Familiar territory for Fr Janeesh
People
Father Janeesh Jose Puthenpurackal CMI might be newest priest in the Adelaide Archdiocese but he is far from new when it comes to Australia.
In fact, he’s probably seen more kangaroos than most Aussies, having spent more than 13 years in the Victorian diocese of Sale where he served in rural and semi-rural parishes.
“I used to see so many kangaroos when I was on the road,” he said.
“Especially driving between Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota.”
The 44-year-old Carmelites of Immaculate Mary priest even has a favourite Australian Rules football team, the Sydney Swans, but is considering changing to the Adelaide Crows.
One of three children, Fr Janeesh was born and educated in Cochin, a coastal city in Kerala known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ because of its natural harbour and historical dominance as a major centre for the spice trade. He attended his local parish primary and high schools before going to the minor seminary in a nearby town at the age of 16.
It was a relatively easy decision for him to pursue a priestly vocation.
“My mum’s younger brother, my uncle, is a Missionaries of St Francis de Sales priest, so there was already a kind of connection in the family so that made it easier to join,” he said.
After the minor seminary he attended the CMI Major seminary in Bangalore. While studying he also spent time doing pastoral work, including visiting juvenile homes and assisting in parishes on the weekend.
After 14 years of study, he was ordained in his home archdiocese of Ernakulam on December 27 2009.
“It was a special day indeed, a couple of thousand people were there – we invited everyone in the parish,” he said.
Fr Janeesh was secretary to the Provincial and assistant priest in a parish for one year before the then Bishop of Sale, Christopher Prowse, invited him and another CMI priest to come to Australia.
It was his first time out of India, but Fr Janeesh said he didn’t find the transition difficult.
After being assigned as assistant priest in the early years, he was appointed parish priest of the recently amalgamated Foster and Yarram parishes and then to St Patrick’s parish in Pakenham.
In 2024 Fr Janeesh returned to India for a one-year sabbatical which included personal renewal programs and retreats, as well as some time with his parents.
He had met Archbishop O’Regan when he was Bishop of Sale and he travelled through Adelaide on a trip to Coober Pedy, so it was familiar territory when his provincial suggested he move to SA.
His interests include playing basketball, evening walks and watching cricket on TV.
As a priest, he said he tries to be “collaborative, inclusive of everyone, approachable and open”.
