Father Fraccid Anthony – footsteps to follow
Father Presanna Rodrigo OMI, current Director of Sahana Medura believes that we all have a plan that is given to us by God. When looking at the world, he sees the inmates of Sahana Medura and others like them as people who are specially chosen by God. He believes that they help others to practice their religion. On the outside, we see these people suffering from their various mental illnesses but this is not so. Due to their mental illnesses they are not aware of the reality of their situation. He says ‘I would call them the poorest of the poor because even poor people have some sort of a conscience about their lives and surroundings. As they are not aware of what is happening around them, we have to look after them ’
Jesus Christ has taught us to love one another as He loves us and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (John 13:34). We have to follow these commandments and work towards making our lives better. So this is an opportunity for all of us to realise that our brothers and sisters who need our help and support are the people living in care giving institution like Sahana Medura.
The founder of Sahana Medura, Reverend Father Fraccid Anthony, is believed by many to have been an instrument of God to initiate such an organization. He got mentally unstable people from around the country without checking on any cast or religion and showed them the love of God by giving them shelter, care and love. The establishment of this place, was our Creator’s plan that Reverend Anthony handed over as a mission to the congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Life of the founder of Sahana Medura
According to Father Rodrigo, who spent about six months with Father Anthony at Sahana Medura, Father. Anthony was someone who always depended on the plan of God. He loved this mission and dedicated his life to running it. Once he established Sahana Medura, he may have felt that his mission was over as he spent his last few days in a very relaxed manner by looking at what he has done for the community. Father Anthony who resided at the Polwatte Dev Arana communication centre visited Sahana Medura every weekend and is known to never have missed the Holy Hour on Fridays. He would come for Holy Hour and help the community by offering counseling during the weekend.
Father Rodrigo says ‘I remember on his last day, he had a very peaceful death with some of his priestly friends and it was a Sunday, a day of Pentecost.’
On the day of the Feast of Pentecost the very Reverend Father Provincial of the Oblate congregation was supposed to declare this dedication during Sunday Mass, he was unable to do so. He asked Reverend Fraccid Anthony to represent him and proclaim the declaration. He solemnly carried this out and took part in the ceremony. Later in the afternoon he informed Father Anthony that he is going out for a spiritual discussion with a group of priests at Dayave Asapuwa where Father Cyril Anthony is also involved in a charitable mission. Once they had finished their discussion, they had found out that Father Fraccid had celebrated his birthday recently and had celebrated it with a prayer session and by singing songs. Having all gone to bed with joy, at around 4 am the next morning, Father Fraccid had only complained of a chest pain and had asked the others not to worry about it and had said that it would be over soon. Father Rodrigo recalls that a few minutes later, he took a deep breath and passed away peacefully.
This is what justifies Father Rodrigo’s view that whatever Father Fraccid did, it was done according to the plan of God. Once he finished his mission, God called him in a peaceful manner to his Heavenly Banquet. Now all that dedicated work are being carried out by the Oblates.
As a religious congregation the Oblates of Mary Immaculate have decided to dedicate Sahana Medura to the Holy Spirit with the consent of the Provincial. ‘Freedom through Counselling’ is the motto that is upheld at Sahana Medura and the individuals running this institution believe that counselling in one of the virtues of the Holy Spirit and which is why they wish to dedicate Sahana Medura to the Holy Spirit.
With 40 inmates at present in Sahana Medura, both male and female, Father Rodrigo stated that ‘they are really neglected and marginalised by their own family members and society. Although they are rejected by society, for the majority of the mentally ill, the cause of their illness is our mistreatment of them as a so-called society. ‘So as God’s children we are all responsible for their situation and we as a congregation needs all of your support to look after these people to the best of our abilities’ says Father Rodrigo.
Merely visiting the inmates of Sahana Medura is a great consolation for them because it makes them feel more accepted and loved. Many organisations have spent millions of money on the medication for physical illnesses and now is the time to think more about people with mental conditions. Using advancements in technology and science, we can help these special individuals work towards leading a normal life and to be happy.
As a congregation, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate have an idea of turning Sahana Medura into a mental hospital where people can come and be treated for their mental illnesses and go back to society.
Father Rodrigo says ‘I as the current Director of this place hope to do my best to improve this place according to the needs of society. I would like to request the help of all those who are willing to join hands and help these innocent brothers and sisters’. He would also like to thank all those who have rendered a helping hand for this place in whichever way they could by giving alms and helping Sahana Medura financially and he welcomes everyone to come and help him more in any way possible.