Fr James Ratnanayagam:
A Personal Reflection
Fr James, as he was fondly known, responded to his “Home Call” on Monday the 20th April 2020, soon after the Second Sunday after Easter.
Fr James must have gone through his last two weeks with the events of the Resurrected Christ’s appearances to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, afterwards in the evening to his disciples in the Upper Room (this time Thomas was not present), and a week later He appeared to all his disciples, and this time the doubting Thomas confessed in faith- “My Lord and my God!” Fr James would have reflected these on his sick bed, and he was ready to accept the call to eternity! He was 93, only two months short of reaching 94!
Lathika (nee Samarasinha) his beloved wife and companion in ministry, and the children- Prasadini and Ricky Dekker (Dubai), Deveshta Ratnanayagam (Sydney), Jayadeva and Helen Ratnanayagam and their two kids - Grace and Toby (UK) living across the globe would have anticipated his willingness to such a possible response as he took ill only two weeks before!
The day and the context of his departure was such that the family and the Bishop of Colombo decided to do the last rites at the Kanatte Crematorium in the afternoon with the assistance of the Archdeacon of Colombo. This must have been a difficult and painful experience for the loved ones to bid farewell to their loving and affectionate husband, Dad and Granddad and father-in-law. But to the numerous past parishioners, close friends and family, and to his fellow colleagues in ministry, his passing would have evoked a series of reflection of fond memories of his kind and genuine acts of love!
We thank God for his long, active and fruitful life and ministry in the Church and community in 20th century Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
I first came to know Fr James as the Chaplain at St Johns College Jaffna while I was a student at Jaffna College in the 1960’s. He was one of the leading guest speakers at different forums - YMCA, SCM, JICCF camps and retreats, Cathedral Vesper Services and in Pentecost festivals at the Christa Seva Ashram Chunnakam. Also under the auspices of Jaffna Christian Union, Fort Church Conventions attracted outstanding Christian leaders like Bishops Sabapathy Kulandran, Lakshman Wickremasinghe, Rev D T Niles, Rev James Ratnanayagam, Rev A J C Selvaratnam, Messrs. G N Edwards, K G Arasaratnam, R E J A Sethukavalar, K Nesiah and Pooranampillai, and also from overseas as well. The organisers were mainly the College Principals and missionaries including Chaplain Mr Ben Bavinck at Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai.
Fr James was a handsome, tall and elegant gentleman. His talks and preaching were full of stories and anecdotes, humour and theological insights. I thought he mastered all three languages of the nation- Sinhala, Tamil and English, but I am told he hardly could speak Sinhala! He graduated from Madras Christian College (MCC), and later pursued his theological studies in England. His knowledge of English and accent was British. His wide reading and passion for Anglican Liturgy was evident in his presentations at lectures and worship. As far as I know, he spoke Tamil with words and phrases of his era; they were fascinating to listen to.
His theological outlook and churchmanship revolved around Anglo-Catholic Liturgy and theologians of his student days and adulthood. He embraced Asian and Latin-American Liberation theologies, focussing on justice and peace for all communities. But he was against the use of violence in freedom struggles and promoted peaceful means of dialogue and negotiation to achieve harmony and peace with justice.
My association with Fr James became very close when I served the Church in Colombo from 1987 until 1991 residing at the Parsonages in 39 Fussels Lane and 17 Frances Rd, Wellawatta. He was then stationed at Holy Trinity Wellawatta.
As I was the only CSI minister in Colombo, Fr James became my confidant, guide and he offered pastoral support to me. It was war years when travelling between Jaffna and Colombo became impossible and communications were cut off. In these circumstances I found it difficult to communicate with my bishop in Jaffna, except occasional letters passed between us through those who travelled back and forth for emergency needs.
In return for his kind services to me in ministry, I offered to occasionally lead Tamil worship in his church, while he blessed the bread and wine. In addition, I was able to take him around for ‘Home Communion’ on Sundays once a month soon after our morning services were over. To my satisfaction, whenever my bishop happened to come to Colombo, I took him to meet Fr James which he cherished on every occasion. As a result, Fr James was able to get first-hand information on what exactly was happening in the North!
In 1995, I and my family migrated to Australia at the invitation of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne to minister to and with the Tamil Christian Congregation of Victoria (TCCV), of which Rev A J C Selvaratnam served from its inception in 1981 until 1992. He was unhappy that we were leaving the homeland and the home church for ‘greener pastures’, however, he prayed with us and blessed us on our leaving the shores. We visited him and Lathika every time we returned to Sri Lanka to catch up with our siblings and friends. They were delighted to see us and happy to know of past parishioners of theirs in Melbourne. It was in February 2019, we met them at his residence within the Cathedral premises. Our memories of Fr James will remain with us until we receive “our home call.”
May the Crucified and Risen Lord grant his loved ones comfort and consolation at this time of grieving! May Fr James find rest eternal!
Rev Prem and Yogi Premarajah
Fr James Ratnanayagam:
A Personal Reflection
Fr James, as he was fondly known, responded to his “Home Call” on Monday the 20th April 2020, soon after the Second Sunday after Easter.
Fr James must have gone through his last two weeks with the events of the Resurrected Christ’s appearances to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, afterwards in the evening to his disciples in the Upper Room (this time Thomas was not present), and a week later He appeared to all his disciples, and this time the doubting Thomas confessed in faith- “My Lord and my God!” Fr James would have reflected these on his sick bed, and he was ready to accept the call to eternity! He was 93, only two months short of reaching 94!
Lathika (nee Samarasinha) his beloved wife and companion in ministry, and the children- Prasadini and Ricky Dekker (Dubai), Deveshta Ratnanayagam (Sydney), Jayadeva and Helen Ratnanayagam and their two kids - Grace and Toby (UK) living across the globe would have anticipated his willingness to such a possible response as he took ill only two weeks before!
The day and the context of his departure was such that the family and the Bishop of Colombo decided to do the last rites at the Kanatte Crematorium in the afternoon with the assistance of the Archdeacon of Colombo. This must have been a difficult and painful experience for the loved ones to bid farewell to their loving and affectionate husband, Dad and Granddad and father-in-law. But to the numerous past parishioners, close friends and family, and to his fellow colleagues in ministry, his passing would have evoked a series of reflection of fond memories of his kind and genuine acts of love!
We thank God for his long, active and fruitful life and ministry in the Church and community in 20th century Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
I first came to know Fr James as the Chaplain at St Johns College Jaffna while I was a student at Jaffna College in the 1960’s. He was one of the leading guest speakers at different forums - YMCA, SCM, JICCF camps and retreats, Cathedral Vesper Services and in Pentecost festivals at the Christa Seva Ashram Chunnakam. Also under the auspices of Jaffna Christian Union, Fort Church Conventions attracted outstanding Christian leaders like Bishops Sabapathy Kulandran, Lakshman Wickremasinghe, Rev D T Niles, Rev James Ratnanayagam, Rev A J C Selvaratnam, Messrs. G N Edwards, K G Arasaratnam, R E J A Sethukavalar, K Nesiah and Pooranampillai, and also from overseas as well. The organisers were mainly the College Principals and missionaries including Chaplain Mr Ben Bavinck at Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai.
Fr James was a handsome, tall and elegant gentleman. His talks and preaching were full of stories and anecdotes, humour and theological insights. I thought he mastered all three languages of the nation- Sinhala, Tamil and English, but I am told he hardly could speak Sinhala! He graduated from Madras Christian College (MCC), and later pursued his theological studies in England. His knowledge of English and accent was British. His wide reading and passion for Anglican Liturgy was evident in his presentations at lectures and worship. As far as I know, he spoke Tamil with words and phrases of his era; they were fascinating to listen to.
His theological outlook and churchmanship revolved around Anglo-Catholic Liturgy and theologians of his student days and adulthood. He embraced Asian and Latin-American Liberation theologies, focussing on justice and peace for all communities. But he was against the use of violence in freedom struggles and promoted peaceful means of dialogue and negotiation to achieve harmony and peace with justice.
My association with Fr James became very close when I served the Church in Colombo from 1987 until 1991 residing at the Parsonages in 39 Fussels Lane and 17 Frances Rd, Wellawatta. He was then stationed at Holy Trinity Wellawatta.
As I was the only CSI minister in Colombo, Fr James became my confidant, guide and he offered pastoral support to me. It was war years when travelling between Jaffna and Colombo became impossible and communications were cut off. In these circumstances I found it difficult to communicate with my bishop in Jaffna, except occasional letters passed between us through those who travelled back and forth for emergency needs.
In return for his kind services to me in ministry, I offered to occasionally lead Tamil worship in his church, while he blessed the bread and wine. In addition, I was able to take him around for ‘Home Communion’ on Sundays once a month soon after our morning services were over. To my satisfaction, whenever my bishop happened to come to Colombo, I took him to meet Fr James which he cherished on every occasion. As a result, Fr James was able to get first-hand information on what exactly was happening in the North!
In 1995, I and my family migrated to Australia at the invitation of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne to minister to and with the Tamil Christian Congregation of Victoria (TCCV), of which Rev A J C Selvaratnam served from its inception in 1981 until 1992. He was unhappy that we were leaving the homeland and the home church for ‘greener pastures’, however, he prayed with us and blessed us on our leaving the shores. We visited him and Lathika every time we returned to Sri Lanka to catch up with our siblings and friends. They were delighted to see us and happy to know of past parishioners of theirs in Melbourne. It was in February 2019, we met them at his residence within the Cathedral premises. Our memories of Fr James will remain with us until we receive “our home call.”
May the Crucified and Risen Lord grant his loved ones comfort and consolation at this time of grieving! May Fr James find rest eternal!
Rev Prem and Yogi Premarajah
