There’s something special about Jesus.

In my early twenties, I lived a life of sin and hedonism. I sought people's approval and sold myself short by trying to be someone I was not. I was a lost young man and ashamed of the things that I knew were hurting me and those around me.

I knew God was out there, but I didn’t know him, so I went in search of him. I practiced yoga and read religious texts, but something was not right, and I couldn’t explain it.

​My biggest Christian influence was my brother. The love of God through the cross didn’t make sense until my brother shared it with me. We ran into many conflicts about Jesus.  Since then, the cross was always in the back of my mind. “There’s something special about Jesus.”

Then the day came when I read the gospels for the first time. I still remember tears filling my eyes after reading Peter’s denial of the Lord. A few months later, I called him Lord. I remember spending hours on my face, praying these words, “Lord Jesus, allow me into your presence”, sometimes expecting a dramatic encounter like the one St. Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.

When I went into a bookstore to buy my first ever physical Bible, I noticed also a Catholic Bible on the shelf. The man who was looking through books beside me saw that I was searching for a Bible and he told me to stay away from “that one” while he pointed at the Catholic Bible.

So I was soon baptized in an evangelical church. On Saturdays, you would find me with a mic and speaker preaching the gospel with a group of people. I had a strong desire to share the love of God with others. I found work at Hope Mission, a non-denominational Christian ministry, working with children and youth.

But then I was introduced to the teachings of the early church and Catholicism through YouTube. I soon became convicted of what I knew to be true and true teachings of Jesus and the apostles. I learned more and more about Catholic theology and saw how beautiful it was, and how it was all in scripture, contrary to what many people would say. I wasn’t shy to share what I learned with others.

My friends and co-workers, who were mostly Baptists and Pentecostals, were confused that a non-Catholic would hold to Catholic beliefs. “Why is this guy talking about Mary and defending the idolatrous Catholic worship of Mary?”
While my entire theology was being tested, something odd happened at work. I kept seeing a rosary in my workplace. I told myself, “This isn’t the right place for it.” One day, I found it on my work desk and I took it home. As I wrapped the rosary around my hands, I was hesitant to pray the Hail Mary. Then I thought to myself; I can defend the intercession of Mary with scripture, so why couldn’t I pray the prayer? Then I slowly began to pray the rosary and lots of it. It led me to see the Blessed Mother in a new light.

As I went on, the Lord revealed to me his presence in the Eucharist. As I learned more and more of scripture and the faith, I started to see the truth of the Eucharist and the Lord’s true and real presence on the altar. After this, I didn’t want to be anywhere other than in front of the altar of a Catholic church. He truly did answer my prayers. I inquired with the RCIA at St. Mark’s Parish in Calgary, and went to morning masses as much as I could.

The Easter Vigil was around the corner, so I made the decision to become Catholic. I was confirmed and received the Body and Blood of Christ on March 30th, 2024. Three weeks later, I ended up getting fired from my job after serving there for one year, simply because I was openly praying the Hail Mary with the children I worked with.

Right now in my faith journey, I want to grow closer to the Lord in the Eucharist. Despite uncertainties I’m experiencing, my faith and hope in the Lord continues to grow stronger and he continues to pour his graces on me through his sacraments. I have no doubt that God was the one who sought me first and continues to call me.

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Written by Rooben Aurumugam, St. Mark's Parish, Calgary. Photos courtesy of Rooben.