Our Pastor

An Autobiography from Fr. Anthony Bonela, MSFS (Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales)

I am Father Anthony Bonela. I was born in a place called Markondaputti, Andhra Pradesh, India, on August 13th, 1969. I was born in a simple farming family. My parents are Luckasu Bonela and Nakshathramma Bonela. They lived a simple life. They were very hardworking people. Now they are in Heaven.

I was raised by a French family. They are Mr. Andrew and Helen Turillon. Since they lived in France, they put me in a boarding school.

Then priests took care of me in the boarding school. I had a very good education. I did well. I felt the call of God by the great support of my teachers and priests. There were some objections since I did not have parents. Some religious orders told me they wouldn’t accept me, but God had a plan for me and He led me. I graduated from high school in the year 1985.

My Seminary Life:

· Joined the seminary on June 16, 1985

· Entered the Novitiate on July 16, 1988

· Make my first commitment on July 16, 1989

· Entered into major seminary for philosophy on July 18, 1989

· Graduated with two degrees: BA in Philosophy and BA in Anthropology in June 1992

· Pastoral year from June 1992 to June 1993

· Theology from June 1993 to December 1996

· Final commitment on June 10, 1995

· Ordination to the diaconate on January 26, 1996

· Ordination to the priesthood on February 25, 1997

Educational Qualifications:

· MA in Sociology

· Bachelor’s in Education

· Bachelor’s in Arts with Anthropology

· Bachelor’s in Philosophy

· Bachelor’s in Theology

Ministry in Different Places:

Ministry in India

1. Parish Priest, Principal of Vinayakumar High School and finance in charge, from June 1997 to 2001

2. Principal of St. Aloysius Anglo-Indian High School and finance in charge, from June 2002 to 2006

Ministry in USA:

1. Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph, Jacksonville, Florida from July 2006 to 2011

2. Parochial Vicar at St. Paul, Jacksonville Beach, Florida from July 2011 to July 2013

3. Parish Priest at Holy Spirit, Jacksonville from 2013 to 2017

4. Parish Priest in India again from 2017 to 2018

5. Parish Priest in San Antonio Archdiocese, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hondo, Texas from
July 2018 to 2020

6. Parochial Vicar again at Holy Faith, Gainesville, from July 2020 to February 2022

7. Parish Priest at St. Monica, Palatka, from March 1, 2022 till today

I thank God Almighty for being with me in my journey. I thank all those who were and are part of my life.