Biographies:
  Dear
Parishioners,
Since this is
the “Year of the Priests” I thought it would
be nice to learn a little more about Fr.
Joshy, Fr. Juan, and myself. This week I am
writing a little biography.
I was born in
1965, October, at Mercy Hospital,
Sacramento. The youngest of seven children,
my family lived in Fair Oaks and I was
baptized at St. Mel Parish. In September
1969, we moved to ten acres outside Lincoln,
where I spent many happy days picking
blackberries and running around with my
brother and five sisters. I went to Carlin
C. Copping Grammer school, Glen Edwards
Middle School and graduated from Lincoln
High School in 1983.
I traveled to
Europe in 1984 and spent two and one half
months walking through Europe with a
backpack and very little money. It was a
wonderful experience. I returned, however,
with renewed interest in my faith and
received the Sacramento of Confirmation by
Bishop Gallegos the following Spring.
From there, I
pursued my calling to priesthood, and
entered St. Joseph minor seminary in
Mountain View in 1986, St. Patrick
Theological Seminary in 1991, and ordained
to the priesthood May 27, 1996, My first
assignment was St. Theresa Church, South
Lake Tahoe. Three years later I was named
Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Weed. Two and
one half years later, I was made pastor of
St. Dominic Parish, Orland, and four and one
half years later, pastor of St. Theresa
Church in South Lake Those.
Two years
later, I requested to be transferred to St.
Rose of Lima to be with all of you.
Throughout these years, I have continued to
enjoy playing the piano and singing which I
began when Ii was five years old. I feel
very blessed at being called to priesthood
and ministry. Although there have been some
rough times, my faith in God has never been
stronger and I look forward in sharing that
faith with all of you for many more years.
Thank you for accepting me as your pastor,
and If you want any further information or
would like to share who you are feel free to
give me a call.
Fr. Michael
O’Reilly
Your Pastor
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My dear
brothers and sisters,
Greetings in
the Lord!
Last
week Fr. Michael told me, “Fr. Joshy, this
year being the Year for Priests,
in an effort for our parishioners to get
to know us priests better, you have to write
about you in the bulletin”. With all
humility and under obedience I said, “Amen”!
I was born and
raised fourth of six children by my devoted
Catholic parents, Mathew and Mary Edichilath
in Kerala, one of the Southern States of
India. This state is well-known for its
living Catholic traditions and vibrant
Catholic life as this area is blessed by the
preaching of St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD
and by the rich Eastern religious
traditions.
In 1990, after
my Catholic high school studies, I joined
the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the
first indigenous religious Congregation of
India. Having completed my pre-university
studies in 1993, I was admitted for the
canonical Novitiate at Mysore, India and I
made my first religious profession in 1995.
In 1997, I was
awarded a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy (BPh.)
from DVK, Pontifical Athenaeum of Theology,
Philosophy and Canon Law, Bangalore, India.
I did my university graduate studies in
secular sciences and the University of
Mangalore, India awarded me a Bachelor's
degree in English Literature, Journalism and
Political Science in 2000.
After
graduating from the university, I was sent
for a year of practical training where I had
taught in one of our High Schools and served
also as Assistant Hostel Director. In 2001,
I was sent for theological studies at JDV,
Pune, a Jesuit Theological College and was
awarded a bachelor's degree in Theology in
September 2004.
I was ordained a priest on January 2, 2005.
After my priestly ordination, I was
appointed secretary to Very Reverend Fr.
Prior General, the superior General of the
CMI. The CMI renders pastoral, educational,
social and health care services in more than
22 countries around the globe. While
holding the secretary position, I also
served as Associate Pastor and Youth &
Catechism director.
In March 2007, I joined St. Mary's Parish
community, Sacramento, as sent by my General
at the invitation of Bishop Most Reverend
William K. Weigand and continued my
pastoral service in the diocese. While
being part of the St. Mary’s community, in
August 2007, Bishop Weigand appointed me
assistant Diocesan Chaplain to the Indian
Catholic community and also served as a
supply priest in the diocese.
On February 04, 2008 His Excellency, Bishop
William Weigand appointed me here at St.
Rose as your Parochial Vicar. I thank God
for the wonderful gift of my vocation to the
priesthood which I really enjoy. I enjoy
very much the ministry with you all here. I
am grateful to you for the great
appreciation, love, support, care and
concern that you show always towards me. I
consider myself as a people person. My
primary hobby is making friends, enjoying
their company and entertaining them. I would
like to get to know you all.
If you want any
further information or would like to share
who you are, feel free always to give me a
call at any time. Let’s become friends in
Christ, be nourished in his company and grow
as one family in Christ. Amen!
Fr. Joshy
Mathew, CMI
Your Parochial
Vicar
frjoshymathew@gmail.com
Phone:
916-783-1453
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I was born on February 8, 1942, in Lares,
Puerto Rico. I am the fourth-born out of
eight siblings. I had a twin; he died when
he was only five years old.
The first fifteen years of my life were
happily spent on my parent's
rancho, where I
enjoyed an abundance of nature's beauty: the
rivers, the mountains, the fields of coffee,
oranges, bananas, and other tropical fruit.
At seven years old I would ride my horse,
drive my father's jeep, fish in the rivers
and lakes, and practice every sport. At age
six I started attending school and at age
eight catechism. I received my First
Communion when I was ten and I did my
Confirmation when I was fifteen. In my
parents I saw the best examples of faith,
prayer, and Christian values.
At twelve years old I had learned all of
the agricultural duties of the rancho
alongside my father and my older brothers.
When I was nineteen I completed high school
and when I was twenty-one I completed my
studies at the Pontifical Catholic
University of Puerto Rico. I got my B.A. in
Philosophy and my Masters in Psychology. I
worked three years at the catholic
university and twelve years at a catholic
school as the head of the Department of
Counseling and Admissions.
Between the ages of thirty-five and
forty-five I established my own agricultural
business with two of my brothers. Since I
was eighteen years old I felt an inclination
towards priesthood, but I thought that it
wasn't my true vocation. It wasn't until I
was forty-five that God deeply touched my
heart. God gave me the strength to leave
behind my business enterprises and my job
and He empowered me to begin on a new walk
of life inspired by Jesus Christ.
For three years I was with Maryknoll as a
lay missionary and when I was forty-eight
years old I joined the Diocese of Sacramento
to be ordained a priest. I studied four
years of Theology at the San Ildefonso
Seminary in Toledo, Spain. I served my
pastoral and diaconate year at Saint Peter
Church in Dixon California. In January
1997, I obtained the Sacrament of Holy
Orders at my parish in Lares, Puerto Rico.
My first priesthood assignment as a
parochial vicar was at Saint Joseph Parish
in Marysville, CA where I served for seven
years. Before coming here, I was in
Woodland for two years, in Yuba City for one
year. On August 15, 2008 I was assigned to
this parish, Saint Rose of Lima, where I
plan on serving out the rest of my active
priesthood, God and Bishop Jaime Soto
permitting.
"Being a priest in Christ and for Christ has
been the most important and beautiful thing
in my life." Fr. Juan.
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Brian J. Soliven has posted his
biography!
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