Rev. Fr. R. Chiriatti s.j. By Dudley Wijesiri & Mervyn Weerasooriya

Courtesy : L. K. Hettiarachchi / Friends who like St. Aloysius College, Galle photos 1950/1960s

REV. FR. R. CHIRIATTI S. J.

Rector of SAC from 1939 to 1949
Later as Librarian, Editor of the Aloysian magazine, Prefect of Boarders and many more.
Article written by Dudley Wijesiri and Mervyn Weerasooriya for the 1990 Aloysian magazine.
Photo from 1954 Aloysian magazine

A Portrait of a Missionary

When the history of St. Aloysius' College comes to be written there will emerge from the shadows of anonymity a figure shrouded in simplicity and aloofness that will dominate the story of his times, particularly as Rector of the College from 1939 to 1949, and later, as Librarian, Editor of the Aloysian, Prefect of Boarders and many duties besides. He was always slim and fragile, yet one of the most determined and durable men we Aloysians ever knew.

Fr. Chiriatti was no charismatic leader. He was not a flamboyant character like Fr. De Burra or an orator like Dr. Dahanayake. He was a gentle persuader, always hesitant even when he was sure of himself. He listened to what others had to say, usually knowing in advance what they would say and then bring them round subtly to his own viewpoint.

Like many well known leaders he had a few pet phrases. Through a process of constant grinding he would emphasise two points which his pupils never Forgot. One was the College motto: "Fight Manfully".

The other was punctuality. These two lessons were never forgotten because they were drummed into our ears at every turn and opportunity that came Fr. Chiriatti's way.

Fr. Realino Chiriatti came to Sri Lanka as a young missionary of 24 years in 1924. Seven years earlier, at the age of 17, he entered the Society of Jesus in his native Italy. The Society sent him to Sri Lanka and in doing so acted wisely, for this young man of twenty four years who knew only his native tongue was destined to make some of the deepest impressions on the citizens of the country he was to dedicate his missionary life to.

His Jesuit training served him well. At. St. Aloysius College, Galle and earlier, at St. Aloysius' College, Ratnapura he cut his teeth in the way he was to serve the people of the country he had chosen to serve and make his own. In 1928 he was sent for his theological studies to St. Mary's College, Kurseong, in India, a town nestling at the foot of the mighty Himalayan Mountains. Along with the other Jesuit trainees he went through a period of rigorous training not only in the theoretical aspects of Christian Theology also in prayer and contemplation and totally dedicated himself to the Society of Jesus whose founder was St. 

Ignatius of Loyola.

After completing his Theology at St. Mary's, and his Tertianship (a ten month period of spiritual training) at Ranchi, he returned to Ceylon and was posted to St. Aloysius' College, Galle in 1933 where he took up duties as Prefect of Boarders, Prefect of Discipline, Prefect of Games, Prefect of Cadeting, and after the death of Fr. Soden, Editor of the College Magazine, The Aloysian, into which he poured the very marrow of his being. He gave the magazine a new format in which it appeared for many years thereafter.

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The Society judged rightly when it chose him to be the Rector of St. Aloysius' College in 1939. Just then World War Two broke out and there ensued a period of uncertainty during which it was mooted that the College should be shifted to Kalegana. It was Fr.

Chiriatti who opposed it because he felt that it would be an act of cowardice. When the Japanese bombed Ceylon on Easter Sunday in 1942 all the Schools in Galle closed. It was once again Fr. Chiriatti who decided to reopen St. Aloysius' College before any of the other schools because he felt that it was his duty to the children of the school to see that their studies were not interrupted. This was a glaring instance of his fidelity to the College motto to fight manfully. With great courage he piloted the school safely through the uncertain period of the war.

In 1946 the School celebrated rather belatedly its Golden Jubilee - postponed on account of the War. The Aloysian came out in all its glory to cover the period 1942 to 1946. After handing over the mantle of Rector to his successor, Fr. Perniola, he continued to be Prefect of Boarders, Editor of the Magazine and Librarian and in addition was appointed National Director of the Sodality of Our Lady. He held many other posts too and they all rested lightly on his frail but sturdy shoulders.

Something remarkable in him was his ability to draw out the latent talents of those who were seemingly mediocre. In this way he gave a new orientation to the lives of so many of his charges. As he glided through the corridors of the College or sat quietly in the school library he would peer into the hearts and minds of his charges by studying their mien and demeanour. That is why he was a good counsellor. Often the whole outlook of the counsellee was imperceptibly changed by not being preached at but by Fr. Chiriatti's understanding, patience and rare ability to communicate both with his eyes and his soul. He did the Lord's work with the Lord's help, at times finding even funds to help needy students complete their education. 

An instance or two may help to show another side of Fr. Chiriatti's character. A gentleman, late of the fighting forces, once stormed in to Fr. Chiratti's room to complain about some young boarders who had called him names which he resented. After raving and ranting in unprintable language, interspersed with occasional but profuse apologies, he challenged the young brats to meet him in open combat one by one. Fr. Chiriatti sat through all this till the complainant's anger had cooled off and remarked ever so sweetly that it would be an uneven match for an adult to meet a little boy in combat. The gentleman from the forces was shamed into beating a hasty retreat.

On another occasion Fr. Chiriatti wrote to the father of a student of the College who was given to indulging in improper language. Fr. Chiriatti was a stern conservative and abhorred all improprieties in speech. The student received the letter from the postman and recognising Fr. Chiriatti's handwriting opened it and read it. The father knew nothing about the letter but it had its desired effect on the student.

Father Chiriatti taught Latin in the Senior Form and he went about it in the same painstaking way that was characteristic of all his work. However his skills as an administrator and a counsellor far surpassed his talents as a teacher of Latin. Throughout his stay at St. Aloysius' College he served his Lord in many simple ways. Students were touched by his graciousness and kindness and became better men in later life and still carry with them the values he passed on to them.

In 1961, after 31 years of service at St. Aloysius College he was transferred to the Jesuit Residence at Clifford Place, Bambalapitiya. In 1962, he was appointed Superior of the Residence. He also continued to be the National Director of the Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer. To these tasks he brought the same dedication he had always shown throughout his life. Although a dedicated missionary who came to a country far removed from his native land to do the Lord's work and serve his faith, not once did he discriminate against anyone of another faith.

He was and he still is a great counsellor. Many still go to him for advice and comfort. The years have taken their toll of his frail body and one leg of his has been amputated, yet his mind is as alert as ever despite his eighty nine summers. He lives still in the minds and hearts of those who come to him as a man of deep dedication and empathy.

The words taken from the celebrated prayer attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola sum up his character best:

To give and not to count the cost, 

To fight and not to heed the wounds, 

To toil and not to seek for rest, 

To labour and not to hope for any reward save that of knowing that I am doing Thy Holy Will.

Dudley Wijesiri and Mervyn Weerasooriya.