In May of 2015 the Indian Vicariate sent three Missionaries to Australia to serve in the local church on the continent.  After months of preparation, Rev. Bernard Balaraj arrived in the Diocese of Geraldton in Western Australia and Rev. Kuppala Amalorpavaraj and Rev. Paul Arockiam Balasundram went to the Archdiocese of Hobart which is located on the island of Tasmania.

At the invitation of Bishop Justin Bianchini, Fr. Balaraj was welcomed to the Diocese of Geraldton, the second largest diocese in terms of geographic area in the world.  He is ministering at St. Paul’s Church in Karratha.  Fr. Balaraj writes that his new ministry is both challenging and rewarding.  His ministry is truly missionary in nature in that the parish encompasses numerous substations, the nearest is 20 kilometers from the parish and the furthest is 345 kilometers away.   Soon St. Paul’s will be clustered with another parish located 550 kilometers away.  Included at St. Paul’s is a school with over 400 students.

To celebrate the Bicentennial Fr. Balaraj introduced the parishioners to the history of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and St. Gaspar.  At all of the masses on the weekend of August 15-16 portions of the newly released film on the history and spirituality of the Congregation were shown and Fr. Balaraj blessed the parishioners with the mission cross.  Finally, a brief history of St. Gaspar was included in the parish bulletin.

With their arrival in Australia, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood have a presence on every inhabited continent on Earth.

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Information and photos provided by Fr. Bernard Balaraj, C.PP.S.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]