Parishioners celebrated the installation of its first Somascan Parish Priest Rev Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS – at St Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park, in a special Mass and ceremony.
Fr Johnson was the first and only person from his diocese in India to join the Congregation of the Somascan Fathers, and as such, he is a unique treasure for the Glenmore Park community.
While Fr Johnson had joined the parish four months earlier on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, his installation on 12 October 2024 cemented his presence and spiritual leadership in the Glenmore Park parish community.
Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS speaks during his installation Mass as Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta.
Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv celebrated the Installation of Mass among a full crowd of faithful parishioners, clergy and Fr Johnson’s fellow Somascans, and presented the congregation with their new Parish Priest,
“I invite you to greet your new Parish Priest and to make him feel welcome and loved among you,” Bishop Long beckoned the faithful.
Bishop Vincent then invited Glenmore Park’s Parish Council to the front of the church to publicly pledge their unwavering support of Fr Johnson, and to safeguard the parish as one of “faith, hope and love.”
“We move forward to a new chapter, a promising future with God as our guide,” Bishop Vincent said.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta (right) installs Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS as Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta.
He also acknowldeged the Somascan congregation for continuing the legacy of Saint Jerome Emiliani in serving the poor and taking care of orphans and abandoned youth.
“It’s the first time we have had a ‘poster’ parish priest,” Bishop Vincent quipped, making reference to a poster of Fr Johnson that had been displayed by the parishioners to mark his induction.
“It’s an indication of how beloved he is to the parish,” he added.
Fr Johnson, who this year celebrated his 20th anniversary of priestly ordination, thanked the Bishop for his leadership, the parishioners for their love and support and “for embarrassing me by putting up my photo.”.
“You are my family, I will be your family.”
Fr Johnson said he would welcome everyone to the parish with love, compassion, and care.
He also thanked Assistant Priest, Fr Sheldon Burke CRS, “for his brotherly love [and] brotherly care.”
Fr Sheldon Burke, assistant Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta.
“For me, being a successful Parish Priest is about carrying the parish in my heart as my family” — Fr Johnson Joseph
A good shepherd to the parish
Parishioners shared their intense feelings of love and admiration for the newly installed parish priest following the Mass.
“He’s very loving, caring, understanding, and approachable — I feel so close to Jesus when I’m near him,” said parishioner Rani Pilikkal, having got to know him over the past few months.
Another parishioner, Mel Gaudoin,commended Fr Johnson’s compassion and empathy towards others.
“He understands people and the pain they are going through,” Mel said.
He’s very easy to get along with,” agreed Parish Council Chair, Zon Lupisan, to which Fr Johnson replied with a hug: “Because you’re all very good people.”
A parishioner in prayer during the installation Mass of Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS as Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta.
The long road to Glenmore Park
The thought of a journey to priesthood for Fr Johnson began when he was at school, but he didn’t begin his formal training until he was 23. Following a period of discernment, he became a member of the Congregation of the Somascan Fathers, recognised as Clerics Regular of Somasca (CRS): a religious order dedicated to the care, assistance andpromotion of poor, orphans, and abandoned youth.
“Definitely the calling was from God,” he said on joining the Somascan order.
“I would say that the spirit of the charism of St Jerome Emiliani, the spirit of paternity, made me request them to let me join.”
Before being appointed to St Padre Pio Parish, he worked for 12 years in the Archdiocese of Perth. He was called back to India in 2016 to work in the field of formation, returning both to Australia and to parish ministry after eight years in India.
Since arriving at St Padre Pio, he’s started a Young Adult Group. It has 52 members. He hopes to start a youth group for teens, and a women and men’s ministry. He also wants to run formation meetings for families, and to have more social gatherings and fund-raisers.
(L-R) Fr Sheldon Burke, assistant Parish Priest of St Padre Pio Parish, Fr Jose Manjaly MS Parish Priest of St Nicholas of Myra Parish, Penrith, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta and Fr Johnson Malayil Joseph CRS with the acolytes and altar servers. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta.
“All these plans are in my mind only because I know that I have great support,” Fr Johnson said.
His impact is already being felt by the parish’s local youth.
Altar server Connor aged 17, described Fr Johnson as “an amazing priest” and “a good shepherd to the parish.”
Meanwhile, sisters Rose and Elizabeth, aged 17 and 18 respectively, went a step further, describing him as “the best priest ever.”
“He’s definitely a saint and he’s bringing us to sainthood,” said Rose, who attributed his popularity to a noticeable growth in attendance at the weekly services.
Learn more about the Congregation of Somascan Fathers and lay Somascan Movement in Australia.
Visit St Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park for Mass details.
View images from Fr Johnson’s installation here or below.
