Bishop Ruggieri announces new priest assignments
His Excellency Bishop James T. Ruggieri has announced new priest assignments, effective July 1, 2025.
Father Brittoraj Amalogam, HGN Father Brittoraj Amalogam, HGN has been appointed administrator of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Oquossoc and parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Farmington and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Jay. Fr. Amalogam has served as parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish in Augusta since April of 2023. A native of India, he is a member of the Divine Mercy Province in Heralds of Good News, a missionary society of apostolic life. Fr. Amalogam started his priestly ministry following his ordination in 2014 at the Double Shrine of our Lady of Sorrows & St. Devasahayam in Aralvaimozhi, Nagercoil as an assistant parish priest. Her also served as administrator cum preacher in Good News Retreat Center in Naguneri, Tirunelveli and as parish priest at Our Lady of Purification Church in Kilambadi, Erode in the Diocese of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He completed his philosophical studies and theological studies at St. John’s & St Joseph’s Major Seminary, Andra Pradesh, India.
Reverend Thomas Aquinas Giragori Chinnappan, HGN has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Bridgton and St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Norway. Fr. Thomas Aquinas is a member of the Heralds of Good News, a missionary society of apostolic life in India. He arrived in Maine in May. Since his ordination in 2012, he has served in various pastoral roles both in India and the United States. His assignments have included associate pastor of the Shrine of the Apostle St. Thomas and Our Lady of Good Health, Little Mount, Chennai; associate pastor of St. Antony Church, Thandalam, Tamil Nadu; and associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church, T. Sindalacherry, Tamil Nadu. He also served as administrator of Mary Queen of All Saints Parish in Hardwick, Vermont, and later as associate pastor at Annai Velankanni Church, Annanur, Chennai, among other positions. He completed his theological studies at St. Joseph’s Major Seminary in Khammam and his philosophical studies at St. John’s Major Seminary in Kurnool.
Reverend Peter Onwe, OP has been appointed chaplain at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and D’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston. He is a member of the Dominican Order and arrived in Maine in May. Since his ordination in 2017, Fr. Onwe has served in several pastoral, formation and youth ministries in Nigeria, including as assistant director of students in priestly formation for the Dominican Community House of Formation, Ibadan; associate pastor of Emmanuel Catholic Parish, Enugu; assistant pastor of St. Gregory Parish, Benin City; and assistance pastor of Queens Martyrs Parish, Abuja among other experiences. He completed his theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum in Rome and has earned several degrees in computer science.
Reverend Kent Ouellette has been appointed senior priest for St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent. He has been the pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in St. Agatha, Notre Dame du Mont Carmel in Madawaska and St. Peter Chanel Parish in Van Buren since July of 2021. He also was the parochial vicar of those parishes from 2013-2017. Ordained in 2005, Fr. Ouellette has served in several other capacities in the diocese, including as pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Island Falls and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton; pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield and Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dover-Foxcroft; parochial vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor; parochial vicar of Notre Dame de Lourdes and Mostly Holy Trinity Parishes in Saco; and parochial vicar of St. Andre, St. Joseph and St. Mary Parishes in Biddeford. He holds a Master of Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, in addition to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine Orono.
