‘austraLasia’ # 107
STREET PRIEST DIES OF FALL FROM SHELTER ROOF
By C. M. Paul
CALCUTTA, 8th November (DBIS)-- Fr. James Pathiyil of Ashalayam Calcutta
died, Sunday night, 8th November, after lying in coma for two weeks at
the city Assembly of God Church Hospital. Thirty-three years old Fr.
James fell through the roof of the street boys' shelter, 26th October.
Fr. Provincial will preside over a requiem Mass for Fr. James at
Auxilium parish Calcutta, Monday, 9th November. The Mass with the body
will be held at Ashalayam, Belilious Road, Howrah on Wednesday morning,
11 November. Fr. James will be buried at the Salesian cemetery at Bandel
some 65 km north of Calcutta in the same afternoon.
Fr. James' two brothers and two sisters and several relations from
Kerala, south India, are in Calcutta.
The tragic accident occurred in the afternoon of 26th October at about
2.30 p.m. Fr. James climbed on the tin roof of the night shelter
building at Ashalayam to take some photos of the main building. While
walking on the roof he put his weight on one of the translucent
corrugated sheets. It gave way and he fell into the hall beneath,
hitting his head against the cement floor. He was in coma since then
till his death, 8.10 p.m.
"Ever since Fr. James was admitted to the hospital in coma, he was on
the artificial respirator," wrote Fr. Francis Alencherry, Salesian
provincial, in his 30th October circular letter to confreres requesting
prayers for his speedy recovery.
Among the many expressions of solidarity were the long vigils by street
children at the hospital premises and a photograph of Fr. Pathyil at
Mother Teresa's tomb with a brief hand scribbled note in red ink "Please
Pray for Fr. James".
Born at Koorachund, Kerala, James became a Salesian in 1984 and was
ordained
priest in 1994. After completing Master of Theology studies in Kristu
Jyoti College Bangalore, he was appointed Assistant Director at the
Salesian pre-novitiate at Auxilium Parish Calcutta, 1995-97. He took
charge asassistant director at Ashalayam in 1997. [END]
For more information please contact:
C.M. Paul at (033)244.7315 or (033)226.1221
Email:cmpaul@giascl01.vsnl.net.in
