Tuesday January 03, 2023

Clergy appointments announced

Local

A number of clergy appointments, including a new parish priest for Henley Beach, have been announced by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan following a “long and prayerful process”.

Tuesday January 03, 2023

Tuesday January 03, 2023 Comments

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After the departure of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart from Henley Beach parish, Archbishop O’Regan said Fr Manu Kumbidiyamackal MSFS had been appointed parish priest, effective from the weekend of January 21-22.

Fr Roderick O’Brien will be the temporary administrator of the parish until Fr Manu, currently parish priest of Para Hills/Modbury, takes up his appointment.

Fr Kym Spurling will replace Fr Manu as parish priest of the Para Hills/Modbury Parish.

Deacon Andrew Kirkbride has been appointed as pastoral director of the Greenacres/Walkerville parish, with Fr Dean Marin appointed as priest moderator for the parish. Fr David Thoroughgood will be the permanent supply priest for Sunday and weekday Masses and for funeral Masses, penance and anointing of the sick.

Archbishop O’Regan said that Fr Philip Marshall would take some “well-earned leave” from January 9 to April 16, before commencing in the role of parish priest of Mount Barker/Strathalbyn while continuing his pastoral care of the Murray Bridge, Murray Mallee and Mallee Border parishes as priest moderator for the remainder of 2023.

Fr Richard Morris continues as parish priest of Mount Barker/Strathalbyn until April 16 at which time he will retire from full time ministry. He will be available for one year as a supply priest for the Murray Bridge, Murray Mallee  and Mallee Border parishes, supported by Deacon Arturo Jimenea as pastoral director for that period. Fr John Vildzius is also available for one year as the regular supply priest for these three parishes. Fr Ian Wilson will continue to be available as supply priest in the Mount Barker/Strathalbyn parish, as well as for Murray Bridge, Murray Mallee and Mallee Border parishes.

Fr Santosh Pereira MSFS has been appointed parish priest of Elizabeth from the second Sunday of Easter, April 16. Until then, the parish will continue to be supported for Masses, funerals and sacraments by priests from the Cathedral parish and the Archdiocese.

Fr Christopher Matala will leave the South East parish of Naracoorte and become parish priest of Morphett Vale from April 16.

The Albert Park/Pennington Parish will come under the pastoral care of the Resurrection Fathers, Frs Roman Palma CR and Marian Szablewski CR. This is in accordance with the wishes of their Provincial, effective from April 16 when parish priest Fr Tony Densley will retire from full time ministry.

Fr Peter Zwaans, parish priest of Mount Gambier, will also be parish priest of Penola from April 16. Fr Olek Stirrat has been appointed assistant priest to Penola. Fr Arul Dev SdM, currently at Penola, has been appointed parish priest of Naracoorte and Bordertown parishes, also effective from April 16. Frs Zwaans, Stirrat and Dev will work together to provide weekend Masses throughout the South East.

Fr Anthony Beltrame has been appointed assistant priest to the Hectorville parish from the weekend of January 7-8. At this time, Fr Matthew Newman will take on the role of assistant priest to the Adelaide Cathedral parish, where Fr Beltrame has been based. Fr Pat Lopresti has also been appointed assistant priest to the Cathedral parish from Ash Wednesday, February 22.

Fr Santhosh Nazareth CSC, who arrived from India in December, has been appointed for the time being as assistant priest to the Sacred Heart parish (Hindmarsh/Findon).