Know Your Pastor – Fr. Rajendran Anandan (Rajan)
Fr. Rajan was born on September 29, 1964, in a small village in Tamil Nadu, South India, to Mr. Anandan, a farmer, and Mrs. Arockia Mary, a homemaker. The eldest of four children, he grew up with a strong faith and a deep desire to serve others. As an altar boy at St. John De Britto Boarding School in Oriyur, Tamil Nadu. He was inspired by the missionary work of the Jesuit priest, St. John de Britto, and felt a calling to become a priest at the age of 12.
At 16, Fr. Rajan left his home to join the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to pursue his dream of becoming a missionary. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Albert College in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and was ordained a priest on May 20, 1991, by Bishop S. Edward Francis, the first bishop of Sivagangai Diocese.
Fr. Rajan’s priestly ministry took him far from his homeland. He served as a missionary among tribal communities in central India, in the Archdiocese of Raipur, where he held several pastoral roles. His passion for education led him to pursue two Master's degrees: one in theology (Youth Ministry and Catechesis) from Khristu Jothi College in Bangalore, and another in Public Administration from Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu. He served as the Director of Youth & Communication and Catechesis for his archdiocese from 1998 to 2006, creating educational resources for faith formation, including documentaries and devotional albums.
Fluent in Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Chhattisgarhi, Fr. Rajan is also learning Spanish to further connect with diverse communities.
In 2007, Fr. Rajan’s missionary journey took him to the United States, where he served in the Diocese of La Crosse. Over the years, he worked in several parishes, including St. James the Less, La Crosse, St. Mary’s, Colby, St. Mary's Custer, St. James Amherst and St. Mary of Mount Carmel Fancher WI, till June 2011. His pastoral care and dedication earned him a return invitation from the diocese in 2016. He served at Sacred Heart Parish in Marshfield and Our Lady of Peace Parish before becoming the pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Eastman and Sacred Heart Parish in Wauzeka, effective July1, 2017.
On October 8, 2018, Fr. Rajan was officially incardinated into the Diocese of La Crosse. After seven years of faithful service in these parishes, he has been appointed to serve as the pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Almond, WI, effective July 2, 2024.
Fr. Rajan’s commitment to serving God and His people reflects his deep belief in the words of St. Mother Teresa: “God has not called me to be successful; but to be faithful.” He is also inspired by St. John Paul II’s message that “The future is in the hands and hearts of youth,” and the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “If we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with children.”
Fr. Rajan is passionate about youth and children’s ministry, believing that the future Church depends on nurturing young hearts. His mission is to work together with the people of God to bring about charity, spiritual growth, and a deeper connection to the sacraments.
As he begins his new chapter at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Fr. Rajan trusts in God’s providence and invites everyone to join him on this journey, working together for the greater glory of God.
Let us journey together in faith and service!