LILLIAN — Members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lillian assembled at a Sunday Mass recently to witness Archbishop Thomas Rodi install Fr. Saleth Mariadoss, HGN as Pastor.

The leader of the Archdiocese of Mobile said he entrusted the new pastor to the parishioners to love, protect and support.

After the installation, the congregation moved to Immaculate Mary Hall where they visited with the new priest, the Archbishop and friends.

Fr. Maria, as he is called, has won the hearts of many with his winning smile and friendliness.

His homilies encourage the congregation to listen to God's words and to do good works for His glory.

He is formulating plans to fulfill his order's mission, to work for the glory of God by the evangelization of the people and by the sanctification of its members.

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.

Because his order, the Heralds of Good News, promises to send priests wherever they are needed, he found himself in the United States as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and St. Mary's, both in Mobile.

Now he is being welcomed to the Lillian community, not only as pastor of the Catholic Church, but as a friend to all.