25 years a priest: Fr Guy Riolo SDB celebrates Silver Jubilee
By Josh Low
Service and humility are key to the priesthood, according to Fr Gaetano (Guy) Riolo SDB, who recently celebrated his Silver Jubilee of 25 years as a priest.
Hailing from Italy, Fr Guy has now been a Salesian of Don Bosco for 35 years and was ordained a priest of the Salesians on 10 December 1999 at St Brigid’s Church in Perth, Western Australia.
After 20 years of priesthood, he arrived in Tasmania, joining the Salesian community in Glenorchy.
“I feel joyful and give thanks to God for my vocation, as well as all those who have guided me in my journey to the priesthood and subsequent priestly ministry, especially my parents and all the Salesians. I have been really blessed.
“To me the priesthood is about service, humility and putting the people of God first, to be a prayerful person, so as to be able to serve the people and to give them the spiritual nourishment of the sacraments, and to be joyful through all of that,” he said.
The Glenorchy Parish, Salesian, Dominic College and Guilford Young College communities all gathered at St John the Baptist Church in Glenorchy on Sunday 8 December to celebrate the occasion at Sunday Mass.
Fr Guy was presented with two gifts following Mass – a new white chasuble with gold detailing for his own personal use, and a new Mass kit, both bought with funds generously raised by parishioners without his knowledge.
Glenorchy Parish Pastoral Council Chair, Elaine Doran, thanked and congratulated Fr Guy on behalf of the parish community.
“His care, compassion and concern for his parishioners are wonderful examples of his commitment to the Parish,” she said.
“Fr Guy serves Our Lord with grace and holiness [and] has a special affiliation for those he visits in aged care facilities and in people’s homes.
“We congratulate you Fr Guy, on your silver jubilee and wish for you many blessings for your service to Our Lord and to the people of this parish and beyond.”
Fr Abilio Correia Guterres SDB departs for Northern Territory
After two years of priestly ministry following his arrival to the Salesian Community in 2022, Fr Abilio Correia Guterres SDB has been transferred interstate.
Appointed to the Palmerston Parish in the Northern Territory, the East Timor native will be making the move across Australia on Thursday 19 December.
During his time in ministry here, he has served as Acting Rector of Dominic College, and Assistant Parish Priest at St John the Baptist Church in Glenorchy.
Glenorchy Parish Pastoral Council Chair, Elaine Doran, thanked Fr Abilio following Sunday Mass on 8 December.
“Although Fr Abilio has been with the College and Parish for only a short time, his joyful presence has been one that is faith-filled and we will miss him,” she said.
“Fr Abilio, on behalf of the parishioners of St John’s, I wish you every blessing as you embark on your new experience in the Palmerston Parish. May the Northern Territory be kind to you.”