Hi Friends!

I'm Josh Jacob from the suburbs of Chicago. I've been in the JY movement for the last 5-23 years, depending on how you look at it. I am serving as a Fulltimer in JY since my graduation in May 2024. For those who may not know, Fulltimership is a time where young adults take some time off, often between undergrad and career, to dedicate themselves to a year of formation and mission. 

I'm now on the road headed for the winter mission, to serve the First Nations community of Pukatawagan in Manitoba, Canada. With 10 other JYs from both the U.S. and Canada, we'll be spending two weeks there preparing candidates for First Communion and Confirmation along with outreach to the local public school. I'll continue there tentatively for the next six months, to serve as my assigned mission placement. Over the past 9 months, I’ve had the privilege to train, intern, and serve in communities across Asia and Africa—each experience shaping me in ways I could never have anticipated. As I reflect on the journey so far, it reminded me of a reference to St Pope John Paul II’s Christifideles Laici: “Communion and mission are profoundly connected with each other, they interpenetrate and mutually imply each other, to the point that communion represents both the source and the fruit of mission: communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion.”

I, like many of you, had the privilege of experiencing community through Jesus Youth. Looking back, my early days in the movement included playing "swim fishy swim", "red light green light", and pretending to play priest at Mass across my Diocese of Basements. I grew up in the JY community which involved biking to the old JY house on Morningside Drive for music ministry practice, hanging out with the Chettans and Chechis (older brothers and sisters), going on road trips, staying at many JY homes, playing sports, traveling to World Youth Day, and creating cringey rap videos with friends after Steubenville conferences. My desires and thinking were shaped by these countless interactions in the JY community. I remember the sharing of graces where Chechis and Chettans shared their mission experiences after returning from Haiti. Their stories were filled with adventure and faith, but more importantly, they shared how God was actively working in their lives. Their testimonies were always inspirational which personally piqued my interest for mission.

It was through the JYA community that I was encouraged to step back from the hustle of life and embrace the challenges and joys of fulltimership. The JY International community got me connected to the various overseas missions and I am grateful for the foundation laid by those families, and full-timers who went before me in developing them over the years. Through them I had the privilege of experiencing the heart of Northeast India’s tribes, dancing and singing with villagers in Sri Lanka’s tea plantations, interning in Kerala to learn the science behind substance use prevention and network with leaders from 18+ countries, and experience profound transformation in Uganda and Tanzania—physically, mentally, and spiritually. It was a time of discovering myself a bit more, learning to trust God & surrender, and also the grace to push beyond my limits. 

The last one month was a time back at ‘home’, shared with family, friends and the JY family around the country. Having tasted JY communities from around the world, there’s something truly special about our fellowship (communion), in spite of some peripheral cultural differences. We share countless laughs and deep moments of vulnerability, truly opening our hearts to one another. Friendship with Jesus unites us in an informal, joyful spirituality that is hard to capture in words. Many, especially young people, are searching for authentic communion, and we, as a movement, have a unique charism for fostering that space. Our communion seems primed to bring about the fruit (mission) that JPII refers to. This in return leads us to the “dignified and fulfilling life” that Pope Francis invites us all to in Evangelii Gaudium.

Thank you for continuing to be a part of this mission, you all continue to be in my prayers. It's always a consolation when the mission is backed by a praying community and I experience it in the field. As I look ahead, I’m filled with both excitement and caution. I hope to see many of you in June!

If you're interested in joining me on this journey from the convenience of your device, check out josh-jacob.com. You may see some familiar faces and also meet a few new people. It also answers two questions people often ask: what are you doing? & what are you eating?

That’s it for now, till next time. 

With Love,

Josh