Tributes to Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith
[ Priest of the Diocese of Mannar & the Diocesan Coordinator of Jesuits Refugee Service ]

Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith was killed in a claymore explosion on 26th September 2007
Condolence Messages from the Nunciature and the Bishops
 
From the Apostolic Nunciture in Sri Lanka

27th September 2007

Your Lordship,

It is with profound sadness I have come to learn of the untimely tragic death of Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiaranjit a member of the clergy of your Diocese, whom I had the occasion to personally meet at this Apostolic Nunciature when he presented his request for assistance in recommending his application to the High Commission of Canada to further his studies.

I take this opportunity to express to You and to the entire clergy of the Diocese of Mannar the sympathies and prayers of His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio, who is presently out of the Island and mine in this time of grief.

May God grant eternal rest to the soul of Fr. Packiaranjit,

Yours devotedly in Christ,

Msgr. Baudouin Muankembe
Charge d'Affaires,

Apostolic Nunciature,
No. 220
Bauddhaloka Mawatha,
Colombo 7.
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Condolence Message & the Press Release of Archbishop Oswald Gomis, the Archbishop of Colombo

27th September 2007

We were deeply shocked to hear the tragic death of Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith killed in a claymore bomb explosion. We strongly condemn such acts of violence that inflicts pain and lost to the innocent civilians.

We offer our deepest sympathies to His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, the Clergy and to the lay faithful of the Diocese of Mannar and especially to the members of the grieved family of Fr. Packiyaranjith.

With grateful recognition of Fr. Packiyaranjith's selfless service, as a committed priest of the Lord for His people, we offer fervent prayers that God, the Father of mercies, will grant him Eternal Rest and every spiritual consolation to those who mourn his passing.

This event brings us once more to the recognition that Peace is an urgent imperative. How long can this carnage continue ? This incident and the incidents of this nature should prick our conscience to realize the gravity of this situation and the need to establish peace immediately.

We pray that this incident will stir the peace process, so that he who has died, may not have died in vain.

In union and solidarity of prayer,

Yours devotedly in Christ,

+ Archbishop Oswald Gomis
Archbishop of Colombo
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Condolence Message from Bishop Thomas Savundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna,

27th September 2007

Dear His Lordship Rayapu Joseph and the Clergy of Mannar,

We are shocked and saddened at the news of the death of our dear priest N. Packiaranjith due to claymore - mine explosion at Malavi -VeUankulam Road on the 26th of Sep. 2007. While this good priest was bringing relief to the displaced people from Mannar lost his life due to the violence.

We condole this tragic death. We express our solidarity with your Lordship and your clergy at this time of deep grief and great sorrows. May God grand him eternal rest !
United in prayers

+ Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam
Bishop of Jaffna
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Condolence Message from Bishop Kingsley Swampillai, Bishop of Trinco-Batticoloa

27th September 2007

Your Lordship,

Please accept out- deepest sympathies on the tragic death of Fr. Packiaranjit and that while he was transporting relief to the suffering victims of the recent war.

Whoever had done this atrocious killing stands condemned for such heinous crime.

Please convey the sympathies of mine, my clergy, religious, and the people of my Diocese to your clergy, religious and people of your Diocese.

May he receive the heavenly reward.

+ Bishop Kingsley Swampillai
Bishop of Trinco – Batticoloa
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Maintained by Rev. Fr. Sunil De Silva - E-mail : sunilde@sltnet.lk
ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOMBO - SRI LANKA