IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2022

Author: Br Justin Philip

Intro: Br Justin Philip, a seminarian shares the crucial role Jesus Youth played in his life and vocation.

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

Praise God! My name is Br Justin Philip, a fourth year minor seminarian from St Thomas Minor Seminary, Panvel in Mumbai, India. 

I come from a normal Catholic family that includes my parents and two younger siblings. My parents ensured that I was an active participant in Church right from Catechism, serving as an altar boy to church choir, youth ministry, and so on. They tried their best to pour out their faith in Jesus through regular family Rosary, attending retreats and night vigils, etc.

I did my computer engineering from Mumbai University and passed out in 2015. Soon after my degree, I started working in start-up and mid-sized companies as a software developer. During this work journey, I was more focussed on my career, to grow financially strong and settled. My prayer life was weak, and my mind diverted to many worldly things. My priorities changed. 

In the year 2019, I encountered a very spiritual group called Jesus Youth. They brought a spiritual thirst to my life with their fellowship and style of prayer. It helped to bring me more closer to God. Slowly, I became an active Jesus Youth in Mumbai, being part of the core team in different ministries – household group, music ministry, monthly fellowship programme are a few to name. Jesus Youth gave me a more open exposure and opportunities to unleash my talents and capabilities. JY initial retreats and prayer meetings ignited the fire in me to participate in daily Holy Mass, rather than being just a Sunday-goer. This fire led me to start youth prayer meetings in my own parish once a week.

Soon, the world got hit with Covid, which was tragic. In the month of April 2021, a week before Holy Week, my entire family and I got infected with Covid. By God’s grace, the symptoms were mild. As I took leave from the office, I was quite free myself, it was a time to introspect on my life. It was then that the Holy Spirit laid a strong desire in me for priesthood. A question kept ringing in my heart when a number of priests passed away due to Covid, ‘If it’s not you, then who? If it’s not now, then when?’ Without giving a clue to my parents, I left my job to deep dive and understand about this desire with the right people. After I made up my mind, I finally told my parents about my decision, which was a shock indeed; but my mother was the happiest person.

In June 2021, I finally made my entry to St Thomas Minor Seminary and my journey began. Jesus Youth is always there deep in my heart, and will always be a huge part of my vocation.