Father Devdas Masillamony is the new pastor at St Therese Parish in Del Cerro/Allied Gardens/San Carlos.

He is the fifth pastor for the parish in the last six years. Fr. Devdas was previously the pastor of Santa Sophia Parish from 2015 to 2022.

“My main goal at St Therese is to bring back people who made the parish such a vibrant place that existed prior to the COVID pandemic,” Fr. Devdas stated. “I want the community to consider the church as their second home.”

His formula for rebuilding this sense of community is to include the laity in all portions of the religious liturgy, social life, and other activities.

“First off, I plan to focus on the elderly, letting them know that we are here for them, and especially the homebound,” he said. “I intend to re-establish the practice of the laity delivering Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass, as well as increase my visits to their homes.” He also intends to bring back the social ministries and activities that existed prior to the COVID onslaught, and maintaining the Adoration Chapel staffed by laity.

“The laity community is the core of the Parish,” he said. “Priests come and go, but the laity is always there.”

Another area of concentration will be on the youth of the church. He has already added a youth minister to the staff, and charged her with revitalizing the youth program, including adding a youth mass to the weekly schedule, with members of the youth group providing the music and filling the laity functions of the liturgy.

“I want to make better use of Fred’s Place” he said, referring to the spaces built under a former pastor for the use of the youth program for meetings, entertainment, study and reflection. “I want it to be a safe place where the kids can learn their faith.”

Fr. Devdas was born on a small farm in southern India, the fifth of seven children. His mother died when he was five years old. He received a Catholic education, starting school in his home village for the first six grades, then moving to a larger urban school for grades 7-10. He entered a Diocese sponsored seminary for the remainder of his education, earning a Bachelor and Master degree in social work.

He came to the United States in 2003 to pursue a PhD at the University of San Diego. He became a citizen of the United States in 2010, prior to returning to India. He returned to the U.S. in 2012, briefly as an associate priest at St. Therese, then moving to other assignments.

“I always wanted to be a Catholic priest,” he remembers. “Although I had a strong Hindu influence from my father’s side of the family. One of my uncles was a Hindu priest.”

This desire was greatly strengthened while he was in the 12th grade when Mother (now Saint) Theresa of Calcutta talked to his seminary class. He still remembers her admonition for those studying for the priesthood.

“If you don’t love Jesus and the poor, get out!” she told the class. He later worked directly with her after his ordination and assignment as director of Catholic Charities in the Delhi area.

In 1992, Father set a goal for himself to be ordained on his birthday, the 14th of May, 1994. Most thought it was an impossible goal, but he achieved it.

“I like to keep things simple,” he stated. “One less anniversary to remember!”

Saint Therese Parish was founded in 1959.

Let us hope that Father Devdas’ tenure will be long enough to provide the stability that has characterized the parish for most of its history.

– Ken Denbow is a San Diego area freelance writer. He has written for various magazines, received “story by” credit for the movie, “Deceptions”, and his latest book is available on Amazon.com.