Sahaya Raj Thambusamy, or Father Raj is an Indian priest serving in Clarendon Street Church in Dublin. He was ordained as a Carmelite priest in 1993, the first priest to come from his parish for 100 years.

Tamil Nadu parish was started in 1892 by French missionaries. Father Raj spent his first decade working as a missionary in the poor villages of Southern India. Tamil Nadu province selected him last year to come to Dublin to live and work, and attend a course entitled 'Mission Theology ' in Milltown Institute.

The prior, Jim Noonan, received him joyfully into the community at Clarendon Street, where Father Raj feels 'at one with the family' which makes him less lonely for India. His work there contributes to the church where seven Holy Masses are offered each day, and confession is available.

This year, the church received an award for Preaching the Gospel to Dublin People (2007) from the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Also on October 7th, there was a ceremony, when the Carmelites joined by the Capuchins, cast red roses into the Liffey in support of the Burma monks.

Father Raj also remembers at Christmas the people of Southern India. He was there at the time of the tsunami disaster on December 26th 2004, and acted as a relief worker. Father Raj sees Christmas as a special time. Unlike the other feasts, it imparts to our hearts an intimate joy. It brings us together, friends and relatives and indeed the whole community of the faithful.

In India, he emphasizes, it is a one-day celebration, where everyone gathers from the same village. Small gifts are given outside the family, to represent the sharing of a community. They also have midnight mass.

On Christmas day, many Hindus, Moslems and other religions visit the crib, to light candles for the baby Jesus. There will be some cultural competition in the town, and there is a big feast. Father Raj had to visit five or six villages during Christmastime to give the masses, using a motorcycle to travel the 30km distances between the villages!

Father Raj is looking forward to his second Christmas this year at Clarendon Street.

For a programme of Masses contact St. Teresa's, Carmelites, Clarendon St., Dublin 2. Telephone: 671-8466, 671-8127.