LIAM DURKIN
By LIAM DURKIN
ST Michael’s, Traralgon has a new parish priest. Father Aju Varghese was welcomed to St Michael’s recently, and can now add Traralgon to the number of parishes he has served in the Catholic Diocese of Sale. Since moving to Australia a decade ago, Ft Aju has served in virtually every pocket of Gippsland. “I arrived in Australia from India in 2012, my first appointment was in Bairnsdale parish, then I moved to Leongatha as the assistant parish priest of Leongatha, Korumburra, Foster and Yarram,” he explained. “When I was in Bairnsdale we went to Omeo, Benambra, a lot of churches in 10 years, a lot of people. “Three priests lived in Leongatha and when we moved around to those parishes, starting from Woodside to Loch, that was a nice experience, a lot of driving through countryside, staying at Leongatha and driving to Yarram for masses. “After serving as the assistant priest for two years there I was appointed as the administrator of the St Mary’s Cathedral at Sale, then in 2016 I was appointed as the parish priest of Leongatha and Korumburra parishes. “Now I am in Traralgon for another chapter of my life.” Fr Aju was ordained in 2005, and worked in his home country and the Philippines – where he was hospital chaplain – before making the journey to Australia. “More than 1000 patients, most of them Catholic, so there were two priests staying in the hospital looking after the needs of patients and offering mass,” he said. The move to Australia came about through his religious order with the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, who were asked to send two priest to Australia. Fr Aju said he was looking forward to serving the Traralgon parish, especially in a church featuring majestic colour French glass windows dominating the north and south walls. “It is a beautiful church, I really enjoy when I am in the church it looks fantastic, especially in these summer times when there is sun, the bright light and all the glasses are beautiful,” he said. “I’m happy to come to Traralgon, it is a new appointment for me, a bigger town compared to Leongatha.” With St Michael’s taking in the neighbouring primary school of the same name as well as St Gabriel’s and Lavalla Catholic College, Fr Aju will be kept busy conducting a number of masses throughout the school year. “We have two schools and a college so once the schools are open there are so many things we have to do there,” he said. “Opening masses and the sacrament programs we have to plan, that will be my next month.” Away from the priesthood, Fr Aju pointed to cooking as a hobby, and somewhat surprisingly given many priests are known to be avid golfers, Fr Aju said his main sport of interest was basketball. Monday is the official day off for priests, and Fr Aju said he also enjoyed connecting with the other 34 priests in the Diocese. “We have a great friendship in our Diocese, and people on Monday if two or three priests can get together for lunch or dinner they do that,” he said. Fr Aju replaces Fr Francis Otobo, who has moved to St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, as administrator, while former St Michael’s assistant priest Ft Ajin Albarnas has made the move to Narre Warren. Fr Aju will conduct mass at St Michael’s alongside Deacon Tony Aspinall. Mass times at St Michael’s are: Saturday 5pm, Sunday 9.30am and Sunday 5pm, with weekday masses Tuesday (9.30am), Wednesday (Adoration 11am, mass 12pm), Thursday (9.30am) and Friday (9.30am).
