Sri Lanka

International Fulltimer Training

July - August 2024

Sonal & Nethmi, from JY Sri Lanka who scooped and hosted my first night!

Grabbing some lunch with members from JY Sri Lanka and other Fulltimers before our 3 hour journey to training center 

Road tripping to Benedictine Monastery (training center) in Kandy, Sri Lanka

32nd batch of Fulltimers coming from Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Ireland, Qatar, United Arab Emirates & United States

(left to right) Vandana, Fr. Joy, & Renny, who coordinated the training including the various resources and accompanied us, throughout the month

With Fr. (Fio)rello S.J. and Dr. Renu who taught us on Scripture & Mariology. Fr. Fio is one of the pioneers of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in India and former Chairman of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Rome. Although he has met the last four Popes, his stories with St. JP2 sounds like they were close friends. He and Dr. Renu has authored and published over 25 books!

Training team members who traveled from various countries to be with us. Dr. Midhun Paul, JY International Coordinator, Fr. Sagi, Reji, Avishka, and Rachel

Pushing us beyond comfort zones... movie director and Neo Film School Director, Leo Thaddeus (left) opening our creative faculties and team bonding

Subin Jacob (in green) guiding us through the practicals and managing expectations of being a Fulltimer 

Every Jesus Youth is a missionary... with Raiju Vargheese (right), shaping our heart's attitude for a lifetime of mission

Living life as a Jesus Youth, animated through stories and lessons with Dr. Midhun Paul & Jomy Abraham

Put out into the deep... Santosh Mathew (left), JY Africa mission coordinator, testifying from his life, and inviting us to a life of deeper surrender

Group activties 

Late night shenanigans 

Reliving childhood through Duck Duck Goose

It sounded like roof repair...only to realize later that they were monkeys!

Roshen wondering how the the monastery's dog, Handy, got up there

Even an armrest can take the place of a mattress when you're really tired

Playing volleyball with the seminarians never disappoints!

All smiles at 5:30am hiking prep

Sunday Mass outdoors with Fr. Joy and Fr. Jude before a full day of hiking

Despite physical exhaustion, leeches, terrain difficulty, we made it to the top

Breath taking views all around. Worth it. 

House visits in the village

Engaging with youth in the village. Glad to have Fr. Alexis Prem Kumar S.J. (in white); translating for us. Some might remember his story on the news, he was abducted by Taliban militants in 2014 while on mission in Afghanistan

Song and dance after Holy Mass

Maddie (right), and Margarita (center), fellow trainers at Totus Tuus  for the Archdiocese of Chicago in June 2024

Cultural Night 

It's only 2 fish but Louis multiplied it for all! 😋

With His Eminence Bishop Dr. Valence Mendis after the commissioning ceremony 

Being commissioned as a JY Fulltimer