"My name is John Johnson Antony and I am a first year theologian at the University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
I was born on March 25, 1993. My parents are Antony John and Reena Antony and I have two younger siblings, Justin and Jane. My desire to become a priest began towards the end of my undergraduate career. I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Communications from St. Joseph's College of Engineering & Technology in Kerala, after which I took a break to pray and discern what God was calling me to do.
On the other hand, I was involved in the youth ministry of a Catholic association in India called Jesus Youth. During this time, I met Bishop Jose Kalluvellil and decided to join a Syro-Malabar mission for immigrants in Canada called the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Mississauga. Our diocese is a new diocese started in 2016 for Syro-Malabar immigrants originally from India.
I did my minor seminary in a diocesan seminary in Kerala and completed my philosophical studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala. I am currently in my fourth year of priestly formation, praying and growing in my vocation to holiness and priesthood at Sedes Sapientiae International Ecclesiastical College.
This opportunity to study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is undoubtedly one of God's greatest blessings in my life. I trust that in this great institution in Rome I will be able to learn the Catholic faith in the true sense of the word "Catholic," which is "universal," and grow to be a convincing witness of Christ in the service of God and his people."
