Meeting New Jesuits: Raj Vijayakumar, SJ

Interview by John D. O’Brien, S.J. 

Raj Vijayakumar is 31, and from Brampton, Ontario. After two years of novitiate, the first stage of Jesuit formation, he recently professed perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience at the church of the Gesù in Montreal. He is now living in an academic community for studies in philosophy in Toronto.

Raj, you obviously had a life before becoming a Jesuit novice. Tell us about about yourself and that life?

Before becoming a Jesuit novice I was in perpetual discernment mode.  I was studying various subjects like psychology, philosophy and theology.  I also had the opportunity to work in various Jesuit projects, like a nativity school in Regina. 

Recently you took the countercultural step of vowing yourself to God for life. What were the main influences that first brought you to the doorstep of the Jesuit novitiate?

My main reason for going to the novitiate was to scratch it off the list as a possible way of life.  I thought that I would give God one year with “this Jesuit thing” and then I would be able to say, with a clear conscience, that I gave it my “best effort”. 

Looking back to the two years you have spent as a Jesuit novice, what did you learn that was most essential in confirming this decision for you?

I struggled continuously with doubts even while in the novitiate.  A confirming moment me, was during prayer, leading up to vows. I felt strongly in prayer that God would guide the rest of my life. That everything was going to be okay. This was a deep confirmation for me, which allowed me to put everything into God’s hands. 

Two years is a long time to be out of school and “regular life". What were some other highlights of your novitiate experience?

It is hard to select only two experiences out of the whole novitiate experience.  I think going to the novitiate was a great grace I received from God, and going there was most definitely a good decision.  I enjoyed the pilgrimage [I made] to Mexico City. I also loved the mission work I was able to do in Jamaica. The spiritual exercises experience is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. 

There are still many years of study ahead of you, and God’s will can obviously reveal itself in new and different ways down the road. But what aspects of the Jesuit charism draw you in particular? Is there already anything you see yourself doing as a Jesuit later on?

I love the Jesuit emphasis on education.  That as Jesuits we are called to see more deeply, that is, to understand what is happening in the world. Most significantly for me, Jesuits ask questions that are thoughtful and profound such as: where has God been in my day, what am I really searching for, etc.

What is your greatest and recurring consolation in daily Jesuit life?

My deepest consolation is meeting God in prayer and seeing how he acts in my life. 

What is your favourite novel and movie and why?

My favorite novel is “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” by Joanne Greenberg.  I love the novel because it says things like: “There is nothing that you can do to me that my own craziness doesn't do to me smarter and faster and better.” My favorite movie is “Batman, The Dark Night”.  This is my all time favorite because of the themes of good and evil it deals with (and the Joker is awesome). 

                   A favourite song?

I don’t have a favourite song really.  I enjoy popular music, as long as its not too racy.

How about your favourite scripture quote at the moment – or of all-time?

“Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened.” [Matt 7:7]

What’s your favourite quotation from anything else that points the question of the meaning of life or of living a good life?

This is by Dorothy Day: “I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.”

Just past the threshold of entering the vowed life, do you have any hard-won advice you would give a young person who might be discerning a religious vocation?

Ask yourself the question, is there a need for this life in the world today?  Is there a need in the world that needs to be responded, if so how?

Thank-you Raj. These are great words of advice. All the best in your studies ahead.