PIONEERS OF RECONCILIATION IN SRI LANKA

Rev.Fr. D. MELITUS XAVIER OSB- Parish Priest & Manager of St Xavier’s College (1956-1965) 

A TRIBUTE TO REV.FR.D.M.XAVIER

Born on 22nd Dec. 1914, 

Ordained 11th Apr. 1941 

Called to rest: 6th May 1994.

It was his vision that enabled the fully-fledged Physics-Chemistry and Biology Laboratories to be housed in the new block constructed by him with the assistance of the Old Boys in 1958. Rev.Fr.M.Xavier was instrumental in obtaining the services of the De La Salle Brothers in 1958. In addition, he had Rev.Ambanwelle Pangnananda Thero on his tutorial staff in 1960’s.

Ever since Rev.Fr.D.M.Xavier converted the ‘Monopole’ Cottage, into the present block, St Xaviers College became a windfall for Advanced Level science education that catered to the Advanced Level students in the District. 

There have been many who have entered the medical faculty of the University of Peradeniya, University of Colombo and the University of Jaffna. 

He served the parish and the College alike until he was transferred in 1965. We shall be ever grateful to Rev.Fr.M.Xavier for his innovative and prudent effort towards higher education at St Xavier’s College. 

Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Gnanapragasam OSB mentions the following in his article of 12 May 2019 appeared in the Catholic Messenger: 

” Twenty five long years ago Rev. Fr. Mellitus Xavier OSB bid good bye to all of us, especially to his beloved tea plantation population, on 6th May 1994. 

Fr. Xavier was born in Rakwana on 24th January 1914 to his beloved parents, James and Maria Xavier who were working as Tea Factory Officers. Even though his parents worked in the estate, their home was in Matale. There were five children in the family: The eldest was Anthony who became a famous maths master at St. Mary’s College in Ampitiya [now Berrewaerts College]. The second was Arokiam who became a priest monk; the third was Pauline who is my mother. Then came a brother named Peter who had an untimely death as a youth. The last was Therese who was a teacher at Bogowantalawa, Hatton, Ampitiya and in Wattala St. Anthony’s College. All of them studied in Matale, at St. Agnes’ Convent and St. Thomas’. Fr. Xavier was educated at St. Thomas’ College Matale and at St. Anthony’s College in Kandy under the guidance of the Sylvestro-Benedictine monks. 

He was an all-rounder at College. Being influenced by the monks, Arokiam joined the Benedictines and made his first vows on the first of May 1935, receiving the name Mellitus. After successfully completing his ecclesiastical studies in the Papal Seminary in Ampitiya Sri Lanka, he was ordained priest on 11th January 1941. Soon after his Ordination Fr. Mellitus Xavier was sent into the missions – among the tea plantation workers of the Diocese of Kandy. For fifty long years he ministered to the plantation workers. He had served in all the parishes of the Diocese of Kandy and even in some of the parishes of the Diocese of Badulla. He has walked the length and breadth of the tea estates in the Central Province. Meanwhile Fr. Xavier also served as counselor to the Bishop of Kandy and also the Conventual Prior of the Sylvestro-Benedictines in the Conventual Priory of Sri Lanka. He was for many years Vicar forane in the Nuwera Eliya Vicariate. Even though Fr. Xavier was among his flock, away from the monastery, he never missed a single function at the monastery. He faithfully attended all the on-going formation programmes, and participated actively, contributing his mite, especially to the younger monks. 

He was a well-read monk keeping abreast with all the latest social and theological issues. He was always conscious of his people, the poor oppressed and marginalized plantation workers. 

He wanted to liberate their inner selves. Thus his dream was that someday the plantation workers will be a free people, a people who would breathe a sigh of liberation. He sent many young people of the hill country to join religious and priestly lives, including me, with the hope that they would conscientise the people with the knowledge they have received. There are many who would bear witness to that as priests and religious today. In his vision of liberating the poor, he followed the path of many a sociologist who has shown concern for them. There are many who follow victim theology. As Jesus moved with the poor, the oppressed and the harassed, Fr. Xavier too wanted them to be liberated. He followed in the discussions and seminars and writings with much enthusiasm. He would always talk in terms of the poor and did call the ecclesiastical institutions, the priests and religious to bear witness to Christ in building the Kingdom among the poor who are oppressed. This has been a great challenge for the priests and religious. He led a very simple life as a missionary monk. His instrument of liberation was his faithfulness to prayer, meditation and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. He didn’t merely talk about their problems. Rather he educated their children, so that they in turn can help the people. Of those whom he educated, some are serving in prestigious positions. Some have joined Religious and Priestly lives and others serve the Church as leaders. There are those who are educationists, doctors and nurses and still others in places of importance. It’s a great pride for them to voice out and say that they had their father and Guide in the calibre of Fr. Xavier. Fr. Xavier has left behind for us a great challenge of what missionary life is. In the modern times, many talk and theorize life with the poor and the liberation of the marginalized; but they would not even share a meal with them. The present-day religious leaders have a great prophet in the calibre of Rev. Fr. Mellitus Xavier OSB to emulate. May there be more and more priests and missionaries to be with the plantation people to see the light across the tunnel someday. Dear father Xavier you are with the Great Liberator in heaven. Do intercede on behalf of all of us here so that all of us will be liberated someday and meet you at the feet of Jesus. The plantation people can join Josh Gorban and sing….you raise me up…. When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary; When troubles come and my heart burdened me Then, I am still and wait here in the silence; Until you come and sit a while with me You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up, to more than I can be. “