‘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

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