Cathedral Priests

Fr Kenneth Acosta

Fr Max Kenneth Acosta Garcia was born on the 5th of March 1986 in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic. Fr Kenneth arrived in Australia in 2008. Attended the Seminary formation at the missionary seminary, Redemptoris Mater of Perth, in Morley.

He completed a Bachelor degree and pos- graduate studies in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2016 and was ordained a priest at St Mary’s Cathedral on the 17 November 2017 by Archbishop Costelloe. 

Fr Kenneth has served at St Kieran’s Parish in Osborne Park, at Good Shepherd in Kelmscott and St Helena’s parish Ellenbrook, and at St Mary’s Parish in Delaware Ohio, USA.

Fr Kenneth loves cooking and red wine. He likes music, especially Jazz; he enjoys reading, a nice walk, going to the Art Museum, opera, cinema and F1 races.

Fr Richard Smith

It is my privilege to journey among you. It’s almost déjà vu as I began my Catholic ministry in the Cathedral in 2002/03 after my Diaconal Ordination on 12^th October 2002.

I was born in Sydney, the eldest of two boys, and after working in Banking & Retail I answered the call to Priesthood and trained at St Michael’s House, Crafers SA, which was an Anglican Monastery and Seminary. I was ordained in Perth in 1977 and worked here for 2 years. I then returned to Adelaide before spending 8 years in The Diocese of Riverina (South Western NSW). 1986 saw Pam and I marry and in 1988 we returned to Perth working in Southern Cross, Kwinana and a couple other Anglican parishes.

Pam and I converted to the Catholic Faith in 1997. Archbishop Hickey was kind enough to take us on, which led to my Priestly Ordination 22^nd March 2003. After my time at St Mary’s, I was Chaplain to RPH and Parish Priest of North Beach. Pam lost her battle with Cancer in May 2020, after which I had a few health issues but continued to exercise ministry within the Archdiocese. 2022 has happily seen my return to St Mary’s Cathedral. I am also very privileged to be the Chaplain to The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem for Westen Australia, a Papal Order of Chivalry.