I grew up in a very traditional Catholic family in Mangalore, South India. I come from a family of eight. I have a brother who is a diocesan priest and a sister who is a religious nun. Daily family prayer and regular attendance to Church activities was very much part of my growing up. My mother was very instrumental in my vocation journey as she used to pray for vocations during family prayer.  Attending catholic schools for elementary and high school education helped me to come in contact with many priests and nuns.  I was captured by the way they served others in schools and parishes. I believe this is the way God called me to be a Holy Cross.

Fr. Norbert D’Mello, a Holy Cross priest used to visit us during my high school days. I was drawn to missionary spirit of Congregation of Holy Cross. Thus I decided to join Holy Cross.

In Holy Cross I was given many wonderful opportunities to engage in academic and vocational studies. I also got an opportunity to come to Toronto, Canada to do my theological studies. Presently I am pursuing a doctoral degree in spirituality and counselling.

Since my ordination (December 2011) I had the joy of serving in four of our Holy Cross parishes in English Canadian Region namely, St. Kevin (Welland), St. Ann and St. Joseph (Toronto) and St. Thomas the Apostle (Waterdown) where I presently serve. This is a new parish that is entrusted to Holy Cross in July, 2020.

I believe that God has so many ways of calling people to work in his vineyard. I must say that I feel blessed to be a Holy Cross religious. As Holy Cross I am able to reach out to many people. So many people have touched and inspired my life. I believe that all are called to fulfill God’s mission that is entrusted to us in our baptism. We come to understand this mission through discernment and by being open to the promptings of the Spirit.

Father Francis Noronha, CSC