Welcome back to Raj and Premila
We are delighted to welcome back to the diocese Revd. Rajkumas Santhyaraj who joined the staff of Seagoe in April. Raj worked in Ireland for a year in 2005-6 with CMS and was based in Hillsborough Parish.
Raj, and his wife Premila, both originate from Kerala in Southern India where they were members of the Church of South India. For the past ten years he has worked in Port Said in Egypt with the Anglican Church there. He brings a wealth of experience of working among a range of different cultures both in India and Egypt.
"Raj is uniquely equipped to minister in Seagoe as a curate with special responsibility to develop our existing link with the Church in India," said the rector, Canon Terence Cadden. "He will also be involved in establishing and developing our witness to and inclusion of people in our community who have come from other cultures."
"We are settling in well here and are very happy," says Raj. "The people of Seagoe have been very welcoming and Premila and I are enjoying the fellowship. We have been out and about visiting and meeting people and we are already quite involved in the life of the parish."
Raj has already led an Alpha Course which was attended by about 20 people and had its away day in the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre. He has also made contact with the Indian community and will soon be hosting an Indian night as well as manning an Indian stall at the upcoming church fete.
Do take the opportunity to greet Raj at the Diocesan Synod which will take place in Seagoe on 28th June.