During the last week we have been thinking a lot about the impact Fr. James and Latika had on our lives. Fifty years ago Fr. James, Latika and baby Prasadini moved into the chaplaincy at University of Peradeniya. Gnanan and I were a newly married couple in need of an apartment to rent and were fortunate to be able to move into the apartment at the chaplaincy. During the year we were at this apartment and the succeeding few years we and our daughter Manjula spent many wonderful hours with the Ratnanayagam family which included Prasadini and Deveshta. Thus began a friendship that lasted even after the Ratnanayagam family moved to Colombo and the Canagaratna family moved to the United States in 1983.
Fr. James had a long association with the Rajamoney family. He was the chaplain at St. John's College, Jaffna while two of my brothers were students there. He came to know my parents while they were living with us in Peradeniya. When we left for the United States my parents moved to Colombo to be with my brother and sister in law. Fr. James treated my parents with a lot of respect and love. Many a time when they experienced a crisis, Fr. James was my go to person and he never failed to help resolve the issue. Knowing that I could contact Fr. James was such a great comfort and he was beloved by our family.
Fr. James had a way with words and a mastery of the English Language that was just fantastic. We loved his sermons and could have listened to him for hours and not be bored. The sermons were lively, practical and memorable. The services were very inspirational. He practiced what he preached. We loved his wonderful sense of humor. I keep remembering his welcoming voice whenever we visited and the laughter during the visits. We treasure the hospitality shown to our entire family many many times.
Fr. James was by far the best priest we have encountered. He was basically a wonderful human being who was thoughtful, considerate, and kind. His life was a reflection of the love of Christ. In the last sermon that I heard him preach he urged us to live with an attitude of gratitude. This is something I have tried to practice and in the spirit of this , I would like to end this remembrance with some of the things for which I am grateful. I give thanks to God for the life and the wonderful contributions of Fr. James. The lives he touched. The friendship that our family enjoyed with the Ratnanayagam family.
Latika, Prasadini, Deveshta, and Jayadeva - you were indeed blessed to have had a loving and caring husband and father. I am sure that the many wonderful memories and the assurance that he is with God as well as the belief we will see him again will help ease your pain.
Please accept our condolences and may God bless you all and give you his grace at this time. Much love to all of you.
Gnanan and Indra
During the last week we have been thinking a lot about the impact Fr. James and Latika had on our lives. Fifty years ago Fr. James, Latika and baby Prasadini moved into the chaplaincy at University of Peradeniya. Gnanan and I were a newly married couple in need of an apartment to rent and were fortunate to be able to move into the apartment at the chaplaincy. During the year we were at this apartment and the succeeding few years we and our daughter Manjula spent many wonderful hours with the Ratnanayagam family which included Prasadini and Deveshta. Thus began a friendship that lasted even after the Ratnanayagam family moved to Colombo and the Canagaratna family moved to the United States in 1983.
Fr. James had a long association with the Rajamoney family. He was the chaplain at St. John's College, Jaffna while two of my brothers were students there. He came to know my parents while they were living with us in Peradeniya. When we left for the United States my parents moved to Colombo to be with my brother and sister in law. Fr. James treated my parents with a lot of respect and love. Many a time when they experienced a crisis, Fr. James was my go to person and he never failed to help resolve the issue. Knowing that I could contact Fr. James was such a great comfort and he was beloved by our family.
Fr. James had a way with words and a mastery of the English Language that was just fantastic. We loved his sermons and could have listened to him for hours and not be bored. The sermons were lively, practical and memorable. The services were very inspirational. He practiced what he preached. We loved his wonderful sense of humor. I keep remembering his welcoming voice whenever we visited and the laughter during the visits. We treasure the hospitality shown to our entire family many many times.
Fr. James was by far the best priest we have encountered. He was basically a wonderful human being who was thoughtful, considerate, and kind. His life was a reflection of the love of Christ. In the last sermon that I heard him preach he urged us to live with an attitude of gratitude. This is something I have tried to practice and in the spirit of this , I would like to end this remembrance with some of the things for which I am grateful. I give thanks to God for the life and the wonderful contributions of Fr. James. The lives he touched. The friendship that our family enjoyed with the Ratnanayagam family.
Latika, Prasadini, Deveshta, and Jayadeva - you were indeed blessed to have had a loving and caring husband and father. I am sure that the many wonderful memories and the assurance that he is with God as well as the belief we will see him again will help ease your pain.
Please accept our condolences and may God bless you all and give you his grace at this time. Much love to all of you.
Gnanan and Indra
