Fr. Elias was born in Ayyampatti, Trichy, Tamil Nadu on 31st July 1940 and entered the Society on 24th Sep.1962 in Beschi College, Dindigul. He came to Andhra at the invitation of late Fr. T. Balaiah, SJ and worked in different places of Andhra Province as a pioneer. He worked in Suryapet, Karimnagar, Nambur, Loyola Academy, Nallapadu, Vinukonda and KD Peta.
Wherever he worked, he worked in an unassuming way. From 2011 till his death, he worked among the tribals, as the director of LITDS at K.D Peta. He did not visit his family for the last 30 years. He dedicated himself to the given work. He never aspired for anything in his life and was content with his work.
Fr. Elias was a man of God, a great personality in stature and quality, with many affable human qualities. He was humble in doing any service and hilarious in his conversations, and truly human in dealing with all walks of people. He was a voracious reader of spiritual books, and his sermons used to be short and apt. He was a patient listener and encouraged and consoled people who came to him.
He was a silent and joyful worker, and a silent sufferer too. He was suffering from a few ailments, but avoided going to hospitals. He was a self-made doctor for himself, and used to manage with herbal medicines. He was cheerful and hopeful till the end, in spite of loosing blood. He had developed pneumonia and breathed his last on 12th August morning, in St.Ann’s Hospital, Visakhapatnam. We have lost a loving father of the poor – a great human being full of compassion and empathy, and a precious gem. May God grant him Eternal Bliss.
- M. Sahaya Raj, SJ
