It’s almost a year that I am appointed as the Parish Priest of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Kalena Agrahara, Bangalore. Many may be still wondering who our parish priest is since many faithful were not coming to the Church due to the pandemic. Now the situation is coming to normal so thought of writing these few lines.
I am Fr Balaraju, a Jesuit Priest of the Karnataka Jesuit Province, India. I was ordained on 11th of December, 2004. As a Jesuit, I have served in the formation of young scholastics for about twelve years. I have completed my Licentiate in Systematic Theology at Miltown Institution of Theology and Spirituality, Dublin, Ireland in the year 2007. Since then I am also teaching the History of Christianity at our regional Theologate at Anekal, Bangalore. I am happy to be appointed Parish Priest of this Church by Most Rev. Peter Machado, the Archbishop of Bangalore through the initiative of the Karnataka Jesuit Provincial, Fr Dionysius Vas SJ.
This Parish, as I see is a vibrant and a community with full of life. The people are very active in organizing various programmes in the church as well as outside. We have Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Jesuit Volunteer Group, Women Sangha, Altar Servers Group, and the Youth Group etc. We all come together to celebrate all the programmes as one family. The spiritual atmosphere is commendable. The Eucharists, prayer services, Rosary, Prayer in the Wards and feasts and Novenas are conducted very creatively by the Priests and the faithful.
The pandemic has hit everyone. The life of the people in society and in the parish has challenged everyone due to the Covid. People are struggling to meet their daily needs because of the soaring prices. In spite of all these difficulties the faithful of the parish have supported each other and the needy at large. God will always blesses us so that we live our life of faith so that we carry on the message and the work of Christ to the people around us.
Fr Balaraju A,
Parish Priest
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Kalena Agrahara
Bannerghatta Road
Bengaluru-76
PS: For more details about the parish, please contact the Parish Priest:
Fr Balaraju A
Mob: +91 86609 34686
Email: balarajuasj1171@gmail.com