St Benedict's is under the care of the Missionaries of God's Love (MGL), a charismatic and contemplative Religious congregation founded in Australia. Currently we have three MGL priests serving our community:
Fr Cam Smith MGL
Parish Priest
A local, Fr Cam grew up in the south-east of Melbourne. St Benedict's is his first appointment as a priest, having been ordained at the end of 2020. He studied chemistry and materials science before following the path to the priesthood, and still loves to dabble in maths and physics.
Fr Justin Uzabeaga MGL
Assistant Priest
Justin was born in the land flowing with milk and honey; the Australian Capital Territory. He studied psychology and exercise science at uni. He was also blessed to do a year on Youth Mission Team. He loves a quiet night in watching a film with a scoop of ice cream and a decaf coffee.
Fr Terrence Shanaka MGL
Assistant Priest
Born in a magnificent island nation called Sri Lanka, Terrence is the second child, after his only sister; of a devout Catholic family from a town called Mirigama in the Western Province. He finished his studies in St. Aloysius School and in his early days worked as a teacher whilst being an active leader in the youth ministry of the Archdiocese before joining the MGL congregation. He enjoys watching movies and the theatre; above all loves cafe hopping with mates, and chocolates and shakes. His vision is have a heart to bring people back to God!
Fr Viknesh Thanislaus MGL
Assistant Priest
Born in Muttom, Tamil Nadu, India — one of the beautiful fishermen’s villages in the southern part of the country — he carries with him the warmth and simplicity of his coastal roots. He studied Mathematics and Philosophy as his degrees, which might explain why he loves solving problems. He enjoys seafood and outdoor sports and his secret fact is that he is an introvert. His vision is to share God’s compassion through the Sacraments and one-to-one personal connection.