2007

Today was a beautiful day of walking. Ingrid and I started off before dawn and walked for 3 hours in the light rain during which we solved the problems of the church, the world, and our lives.

 Then I caught up to Mykey and we found some kittens. 


We continue to follow a fertile valley full of vineyards, flanked on either side by high mountains blanketed in clouds. 

 

 In 2007 I said an earlier farewell than I expected to Narraweena. Bishop David asked me to go and study formation for a future formation house, so I left in September for Chicago. 

What was most remarkable was the transition of the parish over to the leadership of Fr Joseph Pattakandam. Fr Joseph had arrived in Australia a couple of years previously. He was among the first Indian priests to come to Australia. He had quite limited English and struggled with pronunciation, but over two or three years he so engaged the parish community. 

It was such a learning curve for me to live and work with someone from another culture, and to learn that different isn't wrong, it's just different. I tried to accommodate him as best I could be eating what he liked to cook, which was fish curry five times a week. He had to bend to local customs so much more than I did. 

A few parishioners were key in helping him engage. Clive & Flavia Pereira and their boys as one of the few Indian families in the parish took him under their wing, and Toni Byrne so effectively mentored him that she went on to do this for another half a dozen priests from overseas. When I think of which priests most thrived in ministry in Australia there is a strong correlation with "Toni's boys". 

Fr Joseph had a spiritual warmth and a human maturity which drew people to him. He prayed Mass with such reverence and then stood at the pathway of the school grounds each day to welcome the children, gaining their trust and respect. 

When I announced to the parish that I would be leaving in three months there were the expected gasps and shock. But when I announced that Fr Joseph would be taking over as Administrator the whole church applauded. It was an extraordinary indicator of how far he had come and how far the parish had come in embracing him. 

Joseph went from my assistant priest whom I worked with to my friend whom I love. I was delighted to meet up with him when he came back to visit the parish some years later. 



Comments

  1. Anonymous6 September 2024 at 14:34

    Love your blog. It is so touching to read the story of Fr Joseph. He was lucky to have you for helping him to settle in. Godbless!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dominic Philippa6 September 2024 at 16:21

    To have been a silent witness to your discussion with Ingrid would have been enlightening. Especially with your soft approach and ability to allow Noviciate’s to express themselves like what you do for the seminarians back home. I would not be surprised if you have an invitation to Ingrid’s ordination soon! Pleased to hear both you and Mykey are doing well.
    I’m enjoying being the armchair observer of your journey it is making me eager to do this Camino myself one day.

    God Bless and Bueno Camino. .

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kate Atchison6 September 2024 at 17:43

    Hi Fr Jim. I’ve just read all the Camino blogs. Wow. What an amazing experience. Cant wait to read more. Stay safe. God Bless.

    ReplyDelete

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