Unexpected Journey: From Sikh to Catholic Priest

Asia News carried this story about another long spiritual journey; the story of a young Indian Sikh, named Jaideep Singh, who has just been ordained as a Maryknoll priest and is now called Fr. Stephen James Taluja.

Jaideep was raised in a devout Sikh family. Like many Indians from the upper classes, he was sent to a Christian school where he was first exposed to the Mass as a choir boy. He was 13 years old and his questioning began.

The sudden death of his mother made Jaideep's questions more acute. The school's dean walked with him through days of genuine anguish, patiently answering his questions. "My family had planted in my soul the seed of religion, dean Carver the seed of Catholicism and of a life spent in witness of the Gospel."

Jaideep's father was angry when his son spoke to him of becoming a Christian. In 1999, Jaideep was secretly baptized at the age of 18 and took as his Christian name, the name of school: St. Stephen's. He didn't tell his family for 3-4 years.

But 10 years later, at Fr. Stephen's ordination (by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York), his sisters were present, and his father. who could not get a visa to come to the US, was openly supportive.

May God continue to guide and bless Fr. Stephen and use him in wonderful ways as a priest.