Biographies – Rectors – 1992 to date

Rev. Fr. Anton P. Thirumahan

Rector 2018 – to date

Born on February 15, 1975 in the Parish of St. Thomas’ Church, Point Pedro. Educated at J/Kaladdy RCTMS, Point Pedro and St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna. Entered St Martin’s Minor Seminary, Jaffna in 1989 and completed his priestly formation at St. Francis Xavier’s Seminary, Columbuthurai and was ordained a diocesan priest of the Jaffna Diocese by Bishop Thomas Savundranayagam on April 29, 2004. Fr Thirumahan’s educational qualifications include B.Ph. (Rome), B. Th. (Rome), Dip in Ed. (NIE) and MEd. (UK). He served as Asst. Parish Priest at the Navanthurai and Mullaitivu parishes between 2004 & 2005. In 1989, he joined the staff of St Patrick’s College Jaffna and served as Teacher and Warden (2006 – 2007), Bursar (2006 – 2011), in charge of Sports and Prefect of Studies (2006 to 2017) and Vice-Rector (2011 – 2012 and 2014 – 2017). Fr Thirumahan also served as Chairman of the Commission for religious dialogue and ecumenism from 2009 – 2012, is Chaplin for Jaffna Prison from 2014 to date and secretary of the Jaffna Deanary from 2014 to date, secretary of the Council of Priests from 2016 to date, Visiting Lecturer in “Islamic Religion and Philosophy” at St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary and Lecturer “Sri Lanka Church History” at St. Joseph Vaz Tamil Theologize, Jaffna. Fr Anton P. Thirumahan was appointed Rector of St Patrick’s College, Jaffna on January 25, 2018.

Rev. Fr. Jero Selvanayagam

Rector  2008 – 2018

Born on January 25, 1958 in the Parish of St. Sebastian’s Church, Karampon, Kayts. Educated at St. Sebastian’s primary school, Karampon, St. Antony’s College, Kayts and St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna. Completed his priestly formation at National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy and St. Francis Xavier’s Seminary, Columbuthurai and was ordained a diocesan priest of the Jaffna Diocese by Bishop Deogupillai at St Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna on August 6, 1985. Fr Jero’s educational qualifications include BA (Jaffna) and MEd (Lon). He served as Asst. Parish Priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna (1985), Parish Priest at Kilinochchi, Vaddakachi (1986) and Karaveddy (1987 – 1989). In 1989, he joined the staff of St Patrick’s College Jaffna and served as Teacher and Warden (1989 – 1992), Principal of Senior Secondary (1992 – 1994), Head of Collegiate Section (1994 – 1998), Vice-Rector (1998 – 2008) and Rector (2008 – 2018). He retired as Rector on January 24, 2018 and is now Parish Priest at St Antony’s Church, Passaiyoor, Jaffna.

Rt. Rev. Dr Justin Gnanapragasam

Rector   2002 – 2008

Born on May 13, 1948 in the Parish of St. Mary’s Church, Kayts. Educated at St. Antony’s College, Kayts and St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna. Completed his priestly formation at National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy and Papal Seminary, Pune, India and was ordained a diocesan priest of the Jaffna Diocese by Bishop Deogupillai at the Church of Our lady of Refuge (OLR), Jaffna on April 24, 1974. Bishop Justin’s educational qualifications include B.Th (Pune), MA (Th)(Lon) and PhD Educ. (Lon). He served as Asst. Parish Priest at Kilinochchi and Valaipadu (1974 – 1975) and Vanni (1975 – 1976) and St Anne’s Church, Ilavalai (1976 – 1979), Parish Priest at Mareesankoodal Mission, Ilavalai (1980 – 1985) and St Jude’s Church, Ilavalai (1989 – 1990). While serving as Asst. PP and PP, Bishop Justin also served as Asst. Director of Long Tech. Institute (1975 – 1976), Vice-Rector (1976 – 1989) and Rector (1989 – 2002) of St. Henry’s College, Ilavalai. In 2002, he was appointed as Rector of St Patrick’s College, Jaffna. Bishop Justin was a member of the Council of the University of Jaffna from 1998 to 2014. He retired as Rector in 2008 and was appointed as the Vicar-General of the Jaffna Diocese. On November 28, 2015, he was consecrated as the 8th Bishop of the Diocese of Jaffna at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna.

Rev. Fr. Alphonsus I. Bernard

Rector 1992 – 2002

Born on 11 June 1946 in the Parish of Thalayady and educated at St. Anthony’s Thalayady, St.Charles, Jaffna, and St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna. Entered St Martin’s Minor Seminary, Jaffna in 1955 and completed his priestly formation at the Papal Seminary of Pune, India. He was ordained a diocesan priest of the Jaffna Diocese by Bishop William Gomes of Pune Diocese on 19 October 1970.

Fr Bernard’s educational qualifications include B.Ph (Pune), B.Th (Pune), Post-Grad Dip., (London), and MA. Ed (London). He served as Asst. Parish Priest at St. Anthony’s, Kayts (1971 – 1972), Asst. Parish Priest at St Mary’ Cathedral (Oct 1972 – Jan 1973) and Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s, Atchuvely (May 1974 – August 1974). In September 1974, Fr Bernard joined the National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy, as Formator, Lecturer in ethics and social teaching of the Church, and Vice-Rector. Between 1982 and 1989, Fr Bernard was in UK and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Human Rights, and a Masters Degree in religious education. On his return, he joined the staff of St Patrick’s College, Jaffna, as Prefect of Studies in 1989 and was appointed Rector in 1992 and served until 2002. Concurrently, Fr Bernard was also visiting lecturer in Philosophy of Science at St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary, Columbuthurai from 1997 – 2006, Catholic chaplain at the University of Jaffna from 2002 – 2006, chairman of Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Jaffna from 1996 to 2006 and founded the Centre for Peace and Human Rights Culture, Jaffna. Fr Bernard has also written several articles on human rights issues for various publications in both Tamil and English. Since the end of 2006, Fr Bernard has been in Europe and Canada, working for the Archdiocese of Toronto.