St Jude parishioners pay tribute to Fr Vincent Thomas

Mar 14, 2025

By Mercy Almeida Stellus
Mixed emotions filled the Church of St Jude during the 10.30am Mass on February 23, as the congregation celebrated Fr Vincent Thomas’ academic pursuits in Rome, while bidding farewell to a beloved and vibrant priest. Following the final hymn, newly appointed Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) chairman Anand Pathinathan addressed the congregation and invited Fr Vincent to the front. He then called upon outgoing PPC chairperson Christine Vincent to deliver her speech.

In her address, Christine highlighted Fr Vincent’s contributions during his three-year tenure, emphasising his commitment to building a strong community — a promise he made upon his arrival at the Church of St Jude.

Among his notable achievements were the establishment of the annual Clinic Madani medical camp in collaboration with SP Care Group doctors and nurses, the creation of air-conditioned classrooms for catechism classes, and the restructuring of various ministries for greater efficiency.

Christine acknowledged that while three years was a short time, Fr Vincent’s dedication and the collaborative spirit he fostered among the ministries, councils, and zones were truly commendable.

The event continued with Tamil Apostolate coordinator Albert Creg reciting a heartfelt poem entitled Blessings. His wife, Francesca, presented Fr Vincent with a purse, and Albert draped a shawl around him and placed a bead garland around his neck, both traditional Indian gestures of respect and affection. Parish Finance Committee chairman Thomas Jayasooria also presented Fr Vincent with a gift.

In his address, Fr Vincent expressed that while the Church of the Holy Family in Kajang held a special place as his “first love,” St Jude’s would always remain his “first wife,” a metaphor conveying his deep affection for the church in Rawang. He shared his regret at not having more time to fully realise his mission in the parish and commended the work of the Bahasa Apostolate, who honoured him with a song.

The celebration concluded with a luncheon attended by around 500 parishioners.