Fr. Virgil Amirthakumar was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka and studied at the National Seminary, Kandy Sri Lanka. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1983 for the diocese of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He served as a pastor at St. Nicholas and Mary's parish in Jaffna for ten years. He moved to Canada in 1993 and received his Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling (marriage counseling) in 1995 from St. Paul University, Ottawa. From 1995-1999 he served as a Chaplain at the Civic hospital, Ottawa. He was incardinated to the Archdiocese of Ottawa in 1999 and became the pastor of St. Bernard parish on Sept. 1, 1999. He praises the friendliness of this community and the people who give so much of their time to assist him in making St. Bernard a loving community.