Fr. Jim Henault, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Orlando, recently announced that the parish has bid farewell to associate pastor Fr. Bino Francis, who has accepted a new post in Sulphur, Louisiana.

Good Shepherd’s new associate pastor is Fr. Sunny Poovathumkudy, who is coming to Orlando after a two-year post at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The youngest of five children, Poovathumkudy was born in Cheranalloor in the state of Kerala in India. 

After enrolling in the La Salette seminary in India, Poovathumkudy spent two years as a postulant in the Philippines before he entered the novitiate. The 51-year-old was ordained in 2004. 

Fr. Sunny Poovathumkudy

Poovathumkudy's first assignment was Director of the Seminary in India. He then spent five years in Australia, where he worked in a parish. He returned to India to teach in the seminary in Mysore for several years before he was assigned to lead two different parishes in India. He came to the United States in 2018.

Good Shepherd Parish will welcome Poovathumkudy during the upcoming holiday weekend.

As the COVID 19 crisis continues, the church will be open every day. People are asked to wear masks. 

The limited Mass schedule will continue through the end of July. The parish has been heartened to see groups of children receive their First Communion at Sunday Masses in June. 

Please call to make a reservation if you plan to come to Mass on the weekend. Social distancing will be practiced. People who feel more comfortable at home may watch the livestream of the Mass on Facebook and YouTube. 

The online Mass has been popular with the homebound and the elderly. Good Shepherd plans to continue making the Mass available online in the future.