Clergy
Parish Priest: Father René Knaap
Fr René was born and grew up in north west Tasmania. The second of three boys, both his parents emigrated from the Netherlands (hence the somewhat unusual name). Upon leaving school he joined the L’Arche community of Hobart, part of an international federation of Christian communities for people with intellectual disabilities and those who chose to live with them. Fr René was part of that community for nearly a decade in various capacities before commencing theological studies. While in Hobart he was heavily involved in the life of the parish of All Saints’ South Hobart.
He moved to the diocese of Ballarat after being accepted as a candidate for ordination. He completed his Bachelor of Theology at the United Faculty of Theology (Melbourne College of Divinity). He was ordained deacon in December 2008 and priest in May 2010. He served curacies at Christ Church Hamilton in western Victoria and at Ballarat and Queens Anglican Grammar School as assistant chaplain. He served for four and a half happy years in the Parish of the Otways based in the beautiful resort town of Apollo Bay.
Fr René has travelled extensively and lived and worked in the Philippines. He has had opportunity for several trips to the Thai-Burma border meeting with refugees and displaced persons. He has a particular interest in art, music and history and has a Masters in Theology with a specialty in Liturgy from the Australian Catholic University. He is also a member of the Society of the Holy Cross and priest associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Fr René is committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to making his love known in word and deed. He believes it is important to find new ways of connecting with the community while drawing from the riches of the tradition. He is humbled to be ministering amongst the people of All Saints East St Kilda . With the faithful of this church, with its fine spiritual, theological and liturgical tradition, he is committed to expanding and deepening the experience of faith in this place.
He moved to the diocese of Ballarat after being accepted as a candidate for ordination. He completed his Bachelor of Theology at the United Faculty of Theology (Melbourne College of Divinity). He was ordained deacon in December 2008 and priest in May 2010. He served curacies at Christ Church Hamilton in western Victoria and at Ballarat and Queens Anglican Grammar School as assistant chaplain. He served for four and a half happy years in the Parish of the Otways based in the beautiful resort town of Apollo Bay.
Fr René has travelled extensively and lived and worked in the Philippines. He has had opportunity for several trips to the Thai-Burma border meeting with refugees and displaced persons. He has a particular interest in art, music and history and has a Masters in Theology with a specialty in Liturgy from the Australian Catholic University. He is also a member of the Society of the Holy Cross and priest associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Fr René is committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to making his love known in word and deed. He believes it is important to find new ways of connecting with the community while drawing from the riches of the tradition. He is humbled to be ministering amongst the people of All Saints East St Kilda . With the faithful of this church, with its fine spiritual, theological and liturgical tradition, he is committed to expanding and deepening the experience of faith in this place.
Associate Priest: Father Isuru Weliwatte
Fr Isuru was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He grew up with his younger sister Thilini but went to the all-boys school St. Peter’s College Colombo. Once he completed his Advanced Level Exams and then a diploma in management, he migrated to Melbourne to begin a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University, Burwood. After an exciting and challenging period as an international student, he graduated in 2006 with majors in Accounting, Finance, and Commercial Law. However, God had other plans for his future.
In 2008, he joined a Roman Catholic Religious Order called the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) and began a journey toward becoming a Missionary Priest. After completing a Bachelor of Theology (2014) and a Master of Theological Studies (2016) from the University of Divinity Melbourne, he was ordained in 2015 at St. Dominic’s Camberwell. During his time with the MGLs, he has done mission work in Canberra (2008-2009), Melbourne (2010, 2012-2016), Darwin (2011), and Sydney (2017-2018) in various parishes and other settings. In 2019, he came back to Melbourne from Sydney and ministered in a large parish in Narre Warren for 3 years as an assistant priest, while studying professional psychological counselling in a part-time capacity. He graduated with a Master’s in psychological counselling in 2022 and currently practices as a part-time Mental Health Clinician in Bendigo.
Outside of work and ministry, he enjoys bike riding, hiking, swimming, watching cricket & AFL Saints; traveling, and listening to classical music.
After a considerable discernment period, he joined the Anglican Church in Melbourne early in 2023. Fr Isuru began his ministry as an assistant priest at All Saints’ Church East St. Kilda in March 2023. Fr Isuru is passionate about bringing God’s love through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In 2008, he joined a Roman Catholic Religious Order called the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) and began a journey toward becoming a Missionary Priest. After completing a Bachelor of Theology (2014) and a Master of Theological Studies (2016) from the University of Divinity Melbourne, he was ordained in 2015 at St. Dominic’s Camberwell. During his time with the MGLs, he has done mission work in Canberra (2008-2009), Melbourne (2010, 2012-2016), Darwin (2011), and Sydney (2017-2018) in various parishes and other settings. In 2019, he came back to Melbourne from Sydney and ministered in a large parish in Narre Warren for 3 years as an assistant priest, while studying professional psychological counselling in a part-time capacity. He graduated with a Master’s in psychological counselling in 2022 and currently practices as a part-time Mental Health Clinician in Bendigo.
Outside of work and ministry, he enjoys bike riding, hiking, swimming, watching cricket & AFL Saints; traveling, and listening to classical music.
After a considerable discernment period, he joined the Anglican Church in Melbourne early in 2023. Fr Isuru began his ministry as an assistant priest at All Saints’ Church East St. Kilda in March 2023. Fr Isuru is passionate about bringing God’s love through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people in the power of the Holy Spirit.