Bishop Anthony Randazzo and Vicar General, Fr David Ranson welcomed the Superior General of the Society of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart, Fr Stephen Thomas OSH to the Diocese of Broken Bay on Thursday 6 February at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara. The OSH and the Diocese of Broken Bay have had a working relationship since 2004, following Bishop David Walker's visit to Kerala, India in 2003.
In 2004, three OSH priests arrived on assignment in Broken Bay. Bishop David Walker visited Kerala once again in 2010 and Bishop Peter Comensoli also visited OSH in India during his time as Bishop of Broken Bay.The relationship between Broken Bay and OSH gets stronger by the year, with five priests now present in Broken Bay.
The Superior General Fr Stephen Thomas joined the congregation in 1981 and was ordained in 1992. Has been appointed Parish Priest in a number of parishes and held the position of Rector of the OSH Seminary. For two terms (6 years in total) he was General Councillor of OSH, and then was subsequently sent to Rome to study and obtain a Doctorate in Canon Law. Upon return he worked in the Marriage Tribunal in Kottayam Archdiocese and Kanjirappally Diocese. He was appointed the Superior General of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart in 2018.
"It is a joy to the OSH congregation to be able to send priests to minister in Australia in the Diocese of Broken Bay," said Fr Stephen.
(l-r) Fr Shaju John, Fr Peter DeSouza, Fr Stephen Thomas, Bishop Anthony Randazzo, Fr David Ranson and Fr Joy Kunnasserry