Born: Corte, Corsica, December 19, 1822
Took the habit: N.-D. de l’Osier, April 6, 1845.
Vows: : N.-D. de l’Osier, April 7, 1846 (N. 155).
Died: Kotahena, Ceylon, May 1, 1893.
Dominique Pulicani was born in Corte, Corsica, on December 19, 1822. He was a seminarian in Ajaccio when he asked to become an Oblate. The Founder at first wanted him to make his novitiate in the seminary while continuing his study of theology, but in 1845 he sent him to Notre-Dame de l’Osier, where he took the habit on April 6. Bishop de Mazenod wrote to Father Vincens, superior of the novitiate: Our Fathers in Corsica “are giving me the most capable and virtuous candidate in their seminary”. On April 7, 1846, Dominique Pulicani made his vows. The general council had admitted him in the meeting of the preceding March 11. The minutes of that meeting state: “This young man had already spent several years in the major seminary of Ajaccio, under the eyes of our Fathers; during all that time he constantly distinguished himself by his piety, his application to study and his progress in theological sciences. Having reached the sub-diaconate, he asked to be admitted to the Congregation and was sent to the novitiate in Notre-Dame de l’Osier. Since his entry and up to this time, his fervour and regularity have not been forgotten.” He has requested and obtained the oblation cross of Father François-Noël Moreau who died in Ajaccio on February 2, 1846 while he was superior of the seminary.
The scholastic Pulicani was then ordained to the priesthood in Marseilles on June 28, 1846. He was sent immediately to Notre-Dame de Bon Secours to look after some juniors whom Father Dassy had assembled there and to prepare for preaching.
In February 1849, Father Pulicani was sent to Algeria together with some other priests. Bishop L.A. Pavy had undertaken to entrust the parish ministry in Blida to them and also the ministry in the city hospital. However, he sent them instead to a place outside the city and asked them to take care of seven villages quite distant from one another and of which the inhabitants were Europeans who did not practice their religion. Father Pulicani, assessor to the Superior, Father Viala, ministered in Chiffa and Mouzaia. In July 1850 Bishop de Mazenod recalled the Oblates from Algeria, saying that “our Fathers are not where they belong in Algeria”.
Father Pulicani was then earmarked for South Africa, but went eventually to Ceylon where the Apostolic Vicars were asking especially for Italian Oblates. He left with three other Oblates and was assigned to the apostolic vicariate of Colombo. Bishop de Mazenod informed Father Semeria, superior of Jaffna, that he was sending him “real jewels”. Father Pulicani, the elder of the two, “is a real saint, good and of pleasant character” but not made to be superior or treasurer.
He ministered in several villages: first of all in Moratuwa, Kalutara and Duwa. In 1858 he was in Kandy and from there he went to Siyanna Korale in 1861, returning to Duwa in 1864. In 1866 the Oblates left the vicariate of Colombo and were then all in Jaffna, where Bishop Semeria died in January 1868 and was succeeded by Bishop Christophe Bonjean. In 1869 the Bishop appointed Father Pulicani vicar general, remarking that he had outstanding aptitude for administration. Among other things the bishop wrote: “Father Pulicani has a great grasp of business matters. He has exercised his ministry south and north, in almost all of the island; he has an in depth knowledge of persons and things and their history. His zeal will not be discouraged by anything; his prudence provides for every eventuality. His piety makes him a living model of all the religious and priestly virtues. And to that must be added a great perspicacity and an unshakeable constancy. If I were to die here and now he is the only one who could replace me. He is esteemed and venerated by all our members”.
In 1883, the Congregation of Propaganda entrusted the apostolic vicariate of Colombo to the Oblates and appointed Bishop Bonjean to it. Father Pulicani followed him there and ministered in several localities. In 1888 he became novice master in Bambalapitiya and in 1889 he was appointed superior in Kotahena. His poor health would no longer allow him to work in the ministry. He died on May 1, 1893. The author of his necrology note wrote: “The special characteristic of Father Pulicani was, like his divine Master, gentleness and humility of heart. His only concern was to be pleasant to others, his only fear was that he might offend them. He was always good and condescending and saw only what was good in others. In all those whom he directed he inspired great trust and manly courage. Although he spoke little, a word from him, or even his mere presence, was an eloquent sermon. He spoke Italian, French, Latin, English, Singhalese and Tamil with equal facility.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
