THE CARLO ACUTIS OF INDIA: JERIN VAKAYIL | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2023

Author: Joshy Joseph

Holy children. That’s the dream of every parent.  Who wouldn't want to have children free from the clutches of bad habits, who are loved by all and who love everyone in return, children who participate in Holy Mass every day, who excel in their studies, who actively and joyfully take up parish activities, who are missionaries? Reality is often far from dreams. But Jesus Youth's Kairos Media was fortunate enough to know and love one such a holy young man, Jerin Vakayil, who passed away on 26 September 2023 in Bangalore, aged only twenty-three. Blessed are the parents who gave birth to him.

Described by the Diocese of Mandya as the ‘Carlo Acutis from India,’ Jerin nurtured his spiritual life by staying close to Christ. As a child, Jerin was an altar boy, and later became active in the youth movement and other activities in the parish. During the Covid-19 pandemic, his presence and assistance was a great blessing to the priests of St. Norbert's parish to broadcast the Mass online. From his school days, Jerin was active in the Jesus Youth movement. He was also part of the team behind the Jaago Conference (21 to 24 October 2023, at Christ University, Bangalore) mobile app. He had been eagerly waiting to participate in the Jaago Conference. To honour that wish, his father placed the Jaago t-shirt upon Jerin’s body during the public viewing prior to the funeral. Images of these were shared by many on social media. 

It was through an unexpected turn of events that Jerin came to be associated with Kairos Media during his engineering studies. During August of 2020, Jerin got in touch with me, eager to do his part for the Lord by helping us out with his skills in areas of video editing, sound editing, graphic designing, and website designing. That first phone conversation, which lasted about an hour, literally surprised me. Usually, we invite young people and try to convince them to use their God-given talents for the Lord’s kingdom. But many step aside stating their busy schedules. Or they ask, ‘What can I get?’ It was in such a scenario that this brilliant young man approached us with great zeal asking how he could put his knowledge and talent to use for the kingdom of God. He spoke passionately about how the gospel could be taken to more young people using the endless possibilities of the internet. Together we thought about what we could do through Kairos Media in making social media platforms that often lead young people to evil, an instrument of good, leading them to the light. As a first step, Jerin proposed and coordinated the idea of starting a YouTube channel, Kairos Studio, where the video version of the Kairos Global article, Ask Fr Bitaju could be launched.

Over these past three years, it has been Jerin with whom I have come to interact and talk to the most. In his first year, Jerin single-handedly undertook activities of the YouTube channel, from designing the logo to video recording, video editing, sound editing, designing thumbnail, etc. We used to have online meetings for an hour every Thursday. On one such Thursday meeting, Jerin shared the idea of a new website for Kairos Media. Soon he amazed me by designing a sample website using cutting-edge technology. The website, developed extremely professionally with the conviction that the best ought to be given to God, is now available at the web address www.jykairosmedia.org. 

When the idea for a new e-commerce website and mobile app came up, he not only enthusiastically supported it, but it was Jerin himself who actively took over the reins. We watched in amazement as Jerin, the engineering student, implemented Cloud Catholic, the e-commerce website and mobile app, in his role as product manager. Jerin’s contribution was extraordinary. 

Jerin not only provided technical support to the online workshop for children, CraftCity, from its beginning but also designed most of its posters. From then on, Jerin was at the forefront of everything where Kairos needed technology. Even during his hectic engineering semester exams, he found time not for us but for the kingdom of God. He used his time and talent with a willingness to work diligently and tirelessly for the Lord. Always working hard behind the scenes and preferred to stay out of the limelight, Jerin would deliberately try to avoid recognition. 

What touched me was his ability to think creatively and his passion to give the best to any venture. One of the things that surprised me was that in the midst of all this, he had managed to raise tuition expenses for a friend, who was in an economically tough situation. During our last meeting, Jerin shared the idea of developing an AI Live Chat on the Kairos Media website with the help of ChatGTP. It’s extremely heartbreaking to write

this, at a time when this work has been scheduled to start.

Often I was unable to catch up with him because of my busy schedule. Still, he would wait for me. He carried out every responsibility with such agility and zeal. Apart from being my right-hand man in Kairos Media, he was my little brother, my friend, and a favourite part of my life. His passing away leaves in me a void that cannot be filled. We can never forget the good moments we shared and the laughter we enjoyed together. He is the Carlo Acutis of India. And I am sure Jerin will intercede for us from heaven.

Joshy Joseph is the managing editor of Kairos Global, and member of the Kairos Media executive team. He lives in Houston, USA with his wife and four children.