Rev. Fr. Francis D'Amelia S. J. by Sumithra Gunasekera

 Article by Sumithra Gunasekera

Courtesy : L. K. Hettiarachchi, Friends of SAC Galle Photos 1950/1960s
( Aloysian- magazine)


THE 27th of May 1965 was a sad day for the people of the Galle Parish and my family in particular. The tolling of the Church bells announced the death of Rev. Fr D'Amelia who had been ill for sometime at St Michael's Nursing Home, Colombo.
Rev. Fr D'Amelia has gone to his reward after working for a period of 35 years in the vineyard of the Lord.


I came to know him as a child. He was very fond of the little children, and took pleasure in presenting them with sweets, holy pictures and medals. When I saw him for the first time I got frightened because he was very big, tall, broad and with beard. I ran to my mother in fear.
Fr D'Amelia smiled and called me and my sisters. We came out with our mother. He was very fond of us. He liked children in particular and every child in the Parish began to be fond of him.
He was the Parish Priest of St Mary's Church, Galle and knew all the children by name. Whenever a child was ill he would go to his home and bless him.
During the Christmas season he would collect toys and sweets for the poor children in the parish and distribute them just before Christmas day. How sad we were when he left the Galle Parish for Yatiyantota. After working in that Parish he was transferred to Ganegama. Fr D'Amelia looked ill and tired. I next heard of him when he fell ill and was taken to the Galle Hospital. I visited him with my parents.
He looked cheerful and did not want to show the pain and agony he was going through. Fr D' Amelia was removed to St Michael's Nursing Home, Colombo. We saw him, once again, at Easter time. He was very happy to see us. He gave each one of us an easter egg. We prayed for him when he was ill. But the Good God thought of calling him to heaven so as not to make him suffer too long on earth.
We shall never forget him .....
He showed us kindness. We shall always remember him in our prayers.
May God reward him for all the sacrifices and labours undertaken for our sake.

SUMITHRA GUNASEKERA


Fr. Franciscus D'Amelia , born on 19 Oct. 1905 had entered the Jesuit Order on 28 Oct. 1920 at the age of 15 years, & obtained his ecclesiastical degree in 1937 from St. Marys College, Kurseong , India. 

His service in Ceylon commenced In 1938 & he was attached to the Ratnapura Mission. In 1939 he served the Kandy Seminary.

At SAC, from 1940, he has held a number of positions, such as Minister, Prefect, teacher of religion, science & history, Prefect in charge of Physical Education, Life Saving, Scouting, Sodality etc. Thereafter, for a long period he attended to parish work, until he passed away.

He was always with a smile on his face.

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