Dear Latika,
What a good idea this is, a link in the computer to share our grief and precious memories of this great lovely man, Fr James, a very dear friend to so many people he lived among and ministered to for about three-quarters of a century. It's a golden opportunity for me to share this with some very old friends of my SCM days, some of more than fifty years ago - Ginny Rogers, Abayasekaras, Dodo Thambapillai, Sydney Knight, Vasee Nesiah and others.
I thank God for letting us have Fr James for 94 years and share his most beautiful life that was such a blessing to so many many people, his fellow schoolmates, schoolboys of St John's, University students in Peradeniya and parishioners of the churches in Colombo that he served, the Cathedral, Good Shepherd, Holy Trinity, St Francis of Assissi, St Paul's and many others he went to as visiting preacher.
I first came to know about Rev J R Ratnanayagam when I was a student of Jaffna College and learned then itself that he was an exceptionally good preacher and a great after-dinner speaker. As I grew older I had occasions to hear him and realise how true that was. I held him in high esteem and my admiration for him continued to grow.
When I was the Secretary of the SCM of Ceylon 1963-65 he was still at St John's but I relied on him much for guidance and support in my work. He was most gracious and ready to give his good counsel and assistance lavishly. His ways were so endearing and charming. Long before he or I was married I once invited him to have a meal in my parents' home, the Alaveddy parsonage. He accepted the invitation and came by public transport bus to find my home and honoured us by enjoying the lunch, simple rice and curry that my parents cooked for him and mangoes for dessert. He ate well, I remember, saying, "A good eater makes a happy cook". We felt very flattered and greatly honoured.
I was glad to meet Jayadeva once in Adelaide when he came with Dr Chandran and Ranee Chinnappa and their daughter Renuka and husband to give a concert and raise money to support himself as a student in Melbourne. He played the piano very well; I was not surprised knowing his parents as choristers.
I heartily thank God for my friend, Fr James and wish you Latika God's consolation and peace as you and your children and grandchildren continue to live on to glorify God as he did utilizing his great talents and gifts in His service all his life.
S N Sugunananthan, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA.
Dear Latika,
What a good idea this is, a link in the computer to share our grief and precious memories of this great lovely man, Fr James, a very dear friend to so many people he lived among and ministered to for about three-quarters of a century. It's a golden opportunity for me to share this with some very old friends of my SCM days, some of more than fifty years ago - Ginny Rogers, Abayasekaras, Dodo Thambapillai, Sydney Knight, Vasee Nesiah and others.
I thank God for letting us have Fr James for 94 years and share his most beautiful life that was such a blessing to so many many people, his fellow schoolmates, schoolboys of St John's, University students in Peradeniya and parishioners of the churches in Colombo that he served, the Cathedral, Good Shepherd, Holy Trinity, St Francis of Assissi, St Paul's and many others he went to as visiting preacher.
I first came to know about Rev J R Ratnanayagam when I was a student of Jaffna College and learned then itself that he was an exceptionally good preacher and a great after-dinner speaker. As I grew older I had occasions to hear him and realise how true that was. I held him in high esteem and my admiration for him continued to grow.
When I was the Secretary of the SCM of Ceylon 1963-65 he was still at St John's but I relied on him much for guidance and support in my work. He was most gracious and ready to give his good counsel and assistance lavishly. His ways were so endearing and charming. Long before he or I was married I once invited him to have a meal in my parents' home, the Alaveddy parsonage. He accepted the invitation and came by public transport bus to find my home and honoured us by enjoying the lunch, simple rice and curry that my parents cooked for him and mangoes for dessert. He ate well, I remember, saying, "A good eater makes a happy cook". We felt very flattered and greatly honoured.
I was glad to meet Jayadeva once in Adelaide when he came with Dr Chandran and Ranee Chinnappa and their daughter Renuka and husband to give a concert and raise money to support himself as a student in Melbourne. He played the piano very well; I was not surprised knowing his parents as choristers.
I heartily thank God for my friend, Fr James and wish you Latika God's consolation and peace as you and your children and grandchildren continue to live on to glorify God as he did utilizing his great talents and gifts in His service all his life.
S N Sugunananthan, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA.
