Fr. Raja Selvam Joins the St. Ignatius Staff for the 2022-23 School Year

February 5, 2023

St. Ignatius Catholic School welcomes Fr. Raja Selvam to the school staff for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year.

Fr. Raja will assist with daily Mass, hear daily confessions, and provide spiritual direction to students and staff. Fr. Raja will also teach grade 6 religion, as well as be present in throughout the school day in classrooms as a guest lecturer and for other needs.

“We feel so blessed to have a priest on staff. Fr. Raja’s presence will increase our sacramental graces and also increase our vocational awareness of our students,” System President Nathan Vande Hey said.

Fr. Raja was born in Sivagangai, India, and was ordained a diocesan priest on April 15, 2007. Since his arrival in the United States, Fr. Raja has served in various capacities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and in the Diocese of Green Bay, including Parochial Vicar of parishes in the Gresham, Leopolis, Neopit, Keshena, Antigo, Neva and Howard. Fr. Raja also most recently was a Temporary Administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Appleton. In addition to his priestly undergraduate formation in Philosophy and Theology, Fr. Raja holds multiple master’s degrees, including in Systemic Theology, Journalism, and Christian Studies. He recently completed his dissertation for a doctorate program and is in between assignments, thus making his term at St. Ignatius possible.

The Catholic tradition and faith formation are central to all that is done at St. Ignatius Catholic School and St. Ignatius Chesterton Academy. The joyful, authentically Catholic school community is a community of disciples of Christ, seeking to know, love, and serve God in this life and to be with Him forever in the next. From daily prayer, daily Mass, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration to our integrated Catholic classical curriculum to service and pilgrimage opportunities, our school seeks to support parents in fostering a deep love of the Lord and His Church in their children.

In addition to this part-time staff role at St. Ignatius, Fr. Raja is also assisting Fr. Don Everts and Fr. Kris Mekala at Kaukauna Catholic Parishes (Holy Cross and St. Katharine Drexel). School parents who are seeking spiritual direction may also schedule an appointment with Fr. Raja by contacting the school office to schedule.


Pictured: Fr. Raja gives a homily during daily Mass at St. Ignatius Catholic School in February 2023.