Joseph graduated from Newcastle University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He taught in a Canberra High School for one year and then moved to Melbourne to study for the priesthood.

On 20th March 1982, Father Joseph was ordained, the First Maronite Priest to be ordained in Australia. The Ordination took place in Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Harris Park in Sydney. That same year he graduated with a Bachelor of Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity.

Archbishop Abdo Khalife appointed Father Joseph as Assistant Parish Priest to Our Lady Lebanon Maronite Parish in Melbourne with Monsignor Paul El-Khoury in 1982.

In his work with the youth, Father Joe came to be the right person the youth needed. Before his arrival to Melbourne, the youth felt pressured into attending Mass, but with their limited Arabic (particularly the proper Arabic) their attention and interest would wane. Through Father Joe's encouragement, the new "Youth Mass" in English flourished. More youth were attending Mass and participating in the Readings, the Offertory and the Prayers of the Faithful.

As the youth became more involved spiritually, they were drawn to socialise with each other also. Never before had there been an opportunity for the youth to feel like they belonged; that there were others from the same background; facing similar struggles. Father Joe opened the door of opportunity when he instigated the birth of the Maronite Youth of Melbourne, a Parish youth group in the mid-1980's.

In the eyes of the youth, Father Joe was not just their Priest, but mentor, advisor, counsellor, teacher, brother and friend, and he was warmly nicknamed "FJ". Many times after Mass in the late 1980's and early 1990's, a group of 20-30 youth would join Father Joe for dinner and coffee in Lygon Street Carlton. This weekly tradition is cherished by the youth of those days as they remember the laughter and discussions held on those restaurant tables so many years ago.

On 27^th September 1997, Bishop Joseph Hitti bestowed upon Father Joe the Title of "Monsignor" at a ceremony in Our Lady of Lebanon Harris Park. With this new title came the changed nickname "MJ", which he is affectionately known by young and old!

On 1^st December 1997, Monsignor Joe was appointed as Parish Priest to the Melbourne Parish

In June 1998, Monsignor Joe completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Systems, at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

Monsignor Joe's work in the Parish:

• Ordained and appointed to the Parish 20 March 1982 as assistant to Monsignor Paul Elkhoury
• Introduced English into the Liturgy
• Developed the Youth Group - Maronite Youth of Melbourne
• Encouraged young people to be part of the Parish and in Mass
• Began Marriage Preparation classes
• Worked with Catholic Education Office to develop area of Eastern Catholic Rites.
• Coordinated the move to Sacred Heart Church 199 Rathdowne Street Carlton
• Established Saint Paul's Hostel for the elderly
• Was instrumental with the Antonine Sisters in the Catholic Archdiocese bid to open in 1988 the first Maronite Primary School in Victoria
• Supported the Antonine Sisters when discussions began to continue primary education to secondary. Trinity College in Brunswick was purchased and opened in 2002 and the two schools became one College to form Antonine College shortly after
• Began looking at possible sites for our new Our Lady of Lebanon Church, to cater for the ever-growing number of Parishioners. Monsignor Joe found the property at 220 Normanby Avenue Thornbury and secured it for the Church. The four acre property would suit the Community well
• Instigated the extension of St. Paul's Hostel for the elderly to add 30 extra beds, Saint Louis Wing, to provide a high-level of care to the elderly.
• Initiated and lead the Building Committee to prepare for the building of our new Church.
• New Church opened on 8 March 2008. The new Our Lady of Lebanon seats some 700 people and provides some 300 car parks.

HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

We have seen our Parish grow as a Christian Community that prays together and works together to support and build. The process of building a church brings out the best in all people. Building a church is a sign of great hope in the future .

We know that the future is bright for our community. There are so many dedicated men and women who give so much of their time and energy to make our Parish successful. We have achieved so much together and with confidence we can continue the good work around our church.

In the future we will finish our community centre and hall and Parish Administration Offices. We will be able to have all our activities, spiritual, social, educational, elderly, Youth all in one place.

As a Maronite Community we centre our life on Jesus. We grow in our understanding of what it means to belong to Christ and the wonderful responsibility that has been given to us through our Baptism. The Traditions of our Maronite Church take us back to the beginning of the missionary activity of the Apostles. We have accepted the faith and work to ensure that it is passed on to our families and future generations. Let us continue to live our faith and be proud of our Tradition.

- Monsignor Joseph Takchi

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