Fr. Simon Shaner, OSPPE Named Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in Rosebud, Australia

Back in May of this year Father Simon accepted an invitation from the Australian Provincial of the Pauline Fathers and Brothers to come to Australia to be pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, Rosebud; in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Father Simon’s transfer was approved by Father General Izydor Matuszewski and as of August 27, 2011, Father Simon is officially a member of the Australian Province.

“I look forward to returning to my role as pastor. I would like to thank Father Albert Wiesław Waśniowski, Provincial of the Australian Paulines for inviting me to the Australian Province and I look forward to joining a vibrant parish such as Our Lady of Fatima. I have visited Our Lady of Fatima some 8 years ago; it has some 300 families and a great school; K-6th grade.

“I would like to thank Father General for his permission to transfer to Australia and of his confidence in me especially when I was a pastor in Florida.” Father Simon was the founding pastor of St Mark the Evangelist in Summerfield, Florida. As a first time pastor he successfully built a 1,700 seat church and raised millions of dollars to reduce the debt. At the time of his departure from St Mark the parish had some 3,000+ parishioners.

Father Simon’s last Mass at Corpus Christ will be on Sunday, September 25 at the 11:30 Mass. Fr. Marek Kreis, OSPPE, of St. Paul’s Monastery in Kittanning, PA has been appointed to take Father Simon’s place as associate of Corpus Christi.