A TRIBUTE | KAIROS GLOBAL | MARCH 2021

Author: Annie Berly

Intro: Annie Berly remembers all those people who, at various points in life, helped her on her spiritual journey.

To those who helped my walk with the Lord

As I look back to my more-than-two-decades’ journey in Jesus Youth, I find there are numerous people who have helped me along the way. More than anything else, God has used these wonderful people in my life to inspire and mould me into a better follower of Christ.

After my schooling in Dubai, I returned to Kerala to join college. New place, new people, new circumstances. When I joined catechism classes, the teacher divided us into groups for discussion. Our group was led by Sunil D'cruz who I later found out was a Jesus Youth. The gentle manner in which he dealt with everyone and the ease with which he handled the discussions left a deep impression on me.

Later, I joined my parish prayer group as well as my college prayer group. In the college group, I met Sini Joy, our first full-timer. On her first visit, she spoke of heaven. She said she would often think of herself as a princess in heaven - daughter of the King of Heaven. Never before in my life had I heard anyone speak so confidently of going to heaven! This had a great impact on me for I never thought I could get there. I was intrigued.

Though I went through many ups and downs in my spiritual life during college, by the end of it, I was ready to be a full-timer myself. It was Tommy Augustine from my parish prayer group who provided for my full-timers training expenses. And the fact that a member of my parish prayer group (Mahesh Peter) as well as a member of my college prayer group (Geetha Ajoo) were joining me for the training reassured my parents, and they gladly sent me off.

There were many people who helped me savour my journey and sustained me throughout my one-year commitment in Ernakulam:

Floyd Martin (1st batch) who reassured me when I felt inadequate to complete the task ahead of me, asserting that the Lord did not want great things from me that year, he only wanted my faithfulness. 

Preetha Jose (2nd batch) who emboldened me to trust in the Lord and leap out in faith. Thus, by trusting in God’s ability to equip and strengthen me, I could take up responsibilities for which I felt incompetent.

Suma Joseph, my elder, who taught me to live with Jesus, and to think of others. On several occasions, when I had to travel alone or had to eat alone in restaurants, I could feel His presence with me. She urged me to write letters to boost my batch mates.

Chackochan Njavallil (Kerala Coordinator) who was adept at giving me formidable tasks from which I learned many relevant lessons. 

Palli Achan (Fr. Abraham Pallivathukkal) whose fatherly presence was a solace. Though he had to be stern with me at times, he was there to care and often indulge me (with ice-creams, books, etc.) to motivate me.

Emmaus Antony chetan’s (C. O. Antony) ever-smiling face and witty and encouraging remarks brightened many dull and miserable days.

Being at Emmaus most of the time, I was able to interact with many Jesus Youth leaders from all over Kerala. Watching those zealous missionaries and conversing with them gave me the impetus to want to love Jesus more dearly.

After full-timership, it was college days again. Along with my postgraduate studies, being leader of my college prayer group, hostel prayer group and being coordinator of Ernakulam Campus team meant that I had my hands full. My experiences during those turbulent days taught me several life lessons like, don’t take up more than you can chew! Anitha Paul (5th batch) was a model of charity and faithful friend to me during those difficult times. Also, I found a dear friend and brother in Cheriachan (Fr. Cherian Nereveettil)  who was very supportive and never judgemental.

After a brief stint as a college lecturer, I got married to Berly Earnest who was coordinator of Jesus Youth in Kerala at the time. With my husband actively engaged in Jesus Youth activities and his parents at home, I took care of affairs in the home front. I had more time for prayer and spiritual reading. Gradually, we became elders of the Kerala professionals’ team and Central full-timers. During this time, we had elders to accompany and guide us. George Achan’s (Fr. George Mudakkampuram) down-to-earth and prudent counsel helped us grow into a better family. And Manojettan (Manoj Sunny) was a concerned and understanding brother who strengthened us at crucial moments.

We soon became part of the Jesus Youth Bible ministry. The sessions were taken by eminent Bible scholars. Fr. James Anaparambil, who is a Bishop at present was one among them. He also became our family pastor. At the time, Achan happened to be the President of the Pontifical Seminary in Aluva. It was at this juncture that the Pontifical Institute opened its doors for lay people and female students to study theology. Achan encouraged me to join, and I did. 

During my two years as a student of philosophy (B.Ph), besides being educated by distinguished professors, I witnessed many virtues in action there too. I saw submissiveness to authority practiced so well. The senior priests were submissive to those much junior to them – their former students who now were in positions of authority! Contrary to my expectations, the seminary had a warm and familial atmosphere. I was never made to feel like an outsider even when I was the only female student in class.

The experience was much the same when I joined Jyotir Bhavan (Carmelites Institute of Theology). The four years of theology sped away quickly, filled with learning and fun. There were more laypeople and religious sisters there, and we even had Annual Sports days where we had no option but to participate!  

Back in the Pontifical Institute for my post-graduate theological studies, I was provided with ample opportunities to grow as a theologian. On several occasions, I was delegated to represent the Institute in national and international seminars. The experience of studying with priests as classmates was an added bonus! Though I don’t go for regular classes now, I am still a student there as I am yet to complete my postgraduate thesis.

For the past two years, I have been the Catechism headmistress in my parish. My experiences in Jesus Youth have definitely helped me in dealing with people and to stay put when the going gets tough! Presently, my husband and I are elders of the Jesus Youth National Family Team. I am also part of Project Lily, a project of Jesus Youth to promote the virtue of chastity and to live in holiness.

My childhood ambition was to be a homemaker, looking to the needs of my family. Now I realise I am called to look to the needs of God’s family. Though my job designation would still be ‘home-maker’, I very often find it challenging to complete household tasks due to my other responsibilities. But my family is happy as long as I give priority for relationships within the family and put food on the table at the proper times, thus encouraging me to serve the larger family.

Naturally, our children have been exposed to the Jesus Youth lifestyle right from their beginnings. When they were quite young, they used to accompany us to all Jesus Youth programmes. They also got to interact with the youth coming home for sharing, meetings, etc. Ever since they joined catechism classes, they have also been actively involved in our parish along with us. It is certain that these associations have positively influenced their lives. Now, as they have grown up (two youth and one teenager), they continue to remain interested in church activities. My elder two daughters are energetically engaged in their college Jesus Youth groups, and the youngest is also busily involved in the local teens’ prayer group here. Personal prayer and Bible reading are an integral part of their lives.

I have only mentioned a few people; the list of people I am indebted to is far too long to be presented here. At present, my family is fortunate to be part of ‘The Vineyard’, a community of around forty Jesus Youth families. Just as before, I continue to enjoy being among enthusiastic and dedicated builders of the Kingdom of God, and their lives keep on encouraging me to love more and to do more.

Presently doing her Masters in Theology, Annie Berly lives in Kochi, India with her husband and their three daughters.