Rev. Fr. Linus Kurukula Aratchi of the Diocese of Kurunegala celebrates 90th Birthday

Rev. Fr. Don Linus Charles Paul Kurukula Aratchi hails from a respectable background, from Ampitiya, in the highly reputed Kandyan Kingdom. He, who was affectionately called ‘Dahanayake’, is the eldest in the family of 10, which has given another priest to the Church in the person of the late Rev. Fr. Peter Kurukula Aratchi of the Society of Jesus. His parents were the late Don Joseph Kurukula Aratchi and the late Dona Charlotte Wickramasinghe, a Principal and a teacher, respectively, of revered memory. He was born on the 23rd of September 1932 and was baptized just two days after on the 25th of September 1932 at the Upper Chapel of the Parish Church of Ampitiya (at present, the Shrine of St. Joseph Vaz) by Rev. Fr. Cyprianus Lambot of the Society of Jesus. He has attended Roman Catholic Sinhala School, Ampitiya, Berrewaerts College, Ampitiya, St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa and St. Xavier’s College, Marawila. His studies and formation for the Priesthood has been, first in the then Papal Seminary, Ampitiya, in Kandy ,and later on, in the same in Pune, India, when it was shifted there.

He holds Licentiates both in Philosophy and in Theology from the Pontifical Athanaeum and is mostly self-educated as an avid reader.

He was ordained a priest of God for the Diocese of Chilaw by His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Andrew de Souza, the Bishop of Pune, on the 21st of December 1958, in the Papal Seminary Chapel, Pune, India, and with the erection of the new Diocese of Kurunegala, in the year 1987, got incadinated for the same.

Fr. Linus has served as an Assistant Parish Priest in the Parishes of Bolawatte, Kurunegala, Katupotha, Nalawalana and Kuliyapitiya and an Acting Parish Priest of Boralessa for a short period of time.

Also he has served as the Parish Priest of Katupotha, Kuliyapitiya, Thalgahapitiya, Madampe, Polgahawela, Waikkal, Kirimetiyana and Udubaddawa.

Fr. Linus was also greatly instrumental in preparing the required report which paved the way to carve out the Diocese of Kurunegala with His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Raymond Peiris of revered memory as its first Bishop.

With the erection of the new Diocese of Kurunegala, Fr. Linus also functioned as the Co-ordinator for Liturgy Apostolate, the Chancellor of the Diocese and the Chaplain to the Missionaries of Charity in Meth Nivasa at Wellawa.

This well-educated veteran priest is well-known as an outstanding historian, who is inspired by the famous quotation from the philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The book ‘Katholika Ape Urumaya’ (Our Catholic Heritage) which is a worthy source book, containing information of all the churches, convents, schools and other religious institutions in the Diocese of Kurunegala, published in the year 2008, for which Fr. Linus took great trouble as its editor, safely testifies to the fact that he has a special knack for history and journalism.

His exceptional lingual dexterity, especially in English and in Latin, goes without saying adding another feather in his cap.

Also, he is a nature lover who always admires God’s superabundant benevolence for mankind through His wonderful creation.

He calls himself a ‘Universal Figure’, trying to go beyond all man-made barriers and boundaries in his service to people of all walks of life, especially the marginalized and the downtrodden by living the spirituality of the Good Samaritan, imitating his spiritual hero Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry His Cross, when He was most in need of help! His remarkable versatility in this regard has undoubtedly endeared him to the hearts of his flock of whom many have become his beneficiaries!

Dear Fr. Linus, we all, una voce wish you, Our Nonagenarian, a Very Happy 90th Birthday! We are really proud of you as we all share your immense jubilation on this happy and memorable occasion and hope you know how much you mean to us as a shining example!

May you have many more years of silent service in your well-deserved retirement salubrity with peace of mind and tranquility of the heart in the Vineyard of the Lord! Ad Multos Felicissimus Annos!!!

Rev. Fr. Eymard Fernando

Diocesan Archivist