Fr. Antony Thirimanne, TOR, of the Third Order Regular Franciscans of the Province of Our Lady of Lanka died of a heart failure on 27 September 2022 at the Ragama Hospital, Sri Lanka.
Fr. Thirimanne resided at ‘St. Francis’s Friary’ in Wennappuwa since 2013 and was in the Apostolic ministry. He was born on 25 June 1949 at Pamunugama. He was the son of the late Thirimanna Hettige Don Joseph Antony and Kirihettige Don Mary Josephin.
When he was 22 years old, he joined the Franciscans at Maggona. He entered the novitiate in November 1971 at St. Vincent De Paul Friary at Maggona and professed his temporary vows on 18 February 1972. He professed his solemn vows on 29 October 1978.
He started his service in November,1975 in the Maggona Mother House and he was appointed as the treasurer in 1976. He completed four years of theological studies in 1989 at Hewadiwala. He was ordained a priest on 3 February 2007.
During his long and faithful consecrated Franciscan life he spent many years in parish ministry. From 1989 to 2022, he served in many parishes, namely, St. Sebastian’s Church, Kala Oya,St. Mary’s Church, Dehiyagatha, St. Philip Neri’s Church, Udammita, St. Mary’s Shrine Matara, St. Mary’s Church, Kegalle, St, Sebastian’s Shrine, Kandana, the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta, St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade.
Fr. Thirimanne suffered a heart attack, while he was serving in the National Basilica at Tewatta. Although he was rushed to the nearby hospital, he was called to the eternal life. Fr. Thirimanne died on 27 September 2022, at the age of 73, in the 50th year of his profession in the TOR religious life and 15 years as a priest.
The Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on 28 September 2022 at 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Lanka Friary with Very Reverend Father Roshan Wasantha Perera, TOR, Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Following the Mass, burial took place in the TOR Franciscans’ Cemetery, Maggona.