With a hymn in their hearts
The musical family practising at St. Joseph’s Church, Kuliyapitiya. Pix by Ranjith Perera
Voices raised in praise, worship and thanksgiving……not for a day, a week, a year, but for a lifetime.
Music and song, transcending all barriers, have been the offering of love of Jude Gomis, 55, and as Christmas draws nigh, his single-minded purpose is to give of his best along with his family to Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus whose birth is celebrated at midnight tomorrow.
Born in a bare, cold cave, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Baby was placed in a manger by his mother with only cattle and sheep around him.
Far away from Bethlehem, at St. Joseph’s Church, Kuliyapitiya that we sit on a pew and first hear the Gomis family practising for midnight mass, on a balcony overlooking the congregation and in straight view of the altar, having braved an unusually winding spiral staircase.
From multi-talented Jude flows a haunting violin melody, while wife Shermila and younger daughter Nipuni Beulah give voice to the lyrics and elder son Thilina accompanies them on the organ.
Later the practice continues closer to the altar and it is only thereafter that we sit beside the ‘Singing Family’, with echoes reminiscent of the Von Trapps of ‘Sound of Music’ fame, chatting about their lives.
“Not only does Jude play and sing for the midnight mass here but travels across the Kurunegala diocese as well as others to sing at church feasts and special occasions,” says Kuliyapitiya Parish Priest, Fr. Prasantha Amerasekera.
The main church of six dotting the Kuliyapitiya Parish, Fr. Amerasekera says that as he stands in the sanctuary (altar) to hold the midnight mass, he sees his flock tightly-packing St. Joseph’s, which is more than 100 years old, and spilling out to the gate. And it is to them and with them that Jude will sing tomorrow night.
Originally from Kurana but now living in Kuliyapitiya, Jude’s musical journey began as a shorts-clad boy of 14, schooling at Christ King College, Tudella.
Regarding his “patan gemma” (beginnings), he says that “thaththata sihinayak thibba mama palliwala geethika kiyanna one kiyala,” Jude recalls, explaining that his father had a dream that he (Jude) should dedicate his life to singing hymns in church.
So his father took him to a master living at Modera’s Dockland Handiya (junction) to learn the violin, but not before placing his hand on Jude’s head and dedicating him to the Holy Spirit. Five months into his training, he began accompanying his master to play and sing at churches.
There had been no doubt in Jude’s mind as to what his vocation would be after he left school. Singing throughout while working at Giriulla Mills and then later in Oman he had given up his job to devote his whole life to fulfilling his father’s dream. Everything had fallen into place, for when he married cousin Shermila not only was she well aware of his singing inclinations but joined him as well with their children taking to this path at a very young age, as music and song filled their home.
Shermila reminisces how when their children were very small, the four of them would get on their motorcycle and ride off to churches far away to sing and play – they have offered their music at feasts at 25 churches in the Kurunegala diocese and outside, travelling distances to Madhu, Madampe, Talawila, Chilaw and even the jungle shrine of Pallekandal within the Wilpattu National Park. Jude is also a member of the National Choir of Kithu Dana Pubuduwa.
But it is not just Christian devotional songs that they sing and for Jude, there is joy when he speaks of a visit to the Dambadeniya Hospital to sing Bhakthi Gee on Esala poya last July. “We were supposed to sing in only two wards, but the requests came and ultimately we sang in all the wards and also the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” he says with humility, happy that they were able to bring solace through music to the patients.
It is during the few hours that they are not participating in a church celebration that they hold music classes at home to keep the family budget on even keel. “We lead a very simple life. Even though we haven’t much economically, God looks after us,” says Shermila.
Jude and Shermila have been married for 28 years and say in one voice that “aduvak ne” (there is no lack) in their lives.
Jude Gomis: Fulfilling his father’s dream
They talk of divine protection and refer to several journeys they have made recently to train a choir for a little church in Talgahapitiya and three more in a remote corner of the diocese. The church did not have a choir for 50-60 years and Jude and family had undertaken the task of establishing one there which sang lustily at the church feast on December 9.
So the family went 38 km back and forth to help a group cobbled together as a choir, returning home only around 1.30 the next morning daily.
“Paalu peththaka, palliya thiyenne kerolema,” smiles Shermila, as Jude says that they have gone across vel-yaya (paddy fields) and passed mini pittani (cemeteries) without being stranded (athara mang venne nethuwa). The latest was when they were returning at the crack of dawn, from Talgahapitiya. No soul was stirring nor was there any vehicle in sight.
Thata, thata gala, their small van ground to a halt, in the pitch dark. This was not a place to have a vehicle breakdown. But when they looked around it was very close to Sahana Nivasa in Udubeddawa, a home being run by a priest and they were able to get help there.
Of course, says Jude, before they venture on their musical journeys, they always recite the rosary and throughout they sing hymns until they reach their destination.
As they face the New Year having sung and played at Christmas and also the Watch Night Service, hope uplifts their lives. With God’s grace, they are planning to open the Beulah Music Academy, the name significant not just because it is their daughter’s but also because it is from the Bible.
We leave them to their practice and as the notes of: “As I kneel before you, As I bow my head in prayer, Take this day, make it yours and fill me with your love……Ave Maria…….”, waft across the church, it seems that the life this singing family has undertaken is truly the divine plan for them.