South
Australia's two Jesuit parishes will be welcoming new parish priests next year,
after Australian Provincial Father Steve Curtin announced changes in
appointments last week.
Father
Celso Romanin will move to Hawthorn next year after 13 years as parish priest
at Norwood.
In
his time at the parish, Fr Romanin has helped restore both the church buildings
and the parish's finances. The parish has built up a faithful team of
volunteers, and cultivated relationships with the Loyola Centre of Ignatian
Spirituality, St Joseph's Memorial School and Loreto College.
In
announcing the move, Fr Steve Curtin paid tribute to Fr Romanin's guidance to
the Jesuit community, as well as the broader parish community.
‘You
have played an invaluable pastoral role at times of loss, of celebration and of
sacramental preparation', he said.
Fr
Paul Mullins has been appointed Parish Priest at Norwood Parish. Father Romanin
will be the assistant priest at Immaculate Conception Parish in Hawthorn,
Melbourne.
Meanwhile,
after nearly five years as superior and parish priest at Sevenhill, Fr Chris
Jenkins will move on next year.
Fr
Jenkins has been a presence in eight churches around the Sevenhill region, and
has been committed to ecumenical activities. The parish has hosted large-scale
musical performances at St Aloysius' Church, and theatrical performances in the
grounds of Sevenhill. Last year, the parish welcomed the World Youth Day Cross
and the MAGiS pilgrims.
‘You
have been a dynamic presence in the Clare
Valley', said Fr Curtin
in his announcement. ‘Your final vows ceremony in St Aloysius Church in 2007
was a very special moment for the parish, which had not experienced anything
like it in very many years. The celebration afterwards was a fine testimony to
your ministry there.'
Fr
Bryan Pipins will be Parish Priest at Sevenhill/Riverton from 1 January 2010.
Fr Pipins is currently in Hawthorn parish, after completing his tertianship earlier this year. Before that, he held a number of roles with Jesuit Refugee Service
in East Timor, Darfur, Uganda and South Sudan.