Hello fellow sinners,
I am Fr Branko, the parish priest of our Church. I was born in Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, (Bosnia and Herzegovina) where I first finished Veterinarian school and later, in 2005 graduated on the Faculty of Orthodox Christian Theology, University of Belgrade.
Arriving on the Fifth Continent in 2008 I was first a deacon to the bishop, secretary of the diocese and after priestly ordination on St Thomas Sunday in 2010, I served as an assistant priest at St Lazarus Church in Sydney, Alexandria. We’ve spent in Sydney almost four years and in 2012 moved to Wollongong.
My wife Maya is a social worker and we have four children.
As a priest I feel privileged to be present in most important and most emotional moments of my parishioners lives. I am humbled to be called when someone is born, baptized, getting married or leaves this life from among us.
Unworthy as I am, it is still with most profound joy and humbleness that I serve in this parish and community of awesome people for the past 10 years and will continue doing so for as long as God pleases.
I am also a volunteer chaplain at the Wollongong hospital, teach scripture at Wollongong Public, Coniston Public and Smiths Hill High School.
I am passionate about authentic Orthodox mission as I believe that if Christianity is taken seriously it cannot be a private matter because “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Apart from spending time raising kids I’ve also become some sort of a gym junkie and a passionate beekeeper.
If you ever need me either to pray for you, with you or over someone who might be in need, stress or illness you may contact me at any time: day or night, and Christ’s peace, blessing and comfort will surely come.
You can contact me over the phone: 0411 750 882 or via email: wollongongparish@gmail.com
I will humbly pray for you and with you!