FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:As Fr. Joseph Sebastian begins his assignment at our parish, I wanted to share with you some biographical details that I found out about him. Fr. Joseph was born in 1978 in Punalur, Kerala, India the oldest of two boys. Fr. Joseph’s father is a farmer, his mother is a homemaker and his brother lives in Dubai with his wife and two children where he works as a civil engineer. Fr. Joseph studied English and Kerala literature in college and also obtained a degree in education from Indira Gandhi National Open University. Later, Father earned a Masters degree in police administration. After those studies, Fr. Joseph studied for the priesthood in India and credits his strong prayer life beginning in childhood which helped him discern clearly God calling him to the priesthood. On December 27th, 2008, Fr. Joseph was ordained to the priesthood for the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI).

In his first assignment, Fr. Joseph served as Director of St. Xavier’s Technical School in Basanti Sunderbans, West Bengal, India. From 2013 to 2014, Father served as Vice-Principal and Administrator of KE Cannel School in Sarisba, West Bengal, India. He then served for a year as Vice-Principal and Boarding Director in another school. From 2015 to 2018, Fr. Joseph served as Vice-Principal and Administrator of Christ Nagar group of institutions and Director of Christ Nagar School in Kuchipuram, Trivandrum, Kerala. Finally, from 2018 until summer 2019, Fr. Joseph served as Principal of Christ Nagar Public School in Attingal, Trivandrum, Kerala. In the summer of 2019, Fr. Joseph was assigned as a Parochial Vicar at St. John Vianney Parish in Rancho Cordova.

To be sure, Fr. Joseph brings with him much pastoral and administrative experience. We are blessed to have Father Joseph here at St. Mary’s! As you can imagine, Fr. Joseph will find plenty to do as St. Mary’s is a vibrant parish. Fr. Joseph told me that he looks forward to meeting everyone and getting to know you all. Welcome to St. Mary’s Parish Fr. Joseph! May the good Lord bless you abundantly and work through you to bring others to Him!

In Christ,

Fr. Berg