A priest from a Catholic church in Oakville has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman who volunteered there.
Halton Regional Police stated that they began looking into the alleged incident in early February.
In a news release on Tuesday, police announced the arrest of 53-year-old Rev. Ranjan D’Sa, from Oakville, on one count of sexual assault.
He has been released under certain conditions.
According to police, Father D’Sa has worked at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church since 2016 and has been part of the clergy since 2010.
Saint Dominic Catholic church The Saint Dominic Catholic church in Oakville is pictured here.
Investigators mentioned they are worried there may be other victims and are urging anyone with information to reach out to them or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
In a statement, the Diocese of Hamilton shared that they learned about the allegations through a social media post.
“We are deeply saddened by this news,” the diocese said.
“In keeping with our commitment to safeguarding all members of our community, Father D’Sa was immediately removed from St. Dominic Parish and is prohibited from all priestly ministry, pending the results of further police investigations into the allegations.”
The diocese also mentioned that it was praying for the alleged victim and her family.
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Editor’s Note – March 25, 2026: This article has been updated to include the response from the Diocese of Hamilton
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If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
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