LILLIAN — Members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lillian gathered in Immaculate Mary Hall recently to welcome the new pastor, Fr. Saleth Mariadoss, HGN.

"These are good, holy people longing to hear the Word of God, I am happy to be here," he says. The mission of the Heralds of Good News religious order is to work for the glory of God by the evangelization of the people and by the sanctification of its members.

Fr. Maria, as the parishioners refer to him, plans to begin monthly talks on special religious themes.

"It's my hobby to bring the joy of the gospel to the people," he says. "That's why I became a priest."

His friendly demeanor and sense of humor has already brought smiles to the faces of the parishioners as he visited with them at the welcoming event. He hopes to bring the parish together by providing regular gatherings for the parish family to get to know each other.

After only a few days in residence, he has already begun to visit members of the parish who are confined to the hospital. Home visits are also on his agenda to bring the word of God and to encourage speedy recovery and return to church services.

He would like to provide mission trips to feed the poor in countries like Mexico and Guatemala.

A native of India, Fr. Mariadoss came to St. Joseph from St. Mary's in Mobile where he served as Parochial Vicar. He was ordained in 2005 at St. Joseph's College in Madurai, India and served as an assistant parish priest until 2007. His next appointment was as Pastor and Principal of Immaculate Conception Church and School in Sankarankovil where he supervised 15 schools and parishes until 2012.

His next assignment was in the United States as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile and then to St. Mary's.