Paul David Ryan, 68, is facing seven charges, including counts of rape, sexual penetration of a child under 16 years old and indecent assaults.

Victoria Police Taskforce ​Sano ​detectives this month told two south-west complainants that charges were being issued on summons to the former priest, who now lives in Western Australia.

Detective Senior Constable Jason Rowles said those charges had been served.

The case has been investigated during the past two years based largely on information revealed during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

In December 2015, the commission was told the Vatican had defrocked Mr Ryan from the priesthood almost a decade after the Ballarat diocese requested he was removed.

Paul David Ryan served as a priest in numerous parishes in the Ballarat diocese including St Columba’s in North Ballarat, Terang and Ararat.

It is understood the charges relate to allegations involving the complainants when they were students at Warrnambool's Christian Brothers College during the 1980s.

Mr Ryan also performed the role of school chaplain at CBC and went on school camping trips.

CBC and the girls-only St Ann’s merged to become Emmanuel College in 1991.

Mr Ryan has been summoned to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 4 for a filing hearing.