Frs. Mathew Manjaly, Jolly C. Ayyamkolil, Joy Porathur and Sunny Poovathumkudy were the first La Salettes who came to the Diocese of Parramatta. The Parramatta Diocese is one of the fastest-growing in the western Sydney area. We started ministering in different parishes and returned home to a community house provided by the diocese in 2012. We were given a parish (St. Nicola of Myra, Pernith). Fr. Mathew M. Antony is parish priest and Fr. Jose Manjaly is assistant. Fr. Jolly C. Ayyamkolil is the administrator in Glenbrook parish which is not far from the Pernith parish.
When Frs. Jolly and Sunny went back to India, three others arrived, Jose Manjaly, Joy Chukkananikal and Joby Kadampatt. Later Fr. Jolly came back to Australia and Fr. Joy C. went back to India.
At present we are considering the parish in Pernith our community center for gatherings, both formal and informal. We have two La Salettes ministering in the Archdiocese of Canberra, Frs. Sijo Thekkekunnel and Jiss Kunnumpurath.
Fr. Joseph Punnakunnel was in Canberra for three years before returning to India. Fr. Jiss will arrive in November 2015. At present we are 7 members from the Indian province ministering in Australia.
Every Thursday we come together as a community and spend time sharing prayer and meals, engaging in meetings and recreation.
We are trying our best to bring the charism of reconciliation to our ministries in the parish, the school, and other areas of mission and ministry. We celebrate the La Salette Feast by involving many parishioners and stressing the multicultural aspect of our parish communities. We do ministry in the parish schools. We make it a point to help out in the sacrament of reconciliation in all parishes of the Deanery whenever called upon. We do have two hours of confession every week in the parishes where we minister. We are trying to live a simple life, saving as much as we can to support the Province.
As of now we are all doing well and are happy in our ministry and mission. The Australia mission is a mission worth continuing. There is also the possibility of expanding our presence in the future. May God bless our Congregation in all our missions and ministries.
Rev. Mathew Manjaly Antony, MS