Place of birth: North Dandenong
Any other work or jobs you may have done before entering the seminary.
I was a remedial and massage therapist as well as a lecturer for remedial therapy and I also used to teach ballroom dancing.
Tell us a bit about your family.
I am one of three boys. The eldest is a father of 8 children and the other is my identical twin. My mother Rosemary is Mauritian, and my father Simon is Lebanese. When I was growing up the family lived near Waverly Park hence, we are a Hawthorn Hawks family. Later in my teens we moved to Narre Warren South which is why I have come to love and become part of the Diocese of Sale.
What was your reason for taking up the call to your vocation to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Sale?
I had the call from a young age, but I did ignore it for a long while. I always knew that no matter which direction I went in I would inevitably be brought to the priesthood. There were signs that that God left hinting that one day my time will come. Eventually the call got louder and louder until I gained the courage and confidence to answer it.
Who have been your key supporters during your training?
Mother Mary and the Trinity, (they got me through Latin) are my main supporters. But obviously by family and clergy. Seminarians played a great role along with my lecturers, those who supervised me in my pastoral placements, the Catholic Women’s League and the parishioners of Bairnsale and Warragul who guided me through my time in the parish.
Who is the brother priest supporting you on the day?
Fr Peter Slater, who was my parish priest when I was a teenager and is now the priests that has mentored me during my time as a deacon.
Do you have any specific saints you admire or other spiritual influences in your life?
I have great admiration for our countries first saint, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, as well as Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint John Vianney.
What are your other interests or talents?
I do play saxophone and I used to teach ballroom dancing.
Good at listening and care for others. What are you most looking forward to about your Vocation after your Ordination?
Being able to give absolution, that is a major part of the healing component in the Sacrament of Penance. To bare witness to the hardship of the parishioners and in doing being able to assist them as a bridge to God.
Who do you hope will be tuning into the livestreaming to support you?
I hope to have the seminarians from Corpus Christi College support me online.