On Sunday 28 July, the church at St Gerard’s Parish in Dandenong North was full to capacity for the diamond jubilee celebrations of priest in residence Fr Michael Shadbolt, a cherished member of the St Gerard’s community for more than five years. Joining him in this celebration was fellow diamond jubilarian Fr Kerry Cronan.
Marking 60 years since Frs Shadbolt and Cronan were ordained to the priesthood on 25 July 1964 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Mass was concelebrated by numerous priests, including St Gerard’s parish priest Fr Shanthaiah Marneni and Fr Shadbolt’s close friend Fr Brendan Lane.
Fr Cronan proclaimed the Gospel, recounting the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude (John 6:1–15), a passage that Fr Shadbolt thoughtfully reflected on in his homily.
‘The message is about feeding the people not physically but spiritually … Governments and people in authority have done much to feed the world physically and still much remains to be done,’ he said. ‘I fear that in the feeding the world physically, we have neglected the spiritual feeding of people.
‘Jesus is saying, “How can we feed this crowd?” Take the little you have and give it to God, and that would be elevated and transformed into the feeding of the world.’
Following the Mass, approximately 250 people gathered in the parish hall to continue the festivities over a fully catered lunch. Two members of the St Gerard’s choir serenaded attendees, setting a joyous tone for the afternoon.
Among those delivering speeches were Fr Shadbolt’s close friends Val Noone, who was ordained alongside him but later left the priesthood, and Fr Brendan Lane.
Fr Lane, who has known Fr Shadbolt for more than 30 years, recounted their time together at Sunshine and Hampton Park parishes, highlighting Fr Shadbolt’s fearless candour and gently ‘roasting’ his friend.
‘You’ve lived courageously, at a great cost to yourself,’ he said.
‘You’ve done the Lord’s work … All of us who know you hold you in the highest esteem.’
Fr Shadbolt then took to the microphone, reflecting on his priestly vocation, which included six years as a missionary priest in Venezuela during the 1970s and his role as the chief exorcist of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
‘My achievements haven’t been much: no promotions, no important positions in the Church, no honours received,’ he said. ‘I have never been anything else than an ordinary parish priest, doing ordinary things, being a good friend to people where I could.’
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who had supported him throughout his journey, saying, ‘If I have done any good, it’s because God was working in me. God helped me through the Holy Spirit, and what the Holy Spirit did is he sent me to you.
‘He sent people into my life that have had a profound effect on me, and kept me on the right path, shook me up and helped me to grow in love of the Lord.’
The celebration concluded with Frs Shadbolt and Cronan cutting a commemorative cake, followed by dessert.
Banner image: Fr Michael Shadbolt celebrates 60 years of priesthood.
All photos courtesy of St Gerard’s Parish, Dandenong North.
