Indian Priest Appointed to the Personal Advisory Board of the Archbishop of Melbourne

Melbourne, January 18, 2025: Fr. Antony Shabin Kaniampuram, a member of the Institute Voluntas Dei (IVD), has been appointed to the personal advisory board of Archbishop Peter Andrew Comensoli of Melbourne.

Fr. Shabin is currently serving as the parish priest of the partnered parishes of Thornbury, Northcote, Alphington, and East Thornbury in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Prior to this, he served in various parishes and ministries of the archdiocese, including as assistant priest at Werribee Parish, chaplain to the Archbishop’s Office for Youth, chaplain of the Australian Catholic University’s Melbourne campus, parish priest of Altona, and chaplain of Jesus Youth Melbourne.

Fr. Shabin hails from the parish of St. Anthony’s Chirayam in the Archdiocese of Verapoly, located in the Ernakulam District of Kerala. He received his seminary formation at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye, and Our Lady of Lanka National Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Fr. Shabin’s appointment is seen as a testament to the growing recognition of the contributions of Indian clergy to the global Church. This is not only a moment of pride for Fr. Shabin and the Institute Voluntas Dei but also for the wider Indian Catholic community, which continues to offer dedicated clergy to serve the universal Church.

By Catholic Connect Reporter