PORTLAND, Maine – Bishop Robert Deeley has announced an additional priest assignment, effective Oct. 1.
Fr. Selvaraj Kasi, HGN, (“Fr. Selvaraj”) has been appointed parochial vicar at the Portland Peninsula and Island Parishes (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Portland; Sacred Heart/St. Dominic Parish, Portland; St. Christopher Parish, Peaks Island; St. Louis Parish, Portland; St. Peter Parish, Portland). Fr. Selvaraj is currently parochial vicar at the Parish of the Precious Blood in Caribou.
Born in 1979, Fr. Selvaraj attended school in Tiruvannamalai, a city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, graduating from Danish Mission High School in 1994. He attended junior college in Tiruvannamali before entering Sacred Heart College in Tirupattur, India. He completed his clerical studies at St. John’s Minor Seminary in Nidadavole, India (2003-05), St. John’s Major Seminary in Kurnool, India (2005-08), and St. Augustine Major Seminary in Peramiho, Tanzania (2009-13). While in seminary, he also did his regency (a period of pastoral ministry) teaching math and science in a town in the state of Orissa, India. Fr. Selvaraj was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 2013, at Ulaga Madha Church in Tiruvannamalai, as a Herald of Good News, a missionary society of apostolic life in India that specializes in missionary work and the promotion of vocations to the priesthood. Currently, there are ten members of the society serving in the Diocese of Portland.
Since his ordination, Fr. Selvaraj has served in Tanzania, including assignments in a hostel, teaching and caring for residents (2013-14); as a correspondent at Queen Mary’s Secondary School (2014-15); and as headmaster of the school (2015-17). In addition, he also served as his congregation’s mission superior in the country before arriving in Maine in June of 2017.
Since his arrival in Maine, he has served at St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent, Our Lady of the Valley Parish in St. Agatha, Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish in Madawaska, Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston, and in his current position at the Parish of the Precious Blood.
