participated in the Holy Mass and other Sacraments secretly. This made them strong in their faith.

During this period, there was an epidemic of cholera raging in this village and the villagers including Joseph Vas got this disease. Due to the intercession of our Lady, through Joseph Vaz and the help of the villagers they were relieved from cholera. Due to this the people grew in their faith and in our lady and named her ‘Our Lady of good health’. In Tamil it is known as ‘Marunthu Matha’ and ‘Kathirai Chelvi’, names given by the people as a thanksgiving.

Not only in Sri Lanka’s Catholic Churches but worldwide, ‘Our Lady of Remedies Church’ is still famous. Our village of Sillalai is known as ‘Little Rome’ in the world.

Source: The Sunday Times (12th August, 2007); By: S. B. David

The feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the church feast of "Kathirai Chelvee" are celebrated annually on August 15 by the parishioners of Sillalai, better known as 'Little Rome'. The historic shrine of Our Lady of Remedies "Kathirai Chelvee "is situated in the village of Sillalai in the Jaffna diocese. This year the Sillalai parishioners celebrate their church's Golden Jubilee.

The villagers here are predominantly Catholics and farmers. The village is called "Little Rome" by the religious faithful of the North, a tribute given for harbouring Blessed Joseph Vaz for over three years and also for having brought forth a Bishop, 35 priests, 45 nuns and many lay apostles.

During the Dutch persecution in Ceylon, Joseph Vaz came in disguise from Goa, India in 1687 to propogate Christianity and found his way to Sillalai where he was sheltered by the Sillalai Catholics. He served as the first parish priest and lived there for over three years, extending his missionary work in Jaffna and converting many to Christianity.

The original miraculous statue of Our Lady of Remedies gifted by the Portuguese missionaries in 1544, was protected and preserved during the Dutch persecution. Rev. Fr. Louis Daisy, OMI, a Belgian was appointed as parish priest of Sillalai. Under his pastoral care the Sillalai parish grew and flourished. He found that the church built in 1882 was inadequate and laboured hard along with the parishioners to build a beautiful church. The first mass was offered in 1957 and the new church became the consecrated place of worship. Fr. Daisy served the parish for 15 years and his name is synonymous with it. He has written many Catholic prayer books in Tamil and translated English books into Tamil.

In 1960, a statue in honour of Blessed Joseph Vaz was erected in the church yard. It is believed to be the first statue erected in memory of him (in national dress) in Sri Lanka.

The hoisting of the flag for the golden jubilee took place on August 6 and after nine days of novena and vespers a Festive High Mass will be offered by Very. Rev. Fr. Justin Ganapragasam, Vicar General as the Chief celebrant with Fr. Justin Chawan, Fr. Jude Nixon and other priests. The miraculous statue of our Lady of Remedies will be placed on a gaily decorated chariot and taken around the church in a colourful procession. A statue of Rev. Fr. Louis Daisy, OMI will be unveiled on August 14 by Rt. Rev. Dr. Savundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna.

எங்களுர்த்தாய் கதிரைத்தாய் அவளுக்கோர் ஆலயம் அமைந்ததாய்
அதன் ஐம்பதாண்டுகள் நிறைந்ததாய் அவளுக்குரியதாய் சிறியதாய்
அதன் நினைவதாய் இஃது

அன்னம்மா சுவக்கீனைப் பெற்றோராய் பெற்றெடுத்தாய்
ஜென்ம மாசணுகாது ஜெகத்தினில் நீ உற்பவித்தாய்
கன்மவினை தீர்க்க மறு ஏவாளாய் கருத்தரித்தாய்
ஒன்பதுமாதமொட்டில் உலகினில் நீ மலர்ந்தாய்
புன்முறுவலோடு கொலுவீற்றிருக்கும் ஆரோக்கியத்தாய்

செழுங்குழவிப் பிiறையை நின் இரு நற்பதமணிந்தாய்
பளிங்குகின்ற கதிரவனை உனதாடையாயணிந்தாய்
பன்னிருமின் தாரகையை சென்னியிலே முடியுடைத்தாய்
விழுங்குகின்ற அலகையதை விரல் நுனியால் நசுக்கியதாய்

அன்னை தந்தையோடு நல்ல அருமகளாய் வாழ்ந்து வந்தாய்
மணப்பருவம் வந்த போது மனமுவந்து சம்மதித்தாய்
மாதவராம் சூசையோடு மணப்பந்தமாயிருந்தாய்
தனியறையில் ஜெப தியான சிந்தனையிலாழ்ந்திருந்தாய்

வானதூதர் வாழ்துரையால் திகில் வியப்பு நீ மிகுந்தாய்
கணவனையறியாதெனக்கு ஏது ஈது என வினா தொடுத்தாய்
தூயனவன் விளக்கமெல்லாம் விளங்கியதொரு முடிவெடுத்தாய்
கன்னி நான் கருத்தரித்தல் கடவுள் சித்தம் என நீ உணர்ந்தாய்

“ஆண்டவரின் அடிமையென “ அவரிடமே முடிவுரைத்தாய்
அக்கணமே தூய ஆவி நிழலிடவே கருத்தரித்தாய்
தேவசுதன் தனைத்தாங்கும் பாக்கியத்தால் மனமகிழ்ந்தாய்
பரமபிதா சித்தமது பாலித்துன்னிடத்தாய்

பேறுகாலம் வந்தபோது பெரும் கஸ்ரம் அனுபவித்தாய்
பெத்தலகேம் சிற்றூரில் “பெருமகனை”ப் பெற்றெடுத்தாய்
அரவமற்ற வேளையிலே “அவர்” உதித்தார் நின்னிடத்தாய்
வானதூதர் இடையருடன் வந்து நின்றார் அவ்விடத்தாய்

வந்து புகழ் பாடினர் நின் மைந்தனிடம் முன்னிடத்தாய்
அர்த்தசாம வேளையிலும் அவருக்காய் விழித்திருந்தாய்
மெத்தக்கரிசனையோடவரை மேதினியில் நீ வளர்த்தாய்
பாரினில் உம் பிள்ளைகட்காய் மகனிடமே பரிந்துரைத்தாய்

பாவவாளர் எங்களுக்காய் நின் சுதனைப் பலி கொடுத்தாய்
வாள் ஒன்று ஊடுருவும் எனும் கூற்றை நினைத்திருந்தாய்
மடி மீது மகனாரை அணைத்திருந்த வியாகுலத்தாய்
தந்தாய் திருவிருந்தாய் வலுவூட்டுமருமருந்தாய்


எழுபத்தீihம் வயதில் இவ்வுலகை நீ நீத்தாய்
ஆன்ம தசையோடு அந்த மூவரிடம் சேர்ந்திருந்தாய்
“பூவையருன் புனிதை” யெனும் புசழ்பேறும் பெற்றெடுத்தாய்
முப்பொழுதும் எப்பொழுதும் முழுநிலவாம் கன்னித்தாய்

அதிசயமாய் வானெழுந்த அருள்மிகு ஆரோகணத்தாய்
பூரணத்தாய் சம்பூரணத்தாய் பரிபூரணத்தாய்
உதித்தாய் உத்தமியாய் வாழ்ந்தாய் மரித்தாய் மாமரித்தாய்
பத்திமாபதித்தாய் லூர்துகெபித்தாய் கார்மேல்மலைத்தாய்
அமலமரித்தாய் அடைக்கலத்தாய் ஆண்டவரின்தாய்
கன்னித்தாய் கடல்யாத்திதரைத்தாய் கருணையின்தாய்
வேண்டுதல்கள் கேட்கும்தாய் வேளைக்குதவும்தாய் வேளாங்கண்ணித்தாய்
பரலோகத்தாய் பரிந்துரைக்கும்தாய் பாவிகளின்தாய்
பனிமயத்தாய் திரீத்துவத்தின்தாய் திருக்குடும்பத்தின்தாய்
தியாகத்தின்தாய் சர்வவல்லபத்தாய் சத்தியத்தின்தாய்
சமாதானத்தின்தாய் சதாசகாயத்தாய்
கொள்ளை பஞ்சம் நீக்கும்தாய் கொலைவிலக்கும்தாய்
பூவினைகளகற்றும்தாய் ப+ண்டிபுதுமைதாய் மருதமடுத்தாய்
சம்மனசுகளின்தாய் சகலபுனிதர்களின்தாய் மனுக்குலத்தின்தாய்
நல்மரணத்தின்தாய் உன்னதத்தாய் உயிரோடிருக்கும்தாய்
உத்தரியத்தாய் உதயதாரகையானதாய்
என்றுமுளதாய் எல்லோர்க்கும் எல்லாமானதாய்
ஏந்து ஜெபமாலைத்தாய்
பழமைசெறி எம்மூரில் பவனி வரும்தாய்
பாதுகாவலித்தாய் எங்கள் கதிரைத்தாய்


எளியதாய் இனியதாய்
உமதூரடியானதாய்.

Sillalai is a village well known as “Little Rome” among the Catholics of Sri Lanka. Sillalai was privileged to have Ven. Fr. Joseph Vaz as its first parish priest. People of this village, boldly gave refuge to him during the time Dutch persecuted the Roman Catholics. This proves the loyalty of this village towards the Roman Catholic Church. Sillalai continues to give faithful servants to work in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Hamlet enormously contributed with priests, nuns and lay spiritual workers like teachers and catechists. Hundred percent of the population of Sillalai were Catholics. Fr. Arulnesan was one of them. He was the eldest son of Mr. Necolapillai Santhiyapillai and Mrs. Soosaiamma Santhiyapillai. His parents were very pious and God fearing. The character inherited from parents attributed to Arulnesan becoming a good priest. His younger brother Mr. Arokiyanathar was a teacher.

Fr. Arulnesan always cherished the most beautiful memories of his village home. He gladly remembered his parents. When they were at the well drawing water and sending it to the thirsty plants, he was playing among the plantain groves. The church bell would ring announcing the time for angelus. Immediately all work and play would stop and they would gather to praise the lord. This he did not fail to recall in his last prayer. [Full story]