In Memorium
Rev. Fr. A. Antony 1933 - 2000
Rest in Peace! We are deeply grieved at the sudden demise of our brother Fr. A. Antony (1933 2000) May God reward him for his selfless priesthy ministry especially to the blind.
Here is his short biography:
Abraham Limcon in his Gettysburg address defined democracy as the rule of people, by the people for the people'. Fr Antony's life and mission may be shortly described as a 'service of the blind, by the blind, for the blind'. A life of dedicated service for the visually handicapped people came to end with the sudden death of Fr. Antony He passed away at 2.30 p.m. on 19th January as a result of a massive heart attack at Moontruvadi, Madurai.
Antony was born at Poolangudi in the undivided district of Ramnad. After his primary school in his native place, he came to St. Joseph's Charity Institute, he completed his secondary school studies in St. Thomas's High School, Virapandianpatnam. After his Latin studies in St. Peter's Seminary, Madurai, he was sent to the Papal Seminary along with Fr. Amirtham. Theirs was the last batch of students in Kandy. He completed his philosophical and theological studies quite successfully, obtaining a Licentiate in each of the disciplines. He was ordained priest on 5.10.61 by Bishop Thomas Fernando in our Cathedral His first assignment in the diocese was as Assistant parish priesta the Cathedral. From there he was sent to Adaikalapuram as Assistan Director of the Institute under the able guidance of Fr. J.S. Lobo Having been himself earlier an inmate, this assignment offered an opportunity to shower his love and affection to the poor and especially the orphans. Some of the orphans in the creche were adopted personally by him, and came under his fatherly care even after he left Institute. He is the to many such persons even today who continue to be beneficiaries of his munificence. From Adaikalapuram, he was sent to Seidunganalloor as parish priest where he worked tirelessly in the villages attached to this mission station.
He was called to succeed Fr K. Antony as Superintendent of schools in 1967. Always innovative in his endeavours, he started the Teachers' Cooperative Society, which is a jewel on the crown of the diocese of Tuticorin, rendering marvellous service to the teachers of the diocese. While he was serving the teachers of the diocese, the inscrutable ways of God permitted a heavy blow which shattered his dreams and future plans.
In 1972, he started losing his eye sight as a result of an incurable eye disease known as Retinities pigmentosa". As he had not revealed to the superiors the full extent of the damage done to his sight, he was sent to Thisayanvilai as parish priest. But he could not continue there because by now he had become totally blind. With the encouragement given by Bishop Ambrose, he went to Sitapur (U.P) eye hospital, the best in the country, hoping to have his sight restored. When he came to know that there was no remedy available in India for this defect, he became depressed for a short while. He decided to go into self-imposed exile for about a year and started what he would call his vana vasam (desert experience) at Irungalur, on the banks of the river Cauvery in the diocese of Kumbakonam However, he had some hope that he might regain his if he could go best hospitals in the world, and so he went to New to the hen he was definitely told eyesight could not be restored, he began to undergo training in mobility and reading and writing "Braille'. It was then he received "real sight", rather an "insight" into what the good God had in store for him. He realized that God had called him for something very special, and ad given a mission to work for the welfare of the Blind in India.
With renewed courage and confidence, he returned to India, and with the blessings and encouragement of Bishop Ambrose, he started the Lucia Centre for the Blind, in the building next to the Sanatorium, generously put at his disposal by the Bishop It is to be expected that a person who loses his eyesight at the age of 39 would go into melancholic depression and would brood over his fate" for the rest of his life. But that was not Fr. Antony!.
Never complaining about his condition, he was always cheerful and found llment in his service for the blind. His enthusiasm and spirit of were contagious, and transformed everyone who came into close contact with him. He was a source of inspiration for those who serve the poor and the handicapped. With a view to widen the field of activities to serve the blind, he Clos contacted the various institutions working for the blind in the different parts of the country, and organized the All India Catholic Federation of (ii) the Blind, of which the Registered Office was in Jericho, Tiruchirapalli. Through this organization, of which he was the elected president till be he died, he wanted to help the various institutions to get financial assistance from the funding agencies abroad, and helped them to start self help programmes.
He always maintained that the blind people should keep self respect and earn their own livelihood, rather than depend upon their family or other benefactors. Recently, he had moved the Registered Office of the Federation toa place near Alagarkoil in Madurai, and was busy constructing his office and residence. Father Antony was known to be a patient of hypertension, but his end came rather suddenly. His mortal remains were laid to rest at Jericho, an Institution for the blind of which he was the founder The funeral presided over by Bishop Thomas Fernando was concelebrated by our vicar General and several priests from the diocese. His sudden demise leaves a vacuum which is very difficult to cherish.
May the Institutions which he had founded in the various dioceses bear witness to his long vision through their dedicated service to the visually handicapped people!. May his dear soul rest in peace!
-Rev. Father Joseph Xavier.
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