I was born in the southern part of India in the State called Andhra Pradesh. I speak the language called Telugu, which is my mother tongue. I have two brothers and one sister. We lost our dad at an early age. I my mom is at home being taken care of by my younger brother. All my family members live in India.

I had my early education in Catholic schools. I graduated from Loyola College, Vijayawada, which was run by the Jesuits. I started my Seminary studies in 1979 at Sacred Heart Seminary, Chennai. The Seminary was run by the Don Bosco priests who are well known for training priests for India. The staff members were very good and nice. I, together with my classmates (25 of us), had a lot of fun and a great time learning many things from the staff, both for our personal life and for our future ministry. I can't forget the wonderful memories we, as a class, had throughout our training.

I was ordained as a priest on April 28, 1987. I have served as a Pastor at different parishes in my own diocese (Kadapa) for the past 18 years. My diocese is a mission diocese (South India) and has 125 priests in 55 parishes and other social, pastoral and educational institutions. Coming to the U.S. is a great opportunity for me to know a different culture, experience the faith of the people and gain more pastoral knowledge for myself. This helps me to be an effective minister of Christ in the future.

“Are you doing with your life, what you are supposed to be doing with your life?” With this question, the feeling in my heart returned. I felt in my heart the same stirring of the Holy Spirit which I felt as a little boy sitting in the back pew of Holy Cross Church listening to Msgr. Donovan preach on vocations. “You owe it to God, first and foremost, to determine if God is calling you to religious life. If He is not, then you are free to pursue other vocations.” Msgr. was already in his 90's at the time, and he tended to preach with his eyes closed; yet I felt he was speaking directly to me. This was the first time I felt God calling me to the priesthood. Then nearly 20 years, a college degree, and a Masters in Chemistry later, the Holy Spirit again called me to the priesthood through a Seven Habits of Highly Effective People training course that my company sent us to. Here I realized God had a different plan for my life than a career in Chemistry.

Although I was making great money, working on interesting drug discovery projects, traveling, and interacting with interesting colleagues from many different ethnic backgrounds; when I gave it all up to become a priest of Jesus Christ, I finally discovered true happiness. Happiness is doing what God created you to do. And for me, God made me to effect the Eucharist and bring His grace in the sacramental life of the Church to the people of God.

I was ordained on May 21st, 2005, and my first assignment was at St. Patrick's in St. Charles. I was transferred to Holy Family in Rockford in 2008 before coming to Holy Angels here in Aurora. I look forward with great anticipation to growing in holiness with the good people of Holy Angels.