Inspired by St. James the Great

When James first moved to Canada from Sri Lanka three and a half years ago, he had to adjust quickly to a new country, culture, and way of life. “Moving to a new country meant leaving behind familiarity, my home, my culture, and the life I once knew, and stepping into something completely new where I had to learn, adapt, and grow quickly,” he shared.

Now a Grade 12 student at St. Mary’s High School, James serves as a mentor in the Sacraments Preparation program at St. Mary’s Cathedral. He also volunteers with youth, at the hospital, and at church as an altar server, experiences that have helped shape the person he is becoming.

His faith journey, however, did not begin with certainty.

“When I was younger, I didn’t know what faith really was, so I just went for the sake of going to church,” he said.
Over time, through both hardship and service, his understanding of faith deepened.

One of the most difficult moments in his life came when he was diagnosed with cancer. “It was a time filled with fear, uncertainty, and a lot of unanswered questions,” James shared. “There were moments when I didn’t understand why things were happening the way they were, and it tested me in ways I never expected.”

The experience affected him physically, mentally, and emotionally. It also became a turning point in his relationship with God. “During that period, I began to see things differently,” he said. “I started to appreciate life more, and I became more aware of the people who were supporting me, my family, doctors, and community.”

More importantly, James began to recognize God’s presence in his life in a deeper way. A verse that became especially meaningful to him was from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“This became something I truly understood through experience, not just words,” he said.

Looking back now, James can see how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were already at work in his life, even before he fully understood them. “When I was going through cancer treatment and facing fear, uncertainty, and difficult days, I experienced the gift of fortitude, the strength to keep going even when I felt weak,” he said.

He remembers moments when he wanted to give up emotionally and physically but somehow continued to find the courage to move forward one day at a time. “When my family and I moved from Sri Lanka to Canada, I experienced the gift of wisdom and understanding,” he said. “Adapting to a new country, culture, and way of life was not easy, and there were times when I felt lost or disconnected.”

Through that experience, he learned to grow, listen, and become more understanding toward others who may also feel alone or different. Through volunteering with youth, helping in the community, serving at church, and spending time with people going through struggles of their own, James shared that he also began to understand the gift of counsel.

“I learned how to support people, encourage them, and simply be present for them when they need someone,” he said.
He has also learned that the Holy Spirit does not always work in dramatic ways. “Sometimes the gifts appear quietly, through patience during difficult times, through kindness when someone needs encouragement, or through the strength to continue even when life feels unfair.”

For young people preparing for Confirmation, James hopes they understand that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are not simply ideas to memorize for a class. “They are gifts that can truly shape your life if you are open to them.”

For James, Confirmation is more than a sacrament to receive or a step to complete. It is a personal decision to take ownership of one’s faith and to live it out in everyday life. “It is about being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trying to reflect that through our actions,” he said.

Last year, James chose St. James the Great as his Confirmation Saint because he saw in him courage, faith, and action. “He didn’t just believe, he followed, even when it was difficult,” James said. “That inspires me not to just talk about faith, but to live it out.”

That is one of the reasons being part of the Sacraments Preparation program means so much to him. As a mentor, James hopes to help students feel comfortable being themselves, asking questions, and growing in their faith at their own pace. “I don’t see myself as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who is still growing,” he said. “I think that’s important, because it allows me to connect with students in a real and honest way.”

San Giacomo Maggiore (Saint James the Greater) by the 17th-century Italian painter Giuseppe Vermiglio.

His own experience has taught him that faith does not mean never struggling. It does not mean having every answer or pretending that everything is fine. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through my life is that when life becomes difficult, painful, or uncertain, it is very easy to question God and even question your own faith,” James said.

He knows what it is like to ask difficult questions. 

“Why is this happening to me?”

“Where is God in all of this?”

“Will things ever get better?”

“I’ve asked those questions too many times,” he said.

But through those questions, James began to understand faith in a deeper way. “Faith is not truly tested during the easy moments of life,” he said. “Faith is tested during the moments when we feel lost, afraid, or overwhelmed.”

Trusting God during those times, he admits, is not always easy. “I learned that trusting God does not mean having all the answers or pretending everything is okay,” he said. “Sometimes trust simply means choosing not to give up, even when life feels uncertain and difficult.”

Through illness, immigration, service, and mentoring others, James has come to understand that faith grows with us. It can be tested in painful moments, strengthened through community, and expressed in quiet acts of love. “Looking back now, I realize that some of the hardest moments in my life became the moments that strengthened my faith the most.”

For James, faith is still growing. And as he continues to serve, mentor, and walk with others, he trusts that God and the Holy Spirit will continue to guide him. “Faith is not about never struggling,” he said. “Faith is about continuing to trust, continuing to grow, and continuing to move forward, even during the moments when life feels hardest.”

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Submitted by St. Mary's Cathedral Sacrament Preparation team.