The inspiring story of a married man who took up full time ministry, became a deacon, and is delighted and grateful for what he and his wife can do together in today’s Church.
[I got to know Jaime and Ligia at the Church in India Seminar in Varanasi in March this year. I heard good things about them from a mutual friend, noticed their warm and joyful presence, and suggested they write their vocation story. I sent them twelve questions for an “interview.” Here is their heart-warming story, as written by Jaime, a married deacon in the Archdiocese of Mumbai. Ligia comes in later.—Editor]
Family and Early Dreams
I come from a family of six children. Born in 1951, I was the “Number Two” in the family, the eldest amongst the three brothers. My parents were devout Catholics. My father was a daily Mass goer who lived out his spirituality in a very gentle and silent manner. I had a secret admiration for the kind of person he was. I studied in a Jesuit school in Goa. Every year, especially in the IX, X and XIth grades, we had retreats preached by a very fiery Jesuit preacher (Father George D’Sa). Each time I came back from the retreat and told my mother I wanted to become a priest. But nothing happened in that line – I guess they were not too keen, since I was the oldest boy.
As I grew up, in my teenage years, I remember I was very intensely searching for a deeper meaning in my life. I began to read a lot of books – mainly about religion, philosophy, psychology and about life in general. I graduated in Science (Chemistry and Physics) and started working in the corporate world. Whilst working, I studied and obtained some Diplomas in Management. I also got involved in the Charismatic Renewal in Goa.
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Jaime and Ligia Fonseca
