Faith - College Chaplain
#Nurturing Faith
College Chaplain
I am Fr Concord Bagaoisan OSJ from the Congregation of the Oblates of Saint Joseph. I was born on 26 August 1968 in a small town in the southern part of the Philippines.
I joined the Congregation of the Oblates of Saint Joseph on 27 May 1985 and was ordained priest on 10 February 1996. Over the next 27 years, I have been appointed to several assignments in the Philippines and Australia, including the following:
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Prefect of Discipline in the College Seminary
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Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mercy and Holy Rosary Parish
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Oblates of Saint Joseph Provincial Vocation Director
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Prefect of Discipline of the Student of Theology
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Director of Junior Profess of the Oblates of Saint Joseph
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Parish Priest of San Francisco de Assisi Parish
At the invitation of Bishop Holohan, I volunteered to go on a mission to Australia, and I arrived in WA on 12 January 2009. My first assignment was to the Holy Family and Saint Joseph Parish in Albany. Life in Albany, as a whole, was a bit of a shock because I was not properly oriented into the Australian culture and language. I remember being told to “Bring a plate”, and I was thinking, “Why should I bring a plate?” Another time I was asked, “How are you travelling?”
Little by little, with the help of many people, I have learnt the idiomatic expressions of Australia and the culture. So many things to learn, but I love it. I am learning the Australian way.
Saturday, 26 January 2013, I was assigned to the Dawesville Catholic Parish (Saint Damien Parish Church). I enjoyed my six years stay in Dawesville because it’s very close to the city of Perth. The Church in Dawesville is very simple, yet it invites people to holiness, reflection and deeper prayer.
On 26 January 2019 to the present day, I was appointed as the parish priest of Saint Patrick’s Parish in Waroona and the chaplain of Our Lady of Mercy College in Australind. The people are so accommodating and very welcoming and so warm. I am very happy to serve both St Patrick Parish and Our Lady of Mercy College.
Warm regards,
Fr Con