The funeral Mass for Charles Chelliah took place at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Msgr. Gary Secor was the main celebrant, with other clergy also participating. (Courtesy Miguel Heraclio)
By Anthony Selvanathan
Special to the Herald
Over the past 50 days, we have experienced the joys of the Resurrection as we journey throughout the Easter season, for Christ our Savior has been sacrificed.
Within these 50 days, we have also experienced a transition in our universal church with the passing of the late Holy Father, Pope Francis, and the subsequent conclave and election of Pope Leo XIV.
As a universal church, we have experienced loss, grief and sorrow, followed by great joy and jubilation — all of which are emotions that shape our human experiences as friends of the risen Lord.
Over the past few months, I too, have witnessed the roller coaster of emotions that the disciples must have felt, witnessing Christ undergo his passion, death and resurrection.
On March 11, my eldest uncle, Charles Chelliah, passed away at the age of 81. As patriarch of our ohana, who sponsored the emigration of my family from our homeland in Sri Lanka to the U.S. before my birth, and who had a remarkable career in finance and marketing, his loss was deeply palpable.
Uncle Charles was a devoted and active Catholic who benefited from the fruits of a Jesuit education and who immersed himself in weekly Bible studies, attended daily/weekly Masses at several local parishes (St. Patrick, Sts. Peter and Paul, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace and Our Lady of Mount Carmel), and was involved in retreats with the Basic Christian Community of Hawaii.
Although the passing of Uncle Charles was a difficult and challenging time for my family and me, I felt reassured that he lived a life which was one of Christian discipleship. As the Roman Missal’s preface for funeral Masses reads: “Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”
I am sure that Uncle Charles wouldn’t want our family to perpetually dwell on his loss, but rather, to move on with our lives in the hope of the Resurrection, which has been promised to us by Christ.
The Catholic Church’s liturgical year is about to transition from the season of Easter to the season of ordinary time. Although “ordinary time” might denote normalcy and routine in the secular culture, as Catholics we are called to live out the Easter joy of the Resurrection throughout the year.
How can we continue to live out the Easter faith, singing joyful alleluias as we call and invite others to be witnesses of Jesus? As we approach the great feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, may the Holy Spirit abide within us, so that we may work to live out the Gospel with such joy and fervor that inspires others to encounter the risen Lord.
If we place our hope in the Resurrection, then one day we too may rejoice in the new and heavenly Jerusalem, so we can be with my late Uncle Charles and all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.
