In September 2025, after more than five decades of priestly service in the Sandhurst Diocese and Papua New Guinea, Fr Joe Taylor will retire. He has served for the last 13 years as Parish Priest of St Brendan’s, Shepparton.
In a letter to parishioners of Shepparton, Shepparton South, Mooroopna, Dookie and Nagambie, Bishop Shane Mackinlay announced that the priests who are already ministering across these five parishes will continue in a coordinated pastoral arrangement, working together as a team to serve the region.
These priests are:
• Fr Ronaldo Masilang RCJ
• Fr Ruel Desamparado RCJ
• Fr Addin Doe RCJ
• Fr Adi Indra
Following consultation with them and the College of Consultors, Bishop Shane confirmed that priestly ministry across the five parishes will now be formally undertaken by this team.
The three Rogationist priests—Fr Masilang, Fr Desamparado and Fr Doe—will live together in community at St Brendan’s. Fr Indra will take up residence at St Mel’s.
“All four priests will work to explore possibilities for building up further collaboration between the parishes, while respecting the distinct character of each of the communities,” Bishop Shane wrote.
Fr Masilang has also been appointed Administrator of Shepparton and Dookie parishes, in addition to his current appointments as Parish Priest of Shepparton South, Mooroopna and Nagambie. No new parish priest appointments can be made until a new bishop is installed, at which point the arrangements will be reviewed.
Fr Saji Thomas MST, Chaplain of the St Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Mission in Shepparton, will take up residence at St Mary’s Presbytery in Mooroopna. Current arrangements for celebrating Syro-Malabar liturgies at St Brendan’s Church will continue.
Bishop Shane acknowledged that collaboration between the five parishes has been steadily growing in recent years. This has included shared priestly ministry and administrative functions, along with the natural connections formed through schooling and community life.
Since November 2023, two Rogationist priests have resided at St Mel’s, serving Shepparton South and Nagambie. In August 2024, a third Rogationist priest commenced ministry in Mooroopna, although it had not yet been possible for all three to live together until now.
“I pray that this arrangement opens new possibilities for enhancing the existing strengths and vitality of these five parishes, as well as supporting and encouraging the priests who are committed to serving them,” Bishop Shane said.
Bishop Shane also expressed his deep gratitude to Fr Joe Taylor for his 51 years of faithful priestly service.
