Dear Parishioners,
You are aware by now that I have been recently appointed as the next Parish Administrator of Holy Family Church, Mt Waverley.
Firstly, my sincere thanks goes to Archbishop Comensoli for placing his trust on me with this new ministry.
Secondly, I pay tribute to Fr Nicholas Pearce, your former Parish Priest, for his leadership and care for you in the past five years. I am humbled to have been asked to follow such a great pastor. We wish him well as he takes up his new appointment as Parish Priest of St Michael’s in North Melbourne and as Senior Chaplain to the Archdiocese.
Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude also goes to Fr Patrick Bradford, my classmate in the seminary, for holding the fort throughout this period of transition. No doubt he has made a good impression on you in the short time he was there. God’s blessings be upon Fr Patrick as he begins his appointment as Parish Administrator at St Thomas More Parish, Mt Eliza.
As some of you may know, this is my first appointment as Parish Administrator since my Ordination to the Priesthood in 2015. I have been an Assistant Priest in the parishes of St Fidelis in Moreland, St Mary of the Cross Parish in Mordialloc and Aspendale, and until recently at Sacred Heart/Emmaus Parish in St Albans/Sydenham.
There is much I have to learn in this new role as Parish Administrator, but I am confident that with your support, our parish will bear much fruit.
I am aware that I am coming to the parish in strange and difficult times, but as we move towards COVID normal, let us together as a community rebuild our parish and find new ways of celebrating our faith.
Apologies for the brevity of this letter, but I do intend to properly introduce myself to you in person in due time. In the meantime, I pray that you have a blessed Advent and a holy Christmas!
See you in the new year and I look forward to meeting you all.
Warm Regards,
Fr Justel Callos