REV. FR. ANTHONY FRANCIS KULAS, OMI ( 1924 – 2011)

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REV. FR. ANTHONY FRANCIS KULAS, OMI 

( 1924 – 2011)

 

Birth :  12 September 1924 at Vankalai,  Mannar 

First Vows :  08 September 1946 at St. Francis Xavier’s Novitiate, Bambalapitiya

Final Vows :  08 September 1949 at the Scholasticate, Bambalapitiya

Oblation :  8203

Ordination :  17 August 1951 at St. Anne’s Church, Vankalai, Mannar

Death :  22 September 2011 at Mathew’s Memorial Home, Colombuthurai

 

Fr. Francis Kulas OMI was born on 12 September 1924 at Vankalai, Mannar.  His parents were Anthony Kulas and Marie Catherine Peries.  Kulas was the first child in the family among six   siblings.  Vankalai is a hundred percent Catholic village, very traditional in religious practices, and centered on a Church related living. It is a society in itself with unique social fabric and family customs and traits. The people are very much known to others because of their attachments to their Parish Church and celebration of liturgical services. There have been also ruffians among them.

 

Kulas’ family was considered an educated family at that time because his brother and sisters became teachers and religious. His brother Mariyathasan Kulas served as a teacher at Vankalai  school for many years and two sisters  Terese Juliana  became a Holy Family Nun and  Pauline Marietta became a Holy Cross Nun,  and two other sisters Matilada  worked as a teacher and his last sister  Annamma was married to a teacher. The whole family was living in and around the Church participating in the life and activities of the Parish actively and faithfully.  As it was a Church centered society, the Church played an important role in solving and resolving all the problems of the village either sacramental or social. The Church was the judge under the guidance of the Pastor and the Church committee. It was a very powerful system and the village people had to simply adhere to them if things were to be done.

Being a fishing community naturally there arose from time to time quarrels and fights among them but whenever such events took place they approached  the Church for solution. The Parish Priest and the Church Committee used to resolve them and reconcile them. The Pastor had a strict surveillance over the whole village. The Parishioners took pride in their social standard and considered themselves superior to other Parishes in Mannar.  Vankalai was a part of the diocese of Jaffna then. In this background little Kulas was growing up.

 

Kulas being an altar server to the veteran missionary and saintly Oblate Fr. Nallaiah, the Parish Priest, got attracted by his way of living in the spirit of simplicity, piety and holiness and was gradually motivated towards priestly vocation. Seeing Kulas’ aptitude  and docility  Fr. Nallaiah  identified him to be a suitable candidate for Oblate religious life, moulded him and kept him under his strict vigilance till he sent him to the minor Seminary in Jaffna. Kulas also expressed his willingness in humility to  become an Oblate Priest to serve God and his people. He was motivated from his childhood to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the most abandoned. This willingness was inherited by Kulas from his Parish priest and many other Oblates who had been his Parish Priests.

 

After his primary education at St. Anne’s  school in Vankalai, Kulas  joined St. Martin’s Seminary in Jaffna under the guidance of Fr. Nallaiah  in 1939 and pursued his secondary education at St. Patrick’s College. He was successful in his S.S.C examination with matric exemption. St. Martin’s seminary was under the leadership of the Oblate Fathers who were responsible for the formation of young candidates. Kulas with his college education was given a severe and strict training in English and Latin. He, being an average student with the experience of having had his primary education at a village school worked hard depending entirely on the providence of God. His companions used to remark that Kulas was a slow learner but he was steadily applying himself to the formation demands and overtook some of them in academic achievements. 

 

After completing his college studies and the initial formation at St. Martin’s Seminary, Kulas entered St. Francis Xavier’s Novitiate at Bambalapitiya, Colombo on 08 September 1945. At the end of the Novitiate formation and probation he made his First Oblation as an Oblate on 08 September 1946 at the Novitiate. Then he proceeded to St. Bernard’s   Scholasticate at Borella on 10 September 1946 and pursued his philosophical studies that lasted up to 10 September1948. He made his Final Oblation on 08 September 1949 at the Scholasticate. He had his theological studies both at Bambalapitiya and Nugegoda Scholasticates from 1948 to July 1952.  During his scholasticate formation Kulas was very much interested in manual labour, sports and in many other extra curricular activities. He was a good football player with a huge physique that the other players were afraid to go near him. As it was the practice at that time Kulas  while doing his ecclesiastical studies  was ordained a Deacon at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotehena by the Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Benjamin Cooray  OMI on  20 December   1950 and  after his ecclesiastical studies he was ordained a  priest of God at St. Anne’s Church at Vankalai, Mannar on the 17 August 1951 by Mgr. Emilianuspillai OMI, the Bishop of Jaffna. The people of Vankalai celebrated this holy event with great joy and pride  because he was the first Priest from their Parish and witnessing  for the first time  a celebration of priestly ordination at their village. Fr. Kulas in return loved his relatives and the whole Parish community expressing his sincere gratitude.

 

Fr. Francis Kulas had a personality with sturdy buildup, full of energy and tall. As a new Oblate Priest he was vibrant, missionary oriented, enthusiastically zealous and willing to take upin  any assignment that would be given to him by his Major Superiors. Enthused by the zeal and charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod father Kulas  manifested  a deep seated desire to commit himself unreservedly  to any kind of Oblate Ministry and in particular to the most abandoned people and the poor. His Major Superiors being aware of his unique personality and multi-faceted talents appointed him to different ministries in different fields. Young Kulas attracted the people of God in no time wherever he was and won many friends even among the Oblates. His obedience to his superiors was very challenging to many of his companions. He simply accepted whatever obedience was given.

 

His first assignment was to the Nallur Mission in 1952 as assistant pastor. This mission was a typical paganone started and administrated by the great Missionary Nallur Swamy Gnanapragasar OMI. Kulas  continuing the Oblate Tradition visited the people, the new Christians  amidst lots of challenges fulfilling  their spiritual needs. He became a good preacher in no time. People began to admire him and followed his liturgical services in big numbers. He became friendly also with the Hindubrethren  in no time and was able to engage  in meaningful dialogue with them. This paved the way to young Kulas to work with more enthusiasm and courage. He was moving in and around on a bicycle. From there he was sent to St. Joseph’s College at Anurahdapura on 6 May 1953 as a warden to the Hostel, bursar and a teacher. Though he tried his best to be of good service there, his heart and soul were in Jaffna Nallur Mission. He was loving the students at the hostel and was looking after them as a loving father. The students saw in him an Oblate with a big heart of generosity and cherished his services. They were obedient to Fr. Kulas and  became well disciplined.

 

St. Joseph’s College was very popular at that time for education, sports, discipline and integral formation. The College was run by the Priests from the Jaffna Diocese and many Oblate Priests were teachers and formators. From there Fr. Kulas was sent to Sea Street, Negombo as assistant pastor on 6 August 1953 and served till 20 January 1954. On 12 September 1954 he was sent to Grand Street, Negombo as assistant Pastor. He worked among both the Tamil and the Sinhala Catholics with a sense of Commitment. The Parishioners liked his homilies and wanted to have him for many years in their Parishes but Fr. Kulas  from there was transferred to Manipay Parish in the diocese of Jaffna as assistant Pastor on 22 January 1955. Manipay was again a Mission started by Nallur Swamy Gnanapragasar OMIand  was surrounded by Hindus.  Of course Fr. Kulas was happier to serve among the new Catholics and made use of his preaching talents to evangelize them. He   gave highest priority during his pastoral care to the visiting of Houses. Most of the houses were regularly visited, blessed and encouraged to participate at the liturgical services in the Church. From there on 29 September 1956 Fr. Kulas was sent to Nallur/ Kopay mission as assistant Pastor.

 

After serving in different places both in the South and North, Fr. Kulas was appointed Parish Priest for the first time  on 3 December 1958 to Atchuveli and Vasavilan.  These two places became  very dear to his heart not only for being the parish priest first time  but also for the presence of the Rosarian brothers at Tholagaty. Kulas was visiting the monastery time to time and gave them spiritual talks, guidance and the sacrament of confession. Since the Rosarian Congregation was founded by the Oblates, (Fr. B.A Thomas OMI) Fr. Kulas became much interested in their formation and spiritual welfare. From there on 3 September 1959 he was transferred to Mullaitivu as Parish Priest. All the Parishioners loved him and became obedient to him seeing in him an image of a father who had much concern for them and for his relevant homilies and beautiful singing. He was very particular in visiting the houses of all the Parishioners. They also in return were open to him with great willingness to be spiritually formed and guided. 

 

As the village was a fishing community surrounded by Hindus, there arose certain problems from time to time and they were resolved by Fr. Kulas  with amicable solutions. From Mullaitivu Fr. Kulas was sent to St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna  on 20 January 1960 as assistant Pastor just for three months. On 18 May 1960 he was appointed to Mirusuvil Parish as Parish Priest. Being a musician, preacher and a singer he got much appreciation from the Parishioners but now and then getting into unnecessary problems for which his superiors visited him and helped him to solve them. By this time Fr. Kulas became a well accomplished Pastor. He served at Mirusuvil for almost two years and on 22 July 1962 was sent to Puthukudiyiruppu as Parish Priest. It was a very difficult Mission with minimum facilities and Fr. Kulas roughed out a lot but committed himself with sacrifice to the spiritual formation of his faithful. The Parishioners were docile but rigid. As time went along they loved Fr. Kulas and supported him in all his parochial efforts. They used to celebrate their Church Feasts with much enthusiasm and devotion. Drinking water was the worst problem for Fr. Kulas at Puthukudiyiruppu.

 

On 22 January 1964 Fr. Kulas was sent to Amala Utpavam, Colombuthurai as a Preacher which ministry was dear to him. He became popular among the people wherever he was sent to preach. His voice was melodious and pleasant to the listeners.  He served there a little less than two years. On 15 June 1965 he was sent to Thalaiyadi as the Pastor. He liked this mission a lot as the people accepted him well in their midst. The Parish became active in celebrating the sacraments and feasts. Again he was transferred to the Island of Delft on 8 September 1967 and from there Fr. Kulas was sent to a different type of Pastoral ministry at Dickoya Estate to assist the Pastor. Of course he gained valuable experience from the estate workers and their simple life style. Though he was there for a short period  it was a memorable experience for him. From there Fr. Kulas was transferred to Mirusuvil for the second time as Parish Priest on 20 September 1968 and again on 7 July 1969 he was transferred to Pandianthalvu Oblate  Parish as Parish Priest. 

 

Pandianthalvu Parish was comprised of Koiyathoddam and Colombuthurai. He invited many Oblate Priests to help him in liturgical services and to conduct a grand mission. He served there for three years. There too his first priority was to visit the families and bless them. He used to go around the Parish on his bicycle. From Pandianthalvu on 2 October 1972  he was transferred to Vasavilan for the second time as Pastor and again appointed Parish Priest at Sillalai on 3 March 1973. Fr. Kulas served at this Parish for 5 years with much dedication and enthusiasm. The faithful observing his pastoral activities and the importance he gave to house visiting became closer to him and listened to his fatherly advice but this Parish was also very challenging to him. On 20 June 1978 he was appointed Parish Priest at Kayts and served there almost five years. Here he concentrated  on the people who were keeping away from the Church and indifferent to the reception of sacraments. He became a successful pastor there and when he was transferred people accompanied him to the new Parish. From there Fr. Kulas was appointed to the Parish of St. Antony’s Church at Passaiyoor as Parish Priest on 1 September 1983. Thereafter he was sent to Kopay as Parish Priest on 6 October 1984 second time and from there to Erlalai – Soorawathai Parish as pastor.

From there he retired from active pastoral ministries and took residence at Mathew’s Memorial Home at Colombuthurai, Jaffna.  After a few years, he took residence at one of the houses at Eechammodai, Jaffna  with the permission of the Provincial Superior and  was teaching  organ music to many youngsters both girls and boys. Many of them were students in the Advanced level and students awaiting University entrance.  He used to teach our Juniors at St. Joseph’s Seminary on Sundays keyboard and Carnatic music. This ministry kept Kulas very busy and our many students who were music lovers benefitted a lot. 

 

Fr. Kulas expressed his long standing desire to the Provincial Very Fr. P. P. Philip OMI to be in his home diocese of Mannar and he was given permission to take residence at Eugene Illam at present  “Gananodhayam”  premises in 1994. He was teaching English to the future candidates to the Oblate Juniorate in Jaffna and helping our scholastics who were stranded in Mannar unable to travel to Jaffna waiting the in turn for ship via Trincomalee.  Fr. Kulas was also helping them in their spiritual needs and became a moral support to them.   The political situation was dangerous and became more and more tensed with escalation of confrontations between the militants and the Government security forces. When the International Pre- Novitiate was blessed and opened during  thetenure of office of Very. Rev. Fr. Jeevendra  Paul  OMI, the Provincial Superior in 2003,  Fr. Kulas was made one of the spiritual directors to the  pre-novices.

 

During his stay at Eugene Illam,   the Bishop of Mannar   and the Pastor of St. Sebastian’s Cathedral requested Fr. Kulas to help the Parishioners, and the Priests and Religious working in the diocese for confessions and spiritual direction. With the permission of the Provincial Superior Very Rev. Fr. S.M.Selvaratnam OMI  he  took residence at the Cathedral in 2007. It was remarkable that many of the Priests and Religious sought his guidance and direction.  From there he was called to Mathew’s Memorial Home at Colombuthrai, Jaffna  in 2010 by the Provincial Superior Very Rev. Fr. M. Paul Nadchethiram  OMI as Fr. Kulas was advancing in age and becoming feeble, dependent  and needing medical attention. At Mathew’s Memorial Home he helped our Juniors  and Jaffna Diocesan major seminarians and priests  for confession and spiritual direction.

Fr. Kulas was a man of prayer, simplicity, unassuming and made his companions happy and cheerful. He was a very lively person availing himself to be at the service of others. In all the Parishes and Communities he has been a loving father, a faithful friend, an obedient oblate,  a simple and ordinary person. He was faithful to the evangelical counsels and fearing his conscience. He has been communicating with his superiors periodically and seeking their advice when needed. He served as the District Superior of Ilavalai and Jaffna  and tried his best to visit the Oblates, holding meetings and sharing their joys and sorrows. Kulas was a person who rose to the occasion and many Oblates were eager to listen to his jokes. He enjoyed delicious dishes and shared them with the others too. Being a hardworking man he accepted the most difficult Parishes under Obedience. He was sent to the Philippines to follow the Oblate Asian Pastoral Conference in 1977. Fr. Kulas used to proudly cherish this opportunity and was grateful to the then Provincial Superior Very. Rev. Fr. James Cooke OMI (Province was one). 

 

Kulas was falling ill often due to his old age and problem of Philaria and good medical care was given to him by the Holy Cross Sisters.  His relatives, nieces and nephews from Vankalai and Mannar visited him often and were very supportive. He spent his last days reciting his daily Rosary and peacefully passed away on 22 September 2011 at Mathew’s Memorial Home at 11.30 pm at the age of 87.

 

His mortal remains lay at St. Joseph’s Chapel at Colombuthurai and many people, priests and religious from Mannar and Jaffna paid their last respects to him. A few of his former parishioners also came and paid their last respects. The funeral and the burial took place on 24 September 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna. There was a Concelebrated Requiem High Mass presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, the Bishop of Jaffna in the presence of a large number of Priests, religious Men and Women and laity from Jaffna and Mannar. Many relatives and people from Vankalai participated at the funeral services. Fr. Jerome Lambert OMI  delivered the panegyric and after the final obsequies, the mortal remains were taken in procession to St. Mary’s Burial Ground where they were laid to rest. May he rest in Peace.

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