NEW friends gathered with Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge to install Fr Joseph Kannatt as the new parish priest of Beenleigh on February 8.
Fr Kannatt, a Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament priest, shared this occasion with parishioners at St Patrick’s Church and with brother priests, vicar general Monsignor Peter Meneely, MCBS provincial superior Fr Joseph Mulangattil, Fr Michael McKeaten, Divine Word Missionary Father Sunil Nagothu, Divine Word Missionary Father Adrian Jenani, Fr David Batey, Fr Neville Yun and Fr Ray Kearney.
Fr Kannatt said he felt privileged by the many people who gathered, and expressed his gratitude to God for His gift of priesthood and his priestly ministry.
“I am grateful to His Grace, Archbishop Mark Coleridge. He welcomed me to the Archdiocese of Brisbane and now I am here as your parish priest and minister of your service,” he said.
“I am also grateful to Fr Joseph Mulangattil, on his quick visit to Australia he has shown his solidarity to us.
“It is my greatest honour to share this occasion with him.
“And to Fr Michael McKeaten who I have been with for three months. He took care of me when I first came here and now he is my dean.”
Fr Kannatt thanked many of his brother priests who have journeyed with him since his arrival in Australia.
The Beenleigh Parish Council organised the evening and as a surprise the choir members sang an Indian-Malayalam song.
The St Joseph’s Tobruk Memorial School, Mother Teresa Primary School and Trinity College communities also congratulated Fr Kannatt on his new beginning as their pastoral leader.
