Reverend Sanjai Devis, VC
Director of Hospital Chaplaincy
and Stephen Ministry
Diocese of Camden

Father Sanjai Devis has been a member of the Vincentian Congregation for thirty years and a priest for twenty-four years.  His education has given him a strong background in Philosophy, Theology, English Literature, Education, Sociology, Spiritual Direction and Mental Health Counseling. He is presently a Ph.D. candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Neumann University in Aston, PA. Since ordination to the priesthood in 1997, Father Sanjai was involved in education, social work, financial management and retreats in India. There he presented motivational talks, retreats, conferences and parish missions, and prepared school curricula and taught high school English before being assigned to the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey in 2004. 

From 2004 to 2007 he was the Catholic chaplain for Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, New Jersey. In 2007 Father Sanjai became the Parochial Vicar for the Church of the Holy Family in Sewell, New Jersey where he officiated at all sacraments, provided pastoral care for the parishioners, developed and conducted bereavement programs and started various ministries.  He also provided spiritual direction and counseling for the clergy, deacons and the laity and introduced Stephen Ministry in the parish and to the Diocese of Camden. As a part of the M.S. program in Pastoral, Clinical, Mental Health counseling, he provided one-on-one counseling at various agencies. 

From August 2015 – June 2021, Father Sanjai was the Diocesan Director of Hospital Chaplaincy and Stephen Ministry.  As director, he oversaw the Catholic chaplaincy program for fourteen hospitals and four healthcare facilities that are located in the six counties of southern New Jersey. He interacted regularly with chaplains, associates, directors of pastoral care, volunteer and guest service departments of the hospitals and the diocesan offices. He responded to issues and assured that the patients’ pastoral and spiritual needs are met. His second responsibility was to develop the Stephen Ministry program in the Diocese of Camden providing consultation and training for the leaders and ministers who are then providing confidential care to people in local communities who are experiencing crises in their lives. In November 2017, Bishop Sullivan appointed Father Sanjai as the Spiritual Advisor for the South Jersey Catholic Medical Association. Currently, Father Sanjai is the pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown, New Jersey. 

Father Sanjai has been presenting World Wide Marriage Encounter weekends for the past fourteen years. He teaches basic counseling and spiritual skills to the candidates of the permanent diaconate program of the diocese. He also provides spiritual direction and counseling. Father Sanjai continues to offer retreats, parish missions, recollections, and prayer experiences.