Jubilarians celebrate a combined 140 years of priesthood
By Catherine Sheehan
A special Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart on 9 September for the jubilee anniversaries of priestly ordination of Archbishop Julian Porteous, Fr Mark Freeman, Fr Suresh Sesusion and Fr Guy Riolo SDB.
The four jubilarians can boast a combined total of 140 years of priesthood.
Archbishop Julian’s anniversary of 50 years of priesthood was on 7 September, Fr Mark’s anniversary of 40 years was on 24 August, while Fr Suresh’s 25th anniversary was on 26 June and Fr Guy’s 25th anniversary will be later this year on 10 December.
At the beginning of Mass, Fr Bernard Perera, Administrator at St Mary’s Cathedral, read a letter to Archbishop Julian from Pope Francis, extending his congratulations and imparting his blessing.In his homily, Archbishop Julian spoke about the meaning of the priesthood.
“As a priest stands at the altar for the celebration of Mass, he stands in a place of intersection between earth and heaven,” he said.
“The priest stands in a privileged place. With the reality of his own humanity, his frailties and weaknesses, he stands with the people and for the people to be the means by which the community gathered for Mass is united in an act of worship of Almighty God.”
Referring to the Moses in the Old Testament who ascended the mountain to speak with God on behalf of the people of Israel, likewise, Archbishop Julian said, the priest at Mass connects heaven and earth.
“We are invited into the realm of the angels and the saints. In a moment the Church on earth is engaged with heaven itself. And the priest is agent of this wondrous moment.”
Celebrating the Mass was the most important act of a priest, Archbishop Julian said.
“Today four priests in the Archdiocese are commemorating their jubilee of priestly ordination. Each of us have walked our own particular path, and, no doubt, today ponder the story of years of ministry.
“In the end it is not so much what we have done or achieved during our years of ministry, but it is rather who we are and what God has done in and through us. We are most a priest when we stand at the altar. In this moment of celebrating Mass grace has flowed forth upon the world and upon the lives of those present. This is a wondrous thing.”
Following the Mass a celebratory lunch for clergy was held at the Italian Club in North Hobart.
Fr Suresh, who is Parish Priest at Claremont, said that as a young boy he been inspired by good priests and good nuns who had nurtured his desire to become a priest.
“Today I’m a different person than I was 25 years ago. It’s amazing how the priesthood really shapes you, how Jesus shapes you,” he said.
“I’m still a work in progress and God has a plan for each one of us.
Fr Suresh expressed his gratitude for the “enduring love” of God, and also for “the people of God”.
“A priest is shaped by the people he serves,” he said.
“I’m grateful to the people of Claremont for their patience, for their support and for their prayers too.”
Fr Guy Riolo, Parish Priest at Glenorchy, said his mother had been the “most influential person” in his life because of her unconditional support of his vocation, adding that he had joined the Salesians because he wanted to “follow Don Bosco in his vision to be with young people, with all people”.
“I never thought I’d be here,” he said. “Twenty-five years, where has it gone?”
Chancellor for the Archdiocese and Parish Priest at Bellerive, Fr Mark Freeman, said he had never turned away from the path towards priesthood, once he first felt called as a young boy.
“It’s been a wonderful journey in my life and it’s all I’ve every really wanted to do,” he said.
“As the years passed, and I matured, I’ve realised that I’ve been led along that path by the Lord Himself and invited to give of myself as a priest.”