Welcome Fr. Raju Chebattina!

St. Paul Catholic Church is pleased to welcome Fr. Raju (RAH-joo) Chebattina as our new Parochial Vicar!  Fr. Raju comes to us from the Diocese of Charlottetown, Canada.  He was born and raised in India. He studied Philosophy and Theology in Andhra Pradesh, India, and was ordained to the priesthood on April 15, 2008.

Following his ordination, Fr. Raju served as Vice Principal of Infant Jesus School in Shamshabad from 2008 to 2010. He was then appointed Principal of St. Joseph’s School (2010–2012). Afterward, he served as Dean of Students at Mary Malarkodi Seminary before beginning a new chapter of ministry in Canada in 2013.

In Canada, Fr. Raju served as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Souris, Prince Edward Island. From 2018 to 2023, he faithfully shepherded the faithful as Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Montague, PEI. In 2023, he moved to Florida to serve as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Land O’ Lakes.

Fr. Raju’s vocation story is deeply rooted in the witness of missionaries. Growing up in the Diocese of Vijayawada, he was inspired by the lives of forty Italian priests of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) who dedicated themselves to serving the people of the region. Many of these priests are buried at the St. Mary’s Gunadala Matha Shrine and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Their example of faith, sacrifice, and missionary zeal inspired Fr. Raju to enter the seminary at the age of fifteen. Ten years later, he joyfully said “yes” to God’s call and was ordained a priest.

Reflecting on his new assignment, Fr. Raju shared that it is both a privilege and an honor to be appointed as Parochial Vicar at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa. He looks forward to becoming part of our active and dynamic parish family and hopes to bring the love of Jesus to all through the Sacraments, fellowship, and pastoral care. He is eager to serve parishioners and visitors alike and to help deepen their relationship with Christ.

[[Photo credit and article by: Charles R. Yezak, Jr., Director of Communications, St. Paul Catholic Church – Tampa]]