Sacerdotal silver jubilee :

Priest with a golden heart

by Commodore Shemal Fernando RSP, USP, MSc

Jubilees are a special time, a time to reflect on God’s gifts to us in the past as we raise our hearts in thanks and praise; a time to look ahead to what is to come and beg God to lead us in His ways and give us vision and help on the journey.

Rev. Fr. William Evans Liyanarachchi is a priest of absolute simplicity, disarming humility and of patience, holiness and piety. He is mild in character and modest in his approach. He is like the good and faithful servant in the parable - he was faithful in small matters, therefore he was put in charge of great matters (Matthew 25:14-30).

“The priesthood is a ‘Mystery of Love’ received and given, made new each day in the Eucharistic celebration and in the generous gift of one’s life ‘to the end’” (John 13:1).

Rev. Fr. William Liyanarachchi

Pope Benedict XVI inaugurating the ‘Year for Priests’ in June last year proclaimed, “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests” as the theme for the celebrations of the Priesthood.

Rev. Fr. William has been a Professor for 20 years (1991 to 2010) at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Ampitiya - the cradle for priesthood in Sri Lanka. He is also the longest served Vice Rector (10 years from 2001 to 2010) of the renowned institution that continues the noble mission with vigour and commitment.

Thus, with consistency and utmost care and concern, year after year, for 20 long years, Fr. William has guided the destinies of seminarians at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Ampitiya on the trust of the promise of God, “I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).

The messages of congratulations issued by the Rev. Fathers and Brothers, on the occasion of his Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee speaks volumes of his fatherly qualities.

Each priest is expected to keep the gift of his priesthood alive and rejoice in it through daily efforts. As Jesus often reminds us, priests are in the world and not of the world.

Once, Pope John Paul II of revered memory said, “The Church needs joyful priests, capable of bringing true joy to God’s people, which is the Good News in all its truth and transforming power”. This makes Fr. William’s task at the Seminary even difficult, yet he continues to serve the Lord with great enthusiasm.

Unassuming

Fr. William hails from a humble and pious family in Kandana. His ancestral home is just across the precincts of the historical edifice of St. Sebastian at Kandana.

He was born on 27th May 1957 in Kandana as the first son in a family of six children. His parents are late Mr. Cyril Liyanarachchi and Mrs. Martha Muthumaniarachchi. His five brothers and sisters are Anne, Concy, Joseph, Terrance, Marian, Chandra, Rita Pearl and Renuka Irangani.

He had been an unassuming soul, who mostly, dwelled in the ‘Mission House’ of the then St. Sebastian’s Church (now a Shrine) with the Parish Priest, assisted him in the liturgical services and loved to play in the spacious church compound during those halcyon years of normalcy.

He had his education at De Mazenod College in Kandna from 1963 to 1971. At school, he was an all-round student excelling in both academics and sports. His forte had been basketball and he maintained a lively interest in the game even after entering the seminary. In 1981, he was the Vice Captain of the National Seminary Basketball Team.

But what remained with young William was the call to the Priesthood and he responded with devotion to the Divine call.

It was Rev. Fr. Nicholas Perera, then Parish Priest of St. Sebastian’s Church who sent him to St. Aloysius’ Minor Seminary in Colombo in 1971. From there, he entered Eymard’s Intermediate Seminary in Haputale in 1975.

The Archbishop of Colombo took note of his commitment to the vocation and sent him to the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Ampitiya in 1976. Whilst pursuing his studies, he obtained double Baccalaureates in Philosophy and Theology from the renowned Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy in 1979 and 1984 respectively.

Ordination

Rev. Fr. William was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese on 11th August 1984 by the Most Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando at St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Colombo. Following his ordination, he was sent as the Assistant Priest at St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street in Negombo where he served from 1984 to 1989. During this period, he served as Parochial Vicar, Youth Chaplain and Y.C.S. Chaplain of Negombo Region and Secretary of Negombo Deanery.

Meanwhile, he continued his professional studies and obtained his Licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Anslem in Rome, Italy in 1991 and followed the Doctoral Programme at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy. Later, he secured a Diploma in Counselling from the International Institute for Religious Formation, St. Anslem’s Cliftonville in Kent in the United Kingdom.

At the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Ampitiya, he has also been the Dean of Philosophy, Bursar, a Spiritual Director, Moderator of Gonzalvez Academy, Editor of ‘Dhammina’ Sinhala Theological Magazine and Professor of ‘Sacraments in General’, ‘Eucharist’, ‘Sin and Grace’ and ‘Study Skills’.He also has rendered invaluable services as a Professor to the Aquinas Institute of Religious Education in Colombo, Deva Dharma Niketanaya at Joseph Vaz Centre in Colombo, Deva Dharma Niketanaya of ‘Sath Pahana’ in Kuliyapitiya and the Asian Institute of Missiology ‘Savana’ in Negombo and Badulla.

Besides, he served as the Marriage Encounter Movement Coordinator of the Diocese of Kandy.He has participated at the YCS Asian Chaplain and Animators’ Formation Programme in Thailand in 1989, Basic Skills in Spiritual Direction and Counselling Training Programme in India in 1995, Communication Programme in India in 1995, World Priests’ Gathering in USA in 2000, XV International Course for Seminary Formators in Italy in 2005 and the World Peace Conference in India in 2008.

He has published an array of eloquent articles on vital matters concerning the Catholic Church and also has delivered keynote lectures at National Forums throughout the country.

He was also instrumental in publishing a historical souvenir to mark the Golden Jubilee of the National Seminary which was celebrated in 2005.

Fr. William Evans is a loving priest with a golden heart in every sense of the word; an emblem of kindness and selfless service; a rare begotten son of Kandana, a proud product of De Mazenod College; an unfailing jewel of the Archdiocese of Colombo and a shining star of the Catholic Church of Sri Lanka.