LAKE CHARLES — The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, installed Reverend Joby K. Mathew, HGN, as Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Lake Charles on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
As part of the Rite of Installation, Father Mathew, with his hand resting on Sacred Scripture, recited the Oath of Fidelity after leading the congregation in the Profession of Faith. The Rite concluded with the signing of documents by the Bishop and the new Pastor.
Father Mathew, who was assigned to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, effective July 1, 2022, was ordained to the priesthood on February 7, 2009, for the Heralds of Good News (HGN), a Clerical Missionary Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Rite in the Catholic Church. He has been serving in the Diocese of Lake Charles since September 5, 2014, with his first assignment being at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff. Other assignments have included Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles as Parochial Vicar and Chaplain to the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and nursing homes in Lake Charles.
Before moving to the United States, Father Mathew’s first assignment following his ordination was in the Diocese of Varanasi, North India where Hinduism is the prominent religion. He was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Pius Parish and taught at Fatima School. In 2010, he served as one of the Associate Priests for the Diocese of Jhansi, where he oversaw construction of the Heralds Minor Seminary and Heralds English Medium School. In 2012, Father Mathew was appointed to the provincial administration team as Procurator of Mother Teresa Province of Heralds of Good News.
He said his early assignments in India helped him learn many local languages and dialect. He traveled 8-9 miles every day by bicycle to reach the different villages for Mass and to pray the Rosary. Father Mathew celebrated Mass and other sacraments at homes and under the banyan tree and palm tree.
View more photos from the Rite of Installation on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles Facebook page. (Photography by Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
