Rev. Dr John Dupuche is Parish Priest of Beaumaris/Black Rock

Rev. Dr. John R. Dupuche was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia, to French parents who had come to Australia on business and who were prevented from returning to France by the outbreak of the World War II. The family language and culture was French. During his childhood he travelled many times to France with his family.
On leaving secondary school he entered the Jesuits and completed an undergraduate degree in Scholastic Philosophy. Later, at Melbourne University he obtained an Honours Degree in French and German and went on to complete a Masters Degree in French literature (with a thesis on Citadelle by A. de St Exupery). After a year of training for the Diplomatic Service in the Foreign Affairs Department in Canberra he went on to study theology completing a double degree in theology at Catholic Theological College and at the Melbourne College of Divinity and was ordained priest in 1974. He taught theology for many years at what is now the Australian Catholic University where he was head of the Religious Education Department (at Christ Campus). During a year’s sabbatical in the California, Italy and Tamil Nadu and with the advice of Dom Bede Griffiths osb and Dom Thomas Matus osb he came in contact with Kashmir Shaivism.
After some years in parish ministry and with advice from Prof. Alexis Sanderson of Oxford he completed a doctorate in Sanskrit with a translation and commentary on Chapter 29 of the Tantraloka by Abhinavagupta, which describes the Kula ritual, an extreme tantric ritual. This was published in 2003 by Motilal Banarsidass.
During this time of study he came in contact with Prof. Dr. Bettina Bäumer with whom he has established a close friendship and whom he accompanied in 1998 on an epic trip to Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. He travels to India each year.
He is Chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and much engaged in interreligious relations. He is particularly interested in the interface between Christianity and Kashmir Shaivism. He has recently presented for publication a book on mantra meditation which draws together the teaching of Christianity and Kashmir Shaivism on the mantra. He writes papers and conducts retreats in addition to his normal parish duties. He is an Honorary Research Associate at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology at Monash University.
He has recently established an interfaith household together with Swami Sannyasananda, a yogi of the Satyananda lineage, and the Venerable Lobsang Tendar, a Buddhist Gyuto monk from Tibet / Dharamsala.

Rev. Fr Franco Cavarra, is parish priest of St. Christopher’s Airport West He has been involved in Ecumenical work since since his ordination in 1998. Prior to becoming a priest, he was involved in the performing arts as a freelance director of opera and drama and Arts Festivals generally. His interest in Ecumenism dates back to his student days at university.
Father Franco directed the "Stations of the Cross" production at World Youth Day.