Born: Bastia (Corsica), March 1, 1838.
Took the habit: N.-D. de l’Osier, September 7, 1859.
Vows: Montolivet, February 17, 1861 (No. 529).
Priestly ordination: Autun, July 26, 1864.
Died: Jaffna, July 2, 1891.

Étienne Ghilini was born in Bastia, diocese of Ajaccio, on March 1, 1838. His parents were André and Catherine Ghilini. He began his novitiate in Notre-Dame de l’Osier on September 7, 1859 and studied theology in Montolivet (1860-1862) and in Autun 1862-1864). He took vows at Montolivet in the presence of Bishop Hippolyte Guibert of Tours on February 17, 1861 and was ordained priest in Autun on July 26, 1864. The novice master in Notre-Dame de l’Osier and the moderators of scholastics in Montolivet and Autun said that this Brother was very pious and docile but did not have great ability and was lacking in judgement.

He left for Ceylon on September 19, 1864 and spent his missionary life in the diocese of Jaffna. Having learned some Tamil he was assistant priest in Batticaloa from 1865 to 1868 and pastor in Pesalai from 1868 to 1875. Then he was responsible for the mission in Valigamam in 1865-1866 and then in Mirusuvil from 1876to 1891. In 1891 he spent some time in Anuradhapura and it was there that he had the first attack of malaria. That was the illness that caused his death in Jaffna on July 2, 1891.

A short death notice in The Catholic Guardian (Vol. XVI, N. 26, July 4, 1891) says that Father Ghilini “was a zealous and active missionary and a hard worker. In spite of the many difficulties he encountered and the privations in the midst of the burning sands of Pesalai and in the unhealthy district of Patchilapali, he never asked his Superiors to be changed, nor did he ever utter a word of complaint. He put up with all the privations patiently, courageously and cheerfully. There was always a gentle smile on his face and we never remember seeing him discouraged. His friendliness, his gentle character, his quiet cheerfulness and his attractive disposition endeared him to his Superiors, to his confreres and to all the Christians entrusted to his care…”

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.