Name:
S. Gnana JothiORDINATIONS 2009 Archdiocese of Bombay
Name:
S. Gnana Jothi
Parish:
St Anthony, Tembipada
Parents: G.S.Rajan
and G.S.R. Seeli
My Vocation
I hail from Pandarakulam, a small village in the diocese of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Thanks to my mother, a regular and active Church goer, I was introduced to the habit of daily mass. I am certain that this is where the seeds of my vocation were sown. This coupled with regular participation in Church activities and a close collaboration with my parish priest further strengthened my desire to become a priest.
I attended a 5-day vocation camp after Std. X but I wasn’t yet ready to commit myself. All through my college years, I maintained a close relationship with the Church by regular participating in and conducting prayers.
After graduation, I wanted to join the priesthood, but my family was unable to allow me to join at that moment. I went on to complete my post-graduation and came to Mumbai seeking a job. Staying at Bhandup I worked as an accountant for 6 years. This was also a time when I immersed myself in parish based ministries as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, Eucharistic minister, etc.
My parish priest, Fr. Jegaraj s.s.s., noticed in me a deep love for the Church. He both encouraged as well as helped me discern my vocation. Finally, after spending a whole day before the Blessed Sacrament, I felt strengthened to say “Yes” to the Lord and joined the seminary.
8 years have goneby at the seminary and I thank God for showering his blessings on me throughout these years. I also bless and thank God for my family, relatives and friends who were a constant support to me. My only prayer is “To be a dedicated servant in the Lord’s vineyard”.
Name: Neil Cerejo
Parish: Our Lady of
Salvation, Dadar
Parents: Late Francis
and Agatha Cerejo
My Vocation
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Jn 10:10b)
Nine years ago I set out for a youth retreat to Kerala. It was the year 2000. At that time I had been working as a computer engineer, spending 12-14 long hours working each day. I realized I needed a break from work, a short holiday of some sort, since for the 9 years that I had worked I had never taken a real long holiday. And since a nice group of 60 odd young, energetic youth were headed for a retreat to Pota, I joined them. It was at this retreat I had an encounter with the Lord and His Holy Spirit. I was born again, renewed, changed and I knew at that very moment that life would never be the same anymore. After that retreat I spent a year discerning, nay struggling to discern my vocation in life while continuing to work at the same time. When I finally took the decision to join the seminary I felt a peace within that I had never felt before. The very day I entered the seminary I knew that I was in the right place and had made the right decision. Over the next 8 years my vocation was strengthened in the seminary with its structured prayer life, studies and pastoral ministry. Now as I plunge into the priesthood I sense deeply or rather know for sure that my ordination is not the final fulfillment at the end of a long journey of formation, but the beginning of a new era for me, a time to be born again to a new life of service in the Lord’s vineyard.
With great joy in my heart I look forward to being God’s instrument in the world and my vision for the priesthood being to give to others the abundance of life that I have received from the Lord.
Name:
Ashlyn Chand
Parish: Our Lady of
the Assumption, Kandivli
Parents: Late Anthony
and Amelia Leyland Chand
My Vocation
“I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” Phil.4:13
June 2001, is the month I will always remember. It was the month I joined the seminary. Behind me lay ten plus years of work experience. My last job was as a Consultant for a software consultancy company. Even though I was doing well in my profession, the salary being good along with a high position, I found there was something missing in my life. At that time I could not recognize what it was.
It was in the year 1998, that I started attending “Wellsprings” a theology course for the laity organized at Juhu, by Mrs. Penny Bajaj. It was during this course, which I attended from 1998 – 2000, that I began to find answers to my life. Learning theology gave me a direction and purpose in life. Being very service oriented and people friendly I began to ask myself the question, “Is God calling me?” This was because there was a great desire within me to serve and help out people, and this reaching out to people gave me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It was during a retreat conducted by Bishop Ferdie, organized by well-spring, that I first spoke to Bishop Ferdie about my call. During the retreat Bishop Ferdie helped me discern and accept my call.
However, leaving the security of a job, which offered me a good position and an excellent salary was not easy. However, after a great deal of discernment and firm faith in God, I decided to quit my job and join the seminary.
On joining the seminary, all my doubts and apprehensions were wiped away and I experienced a deep inner peace, joy and fulfillment which convinced me that I had made the right decision of leaving everything to come answer God call – To follow HIM & Serve HIS people.
Name
: Norbert D’Souza
Parish: Sacred Heart,
Andheri
Parents: Lawrence and
Leena D’Souza
My Vocation
“I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” Jer 29:11
The priesthood is a service of leading the community into the future which I believe is full of hope. I don't know what exactly awaits me , but I trust God to hold my hand as I take this step. The Lord has led me this far and the journey has been an exciting one. As I look back I can see the hand of God guiding me and my family. Having experienced the providence of God personally I want to share His message that God has a plan of peace and prosperity for His people.
I would like share the grace of the priesthood with my people through the Eucharist with prayerfully reflected homilies and visiting my community regularly through home visits. I see the priesthood as a door to bring God's message not just to Christians but to all peoples.
Name
: Avin Franklin
Parish: Our Lady of
Fatima, Ambarnath
Parents: Joseph
Sebastian and Philomena Franklin
My Vocation
As a small child, God or religion hardly meant anything to
me. By the time I was in secondary school, I had lost all interest in God and
was practically an atheist. However, being born and brought up in a devout
Catholic family I was regular for mass, novenas and other Church services only
because my parents were there and they would be very hurt to know that I did not
believe in God. Every night my dad would read to me the parables of Jesus and I
would just listen to him. Jesus for
me was just a master story teller and nothing more. It was after I completed my
IX Std examinations that my parents decided that we as a family make a retreat.
I had no choice but to go with my parents to Potta. The first three days I felt
terrible sitting for the whole day praying and listening to a number of
preachers. But I remember on the fourth day, a unique experience gripped me. I
could strongly feel someone calling out to me “Avin give ME a chance, just trust
ME once.” And at that moment I knew it was Jesus speaking to me. This was the
first time in my life that I trusted God totally and said “I believe in you
Jesus.” From that moment onwards life was never the same. I came back from the
retreat and started reading the Bible myself. Now I attended the Eucharist with
faith and devotion. Personal prayer and family prayer became part of my life.
After I finished my X Std, I told my parents that I would like to be a priest.
My parents were initially taken aback as I am the only child, but they rightly
advised me to complete my college studies and then take a proper decision. I
finished my Std XII examinations and again told my parents that I still felt
called to the priesthood. My dad then asked me to continue with my graduation
studies and also work part time so as to discern my vocation. I began my
graduation studies and simultaneously cleared the entrance test for
My prayer is “Lord enable me to be ever faithful to this call. Amen.”
Name
: Michael D’Cunha
Parish: St Jude,
Malad (East)
Parents : Albert and
Marian D’Cunha
My Vocation
My vocation to the priesthood can be traced back to the time when I was 3 1/2 years old. I was administered a wrong injection & nearly died. I was in a semi-conscious state, fighting for life for nearly a month. In this state I would often see “visions”. In one such “vision”, I saw Jesus calling me. Those around me thought the Lord was calling me to himself & that my end was near. They were both right & wrong. The Lord did call me – He called me to a new beginning with him!
As I grew up, although I scored high marks in religion at school, towards the end of my school years I underwent a faith struggle. My faith alone wasn’t able to address the many questions I had. In fact, so severe was my faith struggle that by the time I cleared H.S.C., I had changed from a regular mass-goer to a Sunday Catholic. Sunday mass too became merely an obligation that had to be met. The only prayer that I would say everyday was the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
I went to Chennai to pursue a professional 3-year Diploma in Hotel management & providentially – the “doubter” that I had become – I managed to get accommodation as a paying guest at St. Thomas Mount. This is where I had my “Wilderness” experience. Staying alone, away from family & friends, gave me the chance & the time to introspect. It is at this time that my vocation began reappearing. I began praying once again. I would often go up the mount on weekends to spend time alone under the shadow of the cross atop the mount.
After successfully completing my course, I began working & faring very well. I enjoyed my work & excelled in it. But I would always sense that something was amiss in my life. After 3 long years of discerning with my spiritual director, I finally decided to join the seminary. And I distinctly remember experiencing a deep peace, the moment I made that decision. It was as though the missing part of a jigsaw was finally put in place!
Eight years at the seminary have strengthened this decision and brought to it a sense of maturity & finesse. As I approach my priestly ordination, I go ahead with the assurance that “He is with me always… even to the end of time.”