Fr Justin departs Tasmania for Adelaide’s Passionist community

By Josh Low

Fr Justin Durai Raj CP, of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, will be departing Tasmania after Easter to join the Passionist congregation in Adelaide.

Fr Justin said his time at St Joseph’s Church in Hobart had been his longest placement and where he first experienced what religious life in a parish community was like.

“Finding balance between community life and parish life was a kind of highlight,” he said.

“I [also] administered sacraments to patients mainly in Royal Hobart Hospital and Hobart Private Hospital and visited regularly the residents of St Ann’s Aged Care.”

Over the past four years, since arriving in Hobart in 2019, Fr Justin has made his first religious profession of vows and assisted with hospital ministry alongside Frs Peter Addicoat and Gerard Quinn CP. Prior to arriving in Hobart he served as a diocesan priest in Bangalore, India.

Things changed with the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 however, less than a year into Fr Justin’s time in Tasmania.

“I found myself doing my ministry in different ways, trying my best to understand and respond to the needs of the community,” he said.

Having already lived and worked in the Passionist community in Adelaide, Fr Justin is sad to leave Hobart but also excited for the path ahead.

“I will be missing people here and the beautiful Tasmania.

“However, I am also excited to move to Adelaide as it will widen my experience in ministry and help me in my growth,” he said.

“I would like to thank Archbishop Julian, all the priests, deacons and all the people of God for your generous encouragement, support, and love during my stay here, and especially my Passionist family and St Joseph’s Community for accompanying me in my journey.

“I am looking forward to a continued God experience; growth in the knowledge and understanding of God and particularly, a personal relationship with Jesus, which I believe is the only way to grow in capacity to love and serve,” he concluded.