Completing his licentiate studies in Canon Law at Saint Paul University in Ottawa at the time, Jeyaseelan was asked by his prior general in India and his regional superior in Sri Lanka to explore the possibility of founding one of the monastic religious communities in Canada. After approaching London Bishop Ronald Fabbro, the bishop invited the Rosarians to the diocese and to the Shrine. The London diocese placed the monks at the Shrine since the locality is very conducive for prayer life away from the hustle and bustle of society, he said.

Jeyaseelan said when he first came to Canada, he experienced culture shock.

“But it didn’t take long for me to become used to the new lifestyle in Canada and to the people,” he said. “I think this was because of my common identity as a Catholic and priest. I really felt and still feel at home in Canada because the Canadians are a welcoming and happy people.”

At the Shrine, which took up its current post on two hectares of land near St. Patrick’s parish in 1998, the Rosarians follow a daily monastic schedule of prayer and work — and are also available for the spiritual needs of the pilgrims, said Jeyaseelan.

He is convinced of the importance of prayer ministry. Pope Benedict XVI’s pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland after that nation’s abuse scandal only affirms this.

“He says what we can do now in this moment of crisis is to pray before the real presence of the Lord and to do penance to make reparation for sins,” said Jeyaseelan. “This is the life of the Rosarian monks: prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and penance to make reparations for the outrages committed by the world against the Divine Majesty.”

He is proud to do reparation in the presence of the Lord for the sins of the world.

“People should be reminded of the holiness of the Church and the priests in this critical moment in the history of the Church. My desire and prayer is this Shrine may become a prayer-house for all — in the diocese of London and outside.”

There are currently about 250 members in the Congregation of the Rosarians. The order has 13 monasteries in India and five in Sri Lanka, said Jeyaseelan.

Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine

At this shrine in Merlin, Ont., in the London diocese, you will find a series of trails dedicated to the rosary, saints, apparitions and the Stations of the Cross.

o The Rosary Trail — which follows the actual shape of a rosary — consists of all 20 mysteries depicted in picture form that are situated on individual garden niches along the trail.

o The Saints Trail is made up of statues of saints and descriptions of their lives, along with prayers and devotions associated with them.

o The Approved Apparitions Trail consists of statues of Our Lady representing some of the locations in the world that the Church officially recognizes as places where she has appeared.

o The Stations of the Cross Trail ends with a large cross and a reproduction of the Pieta statue.

o An Our Lady of Fatima grotto and a large crucifix with statues of Mother Mary, St. John and Mary Magdalene.

For information, contact Fr. Jeyaseelan at (519) 689-7760 or see www.olrshrine.ca.