Salt Lake City: Father Lourduraj Gally Gregory, Saint Patrick Parish pastor, will begin leading Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Magna) Aug. 1.

Fr. Gally was ordained in 1987 in the Archdiocese of Madras-Myleapore in India, where he served 14 years as a pastor and school administrator. In 2002, he served for two years in the Diocese of Chingleput, India.

In 2004 he got permission from the Presbyterate to go abroad, and applied to five dioceses in the United States. Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, then vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, replied in 10 days, Fr. Gally said.

“Msgr. Fitzgerald said in a letter, ‘You are most welcome to come here; we have a placement for you … and don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything,’” Fr. Gally said.

On Aug. 2, 2004 Fr. Gally became the associate pastor and hospital chaplain at St. Ambrose Parish with Father William Wheaton, as the pastor, for five years; then for one year with Father Andrzej Skrzypiec as the pastor.

During the first year Fr. Gally was at St. Ambrose, he had to learn the American culture and way of life. For example, Fr. Gally had only operated a scooter and had never driven a car; he had to learn how to shop in a grocery store and the malls downtown.

After his service at St. Ambrose, Fr. Gally was assigned as a pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Salt Lake City. The parish community helped him celebrate becoming an American citizen on Aug. 7, 2015.

Now after six years of service at St. Patrick’s, which also included a celebration of the silver anniversary of his priesthood, Fr. Gally is heading to Our Lady of Lourdes in Magna.

“I feel happy. … Our Lady of Lourdes is my patronress. My first name, Lourduraj, comes from Our Lady of Lourdes,” said Fr. Gally, adding that that has been a highlight in this new assignment.

His first goal is to get to know the community, he said.

“I want to go there and plan. I don’t want to get any preconception of the parish,” said Fr. Gally.

Fr. Gally said that he loves St. Patrick’s, which is the only parish in the diocese that celebrates Masses for the Tongan and African communities. “It’s a beautiful parish with a lot of diversity, and my time there was beautiful and challenging.”

The diversity of the parishioners, who sometimes attend Mass dressed in traditional garb, and celebrating their cultures has been a very educating experience for him.

“I’ve learned a lot of the cultures and customs. I don’t speak any of those languages but I could pray in their languages and I was always open to learn and experience with them their cultures,” said Fr. Gally.

He invites the St. Patrick parishioners to visit him in Magna. “There is a fabulous thing called the spaghetti dinner, so I invite all of them to come,” said Fr. Gally with a big smile.

For his new community in Magna, Fr. Gally has already met some of the parishioners and visited with the current pastor, Fr. Javier Virgen.

“I’ve been praying for them since I got to know that I was heading there. … I am coming with an open mind to learn things and to walk with them in their spiritual journey,” said Fr. Gally.

“Father Gally Gregory is one of the most generous and kind priests of our diocese,” said Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, diocesan administrator. “There has never been a time I remember when I needed a priest in an emergency to visit a hospital (not already part of his responsibility) or cover for another priest in an emergency, that Father hasn’t immediately said yes and done so cheerfully. He has the patience of Job, and relates warmly to all cultures and people of every ethnic background. He has been a true blessing to the people of St. Patrick Parish and will continue that legacy at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.”

Source: icatholic