| Honorific-Prefix: | Servant of God |
| Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas | |
| Birth Date: | 7 March 1886 |
Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas or "Father Thomas" (7 March 1886 – 26 January 1964) was a Roman Catholic priest of the congregation of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and founder of the Rosarians Order.[1]
Thomas was born on 7 March 1886 in Padiyanthalvu, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He studied at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna and at University of Cambridge. Since childhood he was of weak health.[2]
Thomas was compelled to become a priest after hearing the words “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24) at a Sacred Scripture lesson. He was ordained a priest on 6 January 1912. Bishop Alfred-Jean Guyomard, OMI, the Bishop of Jaffna, invited Thomas to establish contemplative monasteries on the island.[2] He was well versed in Hindu literature and the Hindu classics.[2]
Thomas died on 26 January 1964[2] and was declared a Servant of God on 11 March 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.[2]