By Glynnis Grainger
For the first time for the parish of Applecross, Bishop of Bunbury Gerard Holohan ordained Roshan Fernando to the Diaconate at St Benedict’s Church, Applecross, last Wednesday, 3 November.
The ordination took place in the Applecross church because Roshan did his pastoral placement for six months in the Applecross parish, teaching at the school and visiting parishioners’ homes.
Concelebrants were Fr Tony Chiera, Vicar-General of the Bunbury Diocese, Mgr Kevin Long, Rector of St Charles’ Seminary and Applecross Parish Priest, Fr Peter Whitely.
Bishop Holohan said before the Mass that this was a great celebration for the diocese of Bunbury, to which Roshan, 38, is attached.
He also thanked Parish Priest Fr Peter Whitely for “generously making the church available.”
The Bishop said in his homily: “In so many ways, God has shaped (Roshan) to this point. His family will be with us in March next year at his ordination to priesthood.
“It is important to understand what it is about. The starting point is Jesus, who called people to do His teaching.
“That he sent out the 72 and came back 12, Jesus supported them by giving them the example of the Lord’s Prayer.
“It is a challenge to Christians in the modern world. In many ways we are in conflict with society, a materialistic society.
“Parents know what I am warning about – they worry about the values their children will take.
“The first thing that Jesus taught them was that they were to be companions – without that relationship the ministry doesn’t work.
“We know Christ works through every Christian – through the ordained, starting with the Apostles . . . then there is the Ascension, Pentecost, they handed on the responsibility to give to others.
“St Paul did that too. The Apostles called some to share the ministry. For example, in Applecross, they work in their mission to serve.
“The ministry of priests will be about serving people. Jesus tried to reach out to others. He (Roshan) will serve as the instrument of Christ the Good Shepherd.
“In one way, Roshan will live in the person of Christ when he gives a homily.
“Whether preparing a couple for marriage, or students in the classroom, Roshan’s service will be in the person of Christ.”
Bishop Holohan continued: “Roshan receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders to serve the Church as a deacon. He has been called before he was born – he will experience fulfilment and peace.”
In his speech after the ceremony, Deacon Roshan thanked Bishop Gerard of Bunbury, all staff and relatives, and Fr Peter Whitely, and all parishioners of Applecross, for their encouragement and support.
“Please continue to pray for me and be assured of my love and prayers,” he said.
Parish Priest of Applecross, Fr Whitely quipped: “We hoped it would be someone from the parish, not someone from Bunbury diocese.
“Seminarians are always starving.
“There is tonnes and tonnes of food, like a WA country parish – please join us after the celebrations.”
Hymns from soloist Joe Orifici and Tony Harris’ new CD Singing Praises to God were sung by the choir of the Applecross parish in glorious tones.
The next day, Deacon Roshan told The Record that he was born in Sri Lanka and entered the (Redemptorist) National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka at the age of 18.
He said he did one year of Novitiate and passed his Bachelor of Philosophy.
Roshan worked in Verona in Italy in a five-star hotel near the house of Juliet from Romeo and Juliet for five years and said he “speaks Italian better than English.”
His desire to become a priest “was there deep within my heart,” and he told his parents and some of his friends.
He came to Australia in July 2007 and entered St Charles’ Seminary, Guildford, and has been studying at the University of Notre Dame Australia at Fremantle.
He hopes to be ordained in the newly-completed St Patrick’s Cathedral in Bunbury in March next year.