It was standing room only at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, St Marys, on Sunday, 19 April, for the installation of their new Parish Priest.
Hundreds of parishioners were on hand to witness Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, the Bishop of Parramatta, officially welcome and install as Parish Priest Fr Jeff Miller SDB who, up until a few months ago, had been the director of the Don Bosco Youth Centre, located across the road from the church.
Fr Jeff takes over from his much-loved predecessor Fr Brendan Murphy, who was at the parish – which is administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco – for 15 years and who was transferred to New Zealand at the beginning of 2026.
Fr Jeff Miller SDB during his installation Mass as parish priest of Our Lady of the Rosary, St Mary’s. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
In his remarks during the Mass, Bishop Vincent paid tribute to Fr Brendan’s leadership and wished Fr Jeff well in his stewardship of the parish.
“Fr Jeff has big shoes to fill. His predecessor Fr Brendan has left behind a great legacy at St Marys,” Bishop Vincent said.
“Our Lady of the Rosary, I’m proud to say as your Bishop, is one of the most spiritual, dynamic and socially engaged parishes in the Diocese.
“Besides the youth centre that caters for young people and families, it leads the way in sacramental activities, devotions, outreach services, education and family action.”
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop installing Fr Jeff Miller SDB as parish priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Assistant Priest Fr Gersio Amaral SDB, who has also recently joined the parish from Timor Leste, has quickly learned that there is no shortage of confession, masses and other pastoral engagement in the parish, Bishop Vincent said.
“Let us work with Fr Jeff and his Salesian conference in writing a new chapter for the life of this community,” he said.
“May we leave Fr Jeff and his team with our prayers for the shared mission of the Church. Let us renew our commitment to embrace the path of Jesus.”
Fr Jeff Miller SDB greeting a parishioner following his installation Mass. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Fr Jeff, in his speech in reply, thanked Bishop Vincent for “putting your trust in me to accept the Salesian’s recommendation to be the priest here…I will certainly try my best every day to show you that was a good choice”.
He also thanked his fellow Salesian priests at St Marys Fr Gersio and Fr Joseph, the new director of the Don Bosco Youth Centre, and for the entire parish community who continue to give him huge support.
“The priest is nothing without his people,” Fr Jeff told the congregation. “If I had to be a parish priest anywhere in any parish in Australia I couldn’t imagine a luckier place to be than here, knowing there’s so much support.”
He said he was often asked if he was stressed or worried about becoming the Parish Priest at St Marys and he always answers “absolutely not, knowing that there’s so many people here praying all the time”.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta and Fr Jeff Miller SDB following his installation Mass. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
The installation of Fr Jeff as Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Rosary supports the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Mission and Formation, and the objective of being A Church Renewed in Spirit and Prayer. Visit Synodality to learn more.
View the photo gallery on Flickr, or below.
