When Very Rev.Henry Julian O.M.I the Bishop of Jaffna at the request of Rev.Frs. Verlandoor and Huctine O.M.I Rev.Mother Clement Converaux then Superior of Holy Family Convent, Ilavalai newly opened a community at Naranthanai on the 10.01.1910.
THE HOLY FMAILY SISTERS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN NARANTHANAI
When Very Rev.Henry Julian O.M.I the Bishop of
Jaffna at the request of Rev.Frs. Verlandoor and Huctine O.M.I Rev.Mother Clement Converaux then Superior of Holy Family Convent, Ilavalai newly opened a community at Naranthanai on the 10.01.1910. At the beginning the sisters were residing in a house close to the Parish Church. Then in 1914 they moved to the newly built convent.
Since the convent was badly damaged it needed to build a new and Sr.Carmelita -the Provincial laid a new foundation for the new house in 1984 and it was completed in 1986. It was opened and blessed by Bishop Deogupillai on the feast of the Holy Family on 28. 12. 1986.
During the period of 100 years , sisters were engaged in the following ministries:
Teaching in
Government Schools, Family Apostolate, Pastoral work- catechetical and preparing for sacraments etc. Working for the upliftment of the people who are marginalized 53 sisters have worked there and among them 18 sisters have been the leaders of the community. It was closed on 25.08.1992 due to war.
Sr. Shanthi Simon who were there when they had to leave everything and move to safer place gives her short account of her experience.
On 5 August, the soldiers started shelling and gradually the sisters had to evacuate the place with the people. They walked about 3 kilometres and stayed in
Chaddy Church with about 500 people who have left their houses and taken shelter in the church. Around 5.00 p.m, the Government forces suspected that the LTTE cadres were hiding in the church compound and 50 cadres fired from the helicopter and 4 people died and 21 were injured and within seconds the church turned into a pool of blood. All 5,000 people rushed to the nearby village called Punkudutheevu which is 12 K.M away. On the way people who had houses offered water or drink and two of our sisters too joined the people. Srs. Shanthi Simon, Hermon Joseph Nicholapillai, Hilda Singarayar and Doreen Philip were the last to leave the church along with the priests covering the dead bodies inside the church and closed the church, accompanied the elders and sick and reached Punkudutheevu. After a week when the priests came back to Naranthanai they found 61 of the parishioners had been killed by intruding soldiers. It was a real lamentation. Then the convent was closed on 25 August 1992.
After repeated displacements the people now have come back to their native place. In order to respond to their needs it was re-opened this year on 2 February 2009. Sisters are engaged in teaching, Pre-school Education and pastoral work and family visits. They are 4 in number. As we remember the long history we are filled with gratitude to God for the strength and protection and guidance which we experience during good and bad times and the wonders that He had worked.