Indonesian missionary appointed to multinational Laois parish of Portlaoise

An Indonesian Missionary priest has joined the team the multi-national team at Portlaoise Parish in the increasingly multi-cultural Laois town.

Fr Yulius Krisdianto Ebot is a member Divine Word Missionaries or SVD (Societas Verbi Divine). He wants to be known among parishioners as l Fr Erick.

He introduced himself to local people via the Portlaoise Parish Newsletter. He spoke first about his family.

"I was born in Manggarai-Flores (Indonesia) esia) in 1990, the second child in my family of three children. My parents are both alive, thank God and retired. My older brother has two children and so does my little sister. They live in Manggarai close to my parents home. My family has been great support system for me," he said.

He outlined his journey to the priesthood.

"At the age of 18, I entered the SVD noviciate. Two years later I took my first vow as a temporary member of the society of Divine Word. As part of my formation I spent time in the Philippines for my English course (2015), and our overseas Training Programme in Taiwan (2016-2018). In 2018 I returned to Indonesia and had my final profession as a member of the society of Divine Word Missionaries," he said.

He was ordained in October 2019.

"After ordination, I worked in three different parishes and dioceses in Flores while waiting for my visa to Ireland. It was such an enriching and eye-opening experience for me as a your priest. After three years waiting for the visa Indonesia (2019-2023), on 6th of July 2022 I came to this beautiful and lovely country.

"Before getting my appointment to Portlaoise, I did an English course for five months in Maynooth while acclimatising and learning more about this beautiful country.

"It is such a great pleasure for me to get my first appointment here in the parish of Portlaoise as curate under the guidance of Msgr John Byrne and working with others fellow priests, all from different countries. I am really looking forward to work with you all, " he said.

Let us pray for each othe and May the Almighty God Bless us all. See you around

Apart from Parish Priest Byrne the other priests in the Parish have come to Ireland from around the globe.

Fr Ciprian Matei, CC, hails from Romania while Fr Simon Jin is Chinese. Fr Adriano de Oliveira is a native of Brazil. They are supported by Deacon Eugene Keyes.