St Jerome’s welcomes new parish priest, says goodbye to another

04 Oct 2012

By Robert Hiini

Fr Johnson, Fr Mathew and Archbishop Timothy Costelloe take a moment of jubilation as Fr Mathew is installed as the new parish priest at St Jerome’s in Spearwood.

St Jerome’s Parish welcomed the installation of a new parish priest last Saturday night, while at the same time, giving an emphatic vote of thanks to their outgoing pastor.

Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costelloe SDB commended Fr Mathew Velliyamkandathil CRS to God and to the congregation as a man fit to share in his own pastoral ministry of trying to be a good shepherd to the people.

Fr Mathew is one of three Somascan Fathers already stationed at the parish, together with outgoing parish priest Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS and assistant priest Fr Sundararao Lourdu Raju Pasala CRS.

Fr Johnson stood down in preparation for a new position in the Somascan Congregation which will necessitate moving to India next year. He will remain in residence at the parish but made way for his confrere, Fr Mathew to ensure an orderly transition.

“Tonight, I want to remind Fr Mathew, although I suspect he doesn’t need too much reminding, of what it is to be called to be a priest and a pastor in a parish,” Archbishop Costelloe said in his homily.

“Fr Mathew, as you did on the day of your ordination, you commit yourself to being a good shepherd to God’s people, to proclaiming and living by the Word of God and to remain faithful to all you have committed yourself to.”

Fr Mathew would need parishioners to offer him their loyalty, their support, and their prayers,  in order to be “able to be all that you need him to be and all that God is calling him to be”, the Archbishop said.

“You are now receiving a good shepherd into your midst who is called to place his life at your service.”

After his homily, Archbishop Costelloe invited Fr Mathew to stand before him to lead parishioners in their own profession of faith before making his own oath of fidelity to the office of parish priest.

Fr Mathew’s Religious confrere, outgoing parish priest and friend, Fr Johnson held the microphone for Fr Mathew during the profession, clearly rejoicing in the spontaneous applause Fr Mathew received after his “Amen”.

In his few remarks following Communion, Fr Mathew said he “feared and trembled” when he thought of his own limitations and unworthiness for the role.

“But the words of St Bernardine give me consolation: Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to accept a lofty vocation or mission, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand,” Fr Mathew said.

“I am also reminded of what Thomas Aquinas said: It is not because we are good that God has chosen us, but God’s choice, makes us good.”

He was intent on ensuring that the Blessed Eucharist remained at the very centre of the parish and that people continued to be nourished by devout celebration of the Sacraments.

“I will hold you all in my heart and attempt to know and love as a father in spirit. I pray and wish that you and your spiritual life will be the first thought I get up with and the last thought I go to bed with,” Fr Mathew said.

Outgoing pastor, Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph’s comments were also greeted with spontaneous applause.

He had grown in step with the parish, he said, having been only three months ordained when taking up the post seven years ago, in 2005.

“My heart is full of gratitude for you; for your acceptance of me; for your patience with me; for your appreciation of me; also, for some of your corrections which you sometimes gave me which helped me a lot,” Fr Johnson said.

“Thank you to each and every one of you; thanks a lot.”

The only advice he would give Fr Mathew, he said, was to tell him to “please learn from my mistakes”.

“I am confident he will be really, an ideal pastor; a saintly pastor. But support him, definitely … Only Jesus and the grace of God can fill his heart.”

Before praying the final blessing, Archbishop Costelloe thanked Fr Johnson and praised the Somascan Congregation for the “character of their Religions family” which they brought to the parish.

“My great gratitude for the Somascan Fathers; for their generosity to this parish and this archdiocese,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

The installation came at an appropriate time, taking place a day before the Feast Day of the parish’s patron, St Jerome, and on the final day of the year-long jubilee celebration of the miraculous liberation from prison of Somascan founder, St Jerome Emiliani, on September 27, 1511.

The music selected for worship reflected the rich, ethnic make-up of the parish, featuring English, Italian, Croatian and Portuguese hymn.