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The funeral
service of Fr. Thomas Thayil
I received the singular privilege
on behalf of the Sudan Delegation to attend the
funeral of our dear Fr. Thomas Thayil SDB. Our
Delegate Superior, Fr. Ferrington on his visit
to Wau and Tonj on Wednesday, 24th February gave
me the surprise-gift of coming to India to take
part in the funeral service of Fr. Thayil that
was to take place on Saturday, 27th February.
With luck on my side, I was able to find a place
on the flights from Wau to Khartoum and from Khartoum
to Kochi (Kerala, South India) on Thursday, 25th
February and thus arrive at Don Bosco, Ankamaly
(6 kilometres from the Kochi airport) on Friday.
The salesian community of Don Bosco, Ankamaly
received me joyfully. On Saturday the three salesians
of this community and myself drove to Don Bosco,
Mannuthy for the funeral service of Fr. Thomas
Thayil. Fr. Thomas’ body, dressed in the
priestly garb, lay in the mobile freezer in the
large community chapel, decked with a lot of flowers
inside and wreaths outside. A large crowd of faithful
consisting of the dear ones of Fr. Thayil, salesians,
other religious and priests, salesian aspirants
and lay people filled the community chapel of
Don Bosco, Mannuthy.
The presence of Fr. Stanislaus Swamikannu of Chennai
province, Fr. Joseph Pulickal of East Africa and
Fr. Thomas Anchukandam of Bangalore province was
specially acknowledged on this occasion. There
were representations from the other salesian provinces
of India and from many religious congregations.
There were more than a hundred priests present
for the funeral, both salesians and others.
The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Joseph
Pulikkal, the Provincial of the East African province
while a touching homily was rendered by Fr. Devassy
Chirackal sdb. Fr. Thomas Anchukandam, the Provincial
of the Bangalore province, presided over the last
rites. At the end of the Eucharist, the different
provincials as well as some of the representatives
from the other provinces and Fr. Thomas Puthenkalam
sdb, one of Fr. Thayil’s companions spoke
very movingly of the deceased. All of them spoke
of Fr. Thomas Thayil as an excellent salesian
who made sanctity look very simple by his humble,
joyous, caring, dedicated and loving way of living.
The funeral procession from the salesian chapel
to the salesian cemetery was accompanied by the
band who sang dirges all through the procession.
On behalf of all the relatives of Fr. Thayil as
well as of all those present at the funeral, a
senior priest – a close relative of Fr.
Thayil – bid farewell to him.
Indeed, this loving and humble son of Don Bosco
will be missed by many on this earth. But as his
intercessory power will be much greater now than
before, we all cry to him to plead for us in front
of God! Click
to view slideshow
Fr. Jacob Telekadan
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