By Jamie O’Brien
Not long after a young Sean Fernandez began an engineering degree over a quarter of a century ago, he became convinced his destiny in life was not to build physical bridges – but spiritual ones.
In an interview with The Record to talk about his recent 25th anniversary on December 16 and 50th birthday last September, the Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral revealed that his desire to serve the Church as a priest had been ignited during his childhood years in Singapore.
The son of Eddy, a civil servant working in the police, security and foreign services, and Shirley, a teacher, Fr Sean is the middle of three children, with sisters Sonia and Sharmini.
Having completed his primary years and in the midst of his secondary education, the family moved to Australia in 1984, when Sean was aged 15. The family resumed their faith life at (then) Floreat Parish.
Fr Sean recalled that it was his Parish Priest in Singapore, Fr Saussard that first sowed the seeds towards his becoming a priest.
“Faith was also integral to my family life”, Fr Sean shared.
“I
knew I wanted to be a priest since I was about 5 years old. I recall speaking
to my parents and my family at the time, so the calling has been a constant,”
he said.
The desire never left him, and was ever present event when the family migrated
to Perth.
Fr Sean went on to complete Year 11 and 12 at Churchlands High School, and later commencing studies in Electrical Engineering at Curtin University for one year.
Fr
Sean wanted to join the Seminary immediately after graduating from Churchlands
High School, but his parents, Eddy and Shirley, who were always supportive of
his call, encouraged him to wait.
By 1987, he could no longer ignore the calling within, and after speaking to his
then Parish Priest, his future as an engineer came to an abrupt halt.
“My
parish priest was delighted and said that he hoped I would succeed him one
day,” Fr Sean recalls, which had prophetic undertones – he would later minister
for a brief period in the now Floreat-Wembley Parish.
Fr Sean went on to spend a few months at St Charles Seminary in Guildford,
under the gentle tutelage of now Emeritus Bishop Justin Bianchini and Bishop Don
Sproxton, before being accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese, commencing
his training at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide.
During these formative years, he undertook pastoral placements at Greenwood and Yangebup (known as South Lake) Parishes and completed a Bachelor of Theology at Flinders University.
“This time was a blessing because it was there [on pastoral placement] that I was able to discover what the priesthood would look like, and thanks to the support of parishioners and fellow clergy, I continue to learn,” Fr Sean recalled.
Fr Sean was ordained to the Diaconate on 30 January 1994 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Doubleview Parish, and then to the Priesthood at the age of 25 on 16 December 1994 at St Mary’s Cathedral.
He
first appointed was to be Assistant Parish Priest at Whitford, under the
direction of now Mgr Tim Corcoran, who was then Parish Priest.
This was followed by stints at Floreat-Wembley Parish and City Beach Parish.
From 1999 to 2006, he completed a licence and then doctorate in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, also teaching in the same university.
His previous recent role as Parish Priest at Attadale, where he served for 12 years, was integral for the community, being a key part of the development and building of the new Church that opened in March 2017. While at Attadale he also had the pastoral care of Santa Maria College.
Fr Fernandez recalls positively the welcome and support from parishioners and Santa Maria College students alike.
“Part of the whole community in many ways taught me what it is to be a Parish Priest. We learn what it is to be a priest from the people.
“It was a small community, so I got to know people a fair bit,” he expressed.
His response to his new role as Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral?
“My first thoughts are the need to be pastoral in what is a very active community. I am keen to build on the work of the people that have gone before me,” Fr Sean explained.
“The Cathedral has a large role in the diocese and the city and I am excited about continuing to ensure it is a welcoming place for all people to come together,” he said.
Fr Sean also noted some highlights of his life over the last 50 years.
“Having that ability [as a priest] to build relationships in the community; being invited into people’s in joy and sorrow; this is what I appreciate and enjoy.”