Fr. Thomas Vailatt, SDB Passes Away
The Salesian province of Bangalore bids adieu to one of its stalwarts, Fr. Thomas Vailatt SDB who entered his eternal rest on 13th March 2022 at Mama Margaret Home, Aluva. The funeral rites were held at Don Bosco Bhavan Mannuthy on 15th March 2023 and his remains were laid to rest there.
A life sketch of Fr. Thomas Vailatt is presented below
Fr. Thomas Vailatt SDB was born on 2nd February 1930 at Pulincunnoo. He was the 5th child among seven children of Vailatt Ousepachen and Thressiamma. All his siblings have gone for their eternal reward except Mrs. Chechamma Thomas, his youngest sister.
Few of his achievements are highlighted below
1.Founder of Don Bosco Bhavan Mannuthy and dynamic Vocation Director:
Don Bosco Bhavan Mannuthy where these funeral rites took place is so much connected with Fr. Thomas Vailatt. In 1971 Fr. Thomas Vailatt was sent to begin a Don Bosco English Medium School and an aspirantate. Those students were not aspirants. Then young as he was he travelled in a motor cycle (Bullet) the length and breadth of Kerala looking for aspirants. One of the past pupils wrote “if there was an award for a man who travelled into the remote villages of Kerala on a motor bike in the 70’s, it would go to Fr Thomas Vailatt.”
He loved his vocation and brought in so many to religious life. Many from his own family he has inspired into the Salesian way of life, Fr Jose Pathickla, Fr Joe Kallupura, Bro Santhosh Sebastian Kunnemuriyil, Sr Mary Cherian, Sr Treesa Thomas, Sr Mary Kavalam, Sr Bridget Kavalam, and Fr. Antony Vailatt.
2. Long and effective service as the Provincial Mission Procurator:
The second very great achievement of Fr. Thomas Vailatt is his long years of service as Mission Procurator. In 1979 the united province of Chennai was divided and the new Province of Bangalore was born. At that time Bangalore province was financially very weak as a new born babe. In 1980 Rev. Fr. Provincial appointed Fr. Thomas Vailatt as the Provincial Procurator. Gradually through his hard work Fr. Thomas was able to help the Province to stand on its feet financially. Fr. Vailatt continued this sacrificing work for 32 years. He had a special knack to solicit help for the Province. He believed that those who help the Province to take care of the poor children and youth will be blessed abundantly.
“Fr Thomas Vailatt was certainly a saintly figure who cared for the poor with utmost dedication and passion” (Richard Crossin). “God granted him a long life which he used totally for helping the poor. He was a big part of our life. We pray for him.” (Albert Galea). “Fr Thomas Vailatt whom, we knew as the Mission Procurator for decades, was a very good, dedicated and fully committed priest who was very much loved and well respected here in Singapore” (Maria Leong)
3. Provincial Delegate of Salesian Family and Salesian Co-operators
While he was doing his service as the Provincial Mission Procurator, Rev. Fr. Provincial appointed him also as the Provincial delegate of the Salesian family and in a special way as the delegate of cooperators. During his long tenure many units of cooperators started in our province and many more took promise and became cooperators. He was the one who started a unit of cooperators in the Provincial house.
When Fr. Vailatt was in Bangalore also he tried to help the poor in similar ways. The most significant service is “Share and care” a project to give midday meal to the poor through the support of the co-operators.
4. Development of Salesian Presence in Lingarajapuram (BENGALURU)
With the help of the cooperators unit formed in the Provincial house Fr. Vailatt started social service in Lingarajapuram where there were many poor people. The cooperators were doing many activities like self help programmes for ladies and educational assistance and classes for the poor children. With the help of some benefactors Fr. Vailatt was able start a hall for prayer. One day one of his benefactors from abroad came there and as he was praying in the hall he had a special experience and he told Fr. Vailatt that a church should be built there and that he would help to build the church. Thus a beautiful church came up there. Now it is Parish church dedicated to Don Bosco. A great promoter of devotion to Our Lady help of Christians was manifested in his printing and distributing prayers and booklets in various languages.
“Made weak by labour and age, gone to eternal shores the ‘sage’
Our mentor, promoter and loving Father, He was amidst us
With no fuss, A Friend to everyone, never leaving out anyone …
Great dedication he did manifest! His gentle ways and caring service made him a gem.
(Fr Sebastian Joseph of Dimapur Province, a candidate of Fr. Thomas Vailatt)
Fr. Thomas has gone ahead of us leaving a legacy. Let us try to carry on this legacy by being united with the lord and by trying to help the poor.
