My birth and early years
I, Fr. Jijimon Mani, was born as the fourth child of Mr. Late Mani and Mrs. V.L. Mary on 30th May 1968, in a remote village of Kerala, in India. My parents being very devoted and God-fearing Catholics used to take me to Church every Sunday and other special occasions for mass and catechism classes. In addition, we children learned to recite the family rosary each evening at home. My initial faith in Jesus was transmitted to me by my parents.

Childhood and Education
As the state of Kerala, in India, has a high literacy rate, all parents make it a point to send their children to school for education. My primary school was St. Anne's Catholic school and I received my high school education at the government High school, Vellamunda. My teachers were very supportive and caring towards their students. They helped me to identify my talents and skill and motivated me to develop them. As a child, I was good at learning, playing sports and acting. I successfully graduated in philosophy from Suvidya college, Bangalore, and Theology from Jnana Deepa College, Pune, India. I also have completed post-graduate studies in Communication, at Madras University, India.

Vocation to Priesthood.
I owe my vocation to priesthood to my Parents, Catechism Teachers, School Teachers and the exemplary seminarians from my home parish. My Catechism Teachers used to speak about great missionary work done by the foreign missionaries and the priests from Kerala in different parts of the mission land of India. The sacrifice and the love the pioneering missionaries from Europe and Kerala had shown to the poor and the needy people attracted me to work as a missionary for the good of the church and for the glory of God. I discerned my vocation to priesthood in a vocation camp organised by my home diocese and deepened it further during the 12 long years of seminary formation in the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS).

Parish Ministry
I was ordained a priest on 5th January 1995 at Christ the King Church, Pulinjal. Soon after my ordination, I was appointed as the secretary to my Major Superior. After completing my term of office as secretary, I worked as Assistant priest, Parish Priest and principal in different parishes of the Northeastern part of India. Northeast India comprises the seven states of India known as the seven sisters. It is part of India yet different from India because of the complexion and the culture of the people. The people here are predominantly tribal and originate from the Mangold Race. They have similarity with people of China, Burma, Thailand and Tibet. The people in Northeast India are deeply religious, they have a strong faith in God, prayer and healing ministry. As missionaries we visited their homes in their villages, administered sacraments, provided education to their children and took care of their spiritual needs. Though this region is geographically very tough, the simple faith of the people inspires the missionaries to keep going with their missionary task.

What brought me to the UK and England
England is one of the mission provinces of my congregation (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales). In the early years, my congregation had a number of English Priests who carried out the missionary work in England, but at present the congregation is faced with a shortage of English Priests. Hence priests from India are sent to undertake missionary work in UK and England and to carry forward the legacy of my congregation.

My likes and dislikes about England
I like the cleanliness, town planning, discipline, skill based educational system, transport systems, democratic values of the people, the green meadows, and the colourful trees. I would prefer to see better attendance at Church by children and young people.

My hobbies and interests
My hobbies include travelling, photography, videography, documentary film making, cooking, gardening and playing sport e.g. cricket, basketball and volleyball. Although I am a fan of cricket, I don't have any association with cricket clubs. My interests include exploring new avenues, caring for the sick, praying, reading and writing.

A word of gratitude
I am very grateful to Rt. Rev. Marcus Stock and Mgr. Paul Fisher for inviting me to the Diocese of Leeds for pastoral ministry. I am thankful to Fr. Pat Wall and the parish administrative team for accommodating me at St. Theresa's Presbytery and making my stay comfortable. I am deeply indebted to all the parishioners of Henry Newman parish for your big heart to make me feel at home in England. May God be praised.