As we farewell Fr Thomas Chirackal, we give thanks for his faithful service to the parish communities of Singleton and Branxton.
A member of the Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle from Kerala, India, Fr Thomas served as a missionary priest in India and Tanzania before arriving in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in March 2015.
He ministered as Assistant Priest at Blackbutt North and later at Wallsend-Shortland before being appointed Parish Priest of Singleton and Branxton in November 2018. He continued to serve our communities as Parish Administrator from November 2024 until now.
When Fr Thomas arrived in Singleton and Branxton in 2018, he reminded us that his first month in Australia had been spent in our parishes. He spoke of God’s plan in bringing him back and invited us to “pick up the baton together and continue our journey of faith to fulfil God’s mission of evangelisation by sharing the joy of the Gospel.” Throughout his years among us, he has faithfully lived those words.
Fr Thomas has been a strong supporter of our parish schools, a valued member of the Council of Priests, and the driving force behind the Hope Tree Group, which has provided practical support to disadvantaged communities in India, Tanzania and beyond. He has also worked tirelessly to secure a strong future for our parishes through careful stewardship, strategic property decisions and investment in projects that will benefit future generations.
Fluent in Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi and Swahili, Fr Thomas has brought a truly global perspective to his ministry. Quiet and humble by nature, he has touched many lives through his kindness, wisdom, leadership and dedication to God’s people.
On behalf of the parishioners of Singleton and Branxton, we thank Fr Thomas for his service, friendship and pastoral care. We wish him every blessing for the future and assure him of our prayers as he begins the next chapter of his ministry.
