Rev. Jithin Anto, 33

Place of birth: Kerala, India.

If from overseas, when did you arrived in Australia: 2015

Any other work or jobs you may have done before entering the seminary.
High school teacher

Tell us a bit about your family.
Ours is small but loving family of six, parents and 3 siblings (2 brothers and a sister). My parents Anthony and Aliyamma are farmers. My older brother and sister are teachers and both of them live in Northern India with their respective families. Younger brother is a photographer and runs a wedding company.

What was your reason for taking up the call to your vocation to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Sale?
Because that is what God planned for me! I never planned about coming here, it just happened and I accepted it after quite a long time of prayer and discernment. Fr. Avinash is a longtime friend of mine and it is through him that I learned about the diocese and the then bishop of Sale, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, invited me to join the diocese, which I gladly accepted.

Who have been your key supporters during your training?
My parents, family friends, relatives, friends, Priests and people of the diocese

Who is the brother priest supporting you on the day?
Many. But mainly, Fr. Peter Bickley, Fr. Siju, Fr. Avinash, Fr. Stanly.

Do you have any specific saints you admire or other spiritual influences in your life?
St. Francis of Assisi has been the number one saint for me and has great influence on my spiritual life. Other saints I admire are St. Mother Theresa of Kolkata and St. Alphonsamma.

What are your other interests or talents?
I love sports, especially I love playing Cricket. Fishing is another interest of mine.

What are you most looking forward to about your Vocation after your Ordination?
To lay down my life fully for the Good Shepherd and his sheep – the beloved people of the diocese of Sale, to get to know the people and become one among them. I look forward to seeing how God gives me the grace to enable to serve his people without fail.
I also look forward to doing what I love the most, celebrating the Eucharist and other sacraments. Preparing myself to be ordained priest amidst the pandemic has shown me that priesthood and the sacraments are very essential. Being able to witness the work of the Holy Spirit among the people and seeing God transforming the lives of people, like he has done with me, will bring much joy to me. God showed me and my family the life faith, a life full of hope, and I am looking forward to witnessing that happen through the work of the diocese here in Gippsland.

Who do you hope will be tuning into the livestreaming to support you?
My family, relatives and friends in India, Friends from around Victoria, Parishioners of St. Mary's Cathedral and others around the diocese.

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