"I am prepared to share the gospel with people throughout India," Anson Clement Nazareth
A 19-year-old student has taken on the extraordinary challenge of being a lay missionary in India while pursuing his college degree and serving as a youth leader.
According to Anson Clement Nazareth, every Catholic has a calling to missionary work, and he believes young people have a unique opportunity to realize their potential and further the cause of the Indian Church.
“I am prepared to share the gospel with people throughout India. Now is the right time for youth to speak up and share God's love,” he says. “Wherever you are, be a missionary! Spread love and happiness.”
Nazareth is the national president of the Young Catholic Students (YCS)—Young Students Movement (YSM), a cell-based Catholic organization.
YCS-YSM encourages students to grow personally in their faith and to create a community rooted in justice, equality, freedom, and love.
Today, over 200,000 student members and more than 3,000 devoted animators and youth workers are active in 45 Indian dioceses as part of YCS-YSM.
Hailing from Our Lady of Health Church in Shirva, within the Udupi diocese of Karnataka, Nazareth was born on February 11, 2005.
He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration at Jesuit-run St. Aloysius University in Mangalore, Karnataka.
Recently, Nazareth attended the Communio Missionary Training Programme organized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and its Commission for Youth in Bangalore, Karnataka.
He was one of 20 youth leaders selected from across the country to participate in the program.
“I had the wonderful fortune to join 20 other young people from all over India in the Communio Missionary Training Program,” he said. The training, held at Tallur Parish in the Diocese of Udupi, prepared them for service in mission dioceses.
“Now, we have a clear understanding of my calling to serve the Lord, thanks to the training," Nazareth remarked. He shared a memorable experience that ignited his missionary calling.
"One evening, I walked alone from my host family's home to the church. It was about 7:15 p.m. We traversed a pitch-black forest for 15 minutes. I was singing a Konkani hymn, and I had only my rosary and the flashlight on my phone,” he recalled.
In the rain, he saw odd lights and heard eerie noises but kept praying with confidence, despite his fear. “I told my host family about this encounter when I got back,” he said.
This sparked enlightening conversations about the challenges early missionaries faced, who spread the gospel without modern amenities like phones or streetlights and had to be cautious of wild creatures.
“I am inspired by their sacrifices. If individuals such as St. Thomas and St. Francis Xavier could share the gospel in such trying times, we might undoubtedly use our contemporary resources to significantly impact the Church in India. Our current initiatives will support the Church's and faith's expansion,” he said.
According to Nazareth, being a missionary means walking with people, making them smile with tiny acts of kindness, and consoling those suffering.
It also involves sharing one’s beliefs and encouraging others to live joyful and obedient lives.
Through the missionary training program, Nazareth learned that even small deeds, thoughtful remarks, and a genuine smile can have a profound impact on others.
His journey as a young lay missionary is a testament to his dedication and faith, serving as an inspiration for many young Catholics to follow their calling and make a difference in the world.
