G E RA R D N I H A L L I O N E L P A N C R A T I U S A N A P P R E C I A T I O N Parishioners of St. Antony’s Church, Mathagal , a village in the Valigamam West Division of Northern Province celebrate their Patron Saint’s feast on June 13th annually in grand style. Parishioners’ family members living elsewhere make it a point to assemble for the feast while there will be devotees in their hundreds from the village as well as from adjoining ones. The feast is preceded by Novenas from June 1st to 12th and normally vespers are sung during the last few Novenas with three or more Priests in attendance. . On the feast day, High Mass is sung by several Priests followed by a procession. The feast is concluded with an almsgiving in the evening. The procession is the highlight of the feast when the beautiful statue of the miraculous Saint is placed in a decorated wooden platform and carried by parishioners on their shoulders taking turns. To carry this statue is considered a blessing and there is always a scramble . During the procession prayers are said and hymns sung fervently by the devotees. Time honoured hymns are sung year after year but there would also be new ones composed for the occasion. Back in early 1960s during one of these processions, a young teenager turned up and began singing in a stentorian voice which captivated the devotees . Who is this youngster and where is he from? Someone said he is Nihal, Pancratius’ son and Appiah’s grandson. The Pancratius family was living in Jaffna town then and hence the handsome sprightly lad who had suddenly showed up was new to the village.I immediately felt that this boy had a great future in music . God has gifted him with not merely a scintillating voice but also talent to compose music . Not all musicians are so gifted. They sing but the composition is by others. Nihal grew up in Jaffna, graduated from St.Patrick’s and moved first to Colombo and then to U.K. There he chose a profession where he could serve others. This he did it from the bottom his heart, but his soul was in music on which he was fully engaged right up to the time he fell sick. He did not earn his living from music but gave recitals obliging religious and charitable organizations as well as his friends . He was free with his enormous talent. In recent times his recitals found a place in the social media and I for one always looked forward to his recitals. I also enjoyed the affectionate exchanges between the brothers. Nihal was an idol, devoted husband, father son, sibling, grandpa cousin and uncle, not to mention his friends . He was always cherubic, exuberant and generous .It is indeed a tragedy that he had left us all quite early in his life. His memory however will last forever. My heart goes out to all his family members Goodbye Nihal !. May His Soul Rest In Peace.