Cranking electric guitar licks to accompany prayers during Sunday Mass in a remote outback church isn’t how most people envision their rock star dreams. Source: ABC News.
But for Indonesian priest Fr Oche Matutina, it’s the perfect alignment of two great loves — God and rock ‘n’ roll.
The Catholic Redemptorist missionary arrived in Australia in 2020 before the pandemic slammed borders shut. The 50-year-old initially served in Melbourne, but in 2022 he was moved by his superiors to Bourke in north-western NSW.
Growing up as one of seven children on Indonesia’s Sumba island, music – specifically Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Metallica – dominated Fr Matutina’s childhood, encouraged by a father who crafted guitars and ukuleles out of wood.
Throughout school, he dreamed of the big stage and spotlights as he and his siblings entertained locally with their band.
But a German priest who loved to hum changed the game.
“He always walked around with his habit and humming,” Fr Matutina said, recalling how happy he seemed.
“He started something in my heart to be a priest.”
A pivotal conversation between the pair, where Fr Matutina shared his dilemma about whether to pursue the priesthood or music clinched the decision to do both.
The priest told him he’d be even more effective as a priest through music.
“[He] said to me, you can be a priest and play music. You can do more through music.”
Fr Matutina has found his passion for music more invaluable since arriving in Australia and realising most people aren’t too keen to talk religion. So music serves as the common ground instead.
His jam sessions with a local guitarist and singer Stephen Wilson, 20, were soon joined by bassist Kobie Lollback, 21. Not long after, drummer Dwayne (Sol) Elwood-Hudson, 51, joined in.
By Easter 2025, the four had formed a covers band, Yellowbelly. Together they’ve travelled throughout north-western NSW and southern Queensland to play in pubs, community events and anywhere people gather.
Fr Matutina is the unlikely lead guitarist, wearing his priestly collar and pulling rock star moves like playing riffs with his guitar behind his head.
FULL STORY
Catholic priest swaps sermons for rock ‘n’ roll guitar solos in the Australian outback (By Catherine James, ABC News)
