Fr Leander Gonsalves MGL was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Peter Comensoli at St Benedict’s parish in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood, after nearly a decade of service as a religious brother, missionary and deacon.
Fr Gonsalves now joins more than 40 priests and perpetually vowed brothers of the MGLs – which was founded in 1986 by Fr Ken Barker MGL. The order is understood to be Australia’s first order of priests.
Fr Gonsalves said his long path to the priesthood, which he attributes to the intercession of St Francis of Assisi, was a “challenging but very rewarding journey.”
“All is God’s grace at the end,” he told the congregation.
Speaking to The Catholic Weekly in the days following the 7 August ordination, MGL seminary rector Fr Steven Tynan MGL praised Fr Gonsalves’ reliability and relatability, but said his perseverance along his vocational journey was a particularly standout quality.
Fr Barker said he was very grateful for another MGL priestly ordination, telling The Catholic Weekly that Fr Gonsalves joined the order from Mumbai. There are MGL missions in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, with plans to establish a mission in India in 2027.
“However, our heart for Australia is as strong as ever,” he explained, with three parishes in Sydney, two in Melbourne, one in both Canberra and Darwin, and a “wonderful mission” in the Northern Territory.
At the ordination, moderator Fr Stephen Fletcher MGL outlined Fr Gonsalves’ missionary work and formation. The ordinand had been ordained a deacon in November 2025, serving in the parishes of Burwood and Bentleigh.
As a member of the Disciples of Jesus lay community, Gonsalves previously served in the MGL Darwin mission, working with youth and Indigenous people. There he developed a firm commitment to collaborative leadership in the church.
“In the Missionaries of God’s Love, he has consecrated himself to the heart of Jesus, wounded in love for the world, and has dedicated himself to preaching the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit,” Fr Fletcher said.
“He has a committed prayer life, both personal and communal.
“He’s committed to the brotherhood and the mission of the Missionaries of God’s Love; to bring the fire of God’s love to the ends of the earth.”
Ordinations within the Missionaries of God’s Love bring together priests, brothers and sisters from their placements around Australia and internationally. Perpetually professed MGL members are lifelong members of the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community. Many members of the lay community also joined family and friends for the special occasion.
At the conclusion, Fr Gonsalves paid particular tribute to Fr Fletcher, who had attended despite a recent personal bereavement.
“Thank you, Fr Steve Fletcher. Even in your difficult time, you have come here to support me, to be with me,” Fr Gonsalves said.
