Father Emmanuel was born May 1, 1953 in Sri Lanka, the third of seven children.  He has 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

 

He studied at St. Michael’s College under the Jesuit order.

 

In 1971 he completed his undergraduate work and joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Sri Lanka and then moved over to St. Paul’s Seminary (India) for 3 years where he majored in Philosophy.  Father Emmanuel studied at the National Seminary (Sri Lanka) for 4 years majoring in Theology.

 

On July 25, 1981 he was ordained into the priesthood in Sri Lanka in the Colombo Archdiocese.  Upon ordination, Father had three simultaneous assignments: Associate Pastor at St. Philip Neri Parish, Hospital Chaplain, and Co-Director of the Catechetical Department for the Archdiocese of Colombo.  He then was assigned as Associate Pastor of All Saints Church in Colombo.  He then became Associate in the Cathedral of St. Lucia where he assumed responsibility for the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua.

 

Father Emmanuel was appointed pastor of St. Sebastian Church in Sri Lanka for 5 years.  He was then appointed pastor of St. Philip Neri Church for an additional 5 years.

 

After his pastoral assignments Father Emmanuel was sent to Ireland for a short assignment as Chaplain for the Christian Brothers in County Cork.

 

In March 1997 he was sent to the United States and under the leadership of Monsignor Maltese was assigned to both the Assumption and Immaculate Conception Churches.

 

Father Emmanuel has been very active in administering spiritual guidance to the Homebound. He is currently the moderator of the Assumption’s Altar Rosary Society and has played a significant role in providing spiritual direction to the ladies of the society.  Father Emmanuel served under the late Monsignor Anthony Maltese, the late Monsignor Vincent Case, Monsignor Francis Oliverio and Father Eric Raaser.

 

Incardinated in the Archdiocese of New York in December 2004

 

Became a US citizen in March 2006