New Zealand church ordains first Indian-origin priest

Mangalore Today News Network

Auckland, July 31, 2016: Reports  state that  Indian origin  Fr Austin Fernandes was ordained last week with Korea-born Fr Marchellino Park by Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

They are the first of their ethnicities to be ordained as priests in Auckland, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, said Bishop Dunn.

“Here in the diocese, we come from many different cultures, many different languages, many different families, but we share one gift: the beautiful gift of the priesthood,” said the bishop at the ordination.

Fr Fernandes experienced the first inkling of a call from God at a retreat in India in 2000.  “I wouldn’t say it was a calling as such, but that retreat changed my life,” he said.   Fr Fernandes, 45, migrated to New Zealand in 2003 and worked for an engineering company.   Around 2005 or 2006, Fr Fernandes said he explored an option to be a permanent deacon. But a spiritual adviser suggested he look at priesthood.   After reading the Gospel passage where Jesus told Peter to cast the net into the sea, even though Peter had spent the night failing to catch fish, Fr Fernandes decided to enter the seminary.  This was despite some misgivings about how his family would react.

“Mum was very happy with my decision,” he said.  Fr Fernandes said he would be a priest not of a particular community, but a priest “for everyone”, a spiritual father.