Parochial vicar appointed in Lewiston, Lisbon Falls, Sabbatus, Greene

LEWISTON — The Rev. Anthony Kanagaraj Chinnaiyan has been appointed parochial vicar of Prince of Peace Parish (Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Holy Cross Church and Holy Family Church, all of Lewiston; Holy Trinity Parish in Lisbon Falls; and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Sabattus, which also includes St. Francis Church in Greene.

Chinnaiyan He is one of eight Heralds of Good News now serving in the Diocese of Portland. The Heralds of Good News is a missionary society of apostolic life in India specializing in providing priests to other countries, especially in the west, as well as the promotion of vocations to the priesthood.
Originally from a small village in Tamil Nadu, India, Chinnaiyan was an altar server and attended Catholic schools through middle school. After high school, he entered the seminary.
“The desire to become a priest, it was gradually growing in me day by day,” he said. “I had the inspiration day by day.”
In 2005, he completed theological studies at St. Joseph’s Major Seminary in Khammam, India, and was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 21 of that year.

PHOTO: The Rev. Anthony Kanagaraj Chinnaiyan (Submitted photo)