Rev. Fr. Salvathor Savulnathan
Parochial Vicar
I am Rev. Fr. Salvathor Savulnathan, a diocesan priest of the Diocese of Mannar, Sri Lanka. I was born on February 5, 1977, in the small village of Kannaddy, Adampan, into a deeply rooted Catholic family. I am one of eight children, blessed with five brothers and two sisters. Though I have lost three of my elder brothers, our family faith has remained strong and has sustained me through life’s joys and sufferings.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful but war-torn country, and I personally experienced the hardships of the civil war. In the midst of fear, displacement, and struggle, my family and I held firmly to God. It was during these challenging times that I discerned my call to the priesthood. On January 6, 1992, I joined the Minor Seminary, beginning my journey toward serving God and His people. After completing my school education and English studies, I entered the Intermediate Seminary in January 1998 and later began my philosophical studies. Between July 2001 and September 2002, I spent a year in discernment before proceeding to theological formation. From September 2002 to July 2005, I completed my theological studies at St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary, Jaffna.
I was ordained Deacon in November 2005 and ordained Priest on May 18, 2006. My diaconal ministry among the poor and marginalized gave me a deeper understanding of the mission of Christ and shaped my pastoral heart. I hold a Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Ph) and a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, completed through affiliated seminaries in Kandy and Jaffna. In my priestly ministry, I have served as Parish Priest in several parishes within the Diocese of Mannar and have assisted the Diocese through various commissions. I have also ministered outside my diocese, especially in Ratnapura, serving Tamil estate workers for more than six months.
One of the most profound experiences of my priesthood was caring for my beloved Bishop Rayappu Joseph during his illness in Singapore, where I accompanied him closely in his suffering. This experience deepened my sense of humility, compassion, and pastoral service. My pastoral involvement includes conducting seminars for Holy Childhood and SCC animators, offering faith formation for children and lay leaders, leading days of recollection for students and those in discernment, completing a 40-day residential certificate course on SCCs at the Palatine Centre in Nagpur, India, and participating in several trauma-counseling programs and seminars.
My short-term goal is to serve faithfully in parish ministry, work closely with lay communities and youth, and contribute to faith-based education. My long-term goal is to be a compassionate shepherd to my people in Sri Lanka, especially in the Diocese of Mannar, and eventually to serve as a spiritual director, helping the faithful to discover a deeper thirst for Christ and eternal life.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful but war-torn country, and I personally experienced the hardships of the civil war. In the midst of fear, displacement, and struggle, my family and I held firmly to God. It was during these challenging times that I discerned my call to the priesthood. On January 6, 1992, I joined the Minor Seminary, beginning my journey toward serving God and His people. After completing my school education and English studies, I entered the Intermediate Seminary in January 1998 and later began my philosophical studies. Between July 2001 and September 2002, I spent a year in discernment before proceeding to theological formation. From September 2002 to July 2005, I completed my theological studies at St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary, Jaffna.
I was ordained Deacon in November 2005 and ordained Priest on May 18, 2006. My diaconal ministry among the poor and marginalized gave me a deeper understanding of the mission of Christ and shaped my pastoral heart. I hold a Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Ph) and a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, completed through affiliated seminaries in Kandy and Jaffna. In my priestly ministry, I have served as Parish Priest in several parishes within the Diocese of Mannar and have assisted the Diocese through various commissions. I have also ministered outside my diocese, especially in Ratnapura, serving Tamil estate workers for more than six months.
One of the most profound experiences of my priesthood was caring for my beloved Bishop Rayappu Joseph during his illness in Singapore, where I accompanied him closely in his suffering. This experience deepened my sense of humility, compassion, and pastoral service. My pastoral involvement includes conducting seminars for Holy Childhood and SCC animators, offering faith formation for children and lay leaders, leading days of recollection for students and those in discernment, completing a 40-day residential certificate course on SCCs at the Palatine Centre in Nagpur, India, and participating in several trauma-counseling programs and seminars.
My short-term goal is to serve faithfully in parish ministry, work closely with lay communities and youth, and contribute to faith-based education. My long-term goal is to be a compassionate shepherd to my people in Sri Lanka, especially in the Diocese of Mannar, and eventually to serve as a spiritual director, helping the faithful to discover a deeper thirst for Christ and eternal life.
