As the Catholic Church in Australia marks National Vocations Awareness Week (2–9 August), we talk to Fr Rojan Cheriyadan, Assistant Parish Priest at St Nicholas of Myra, Penrith, about his calling and why being a priest is so special to him.
When did you realise you wanted to be a priest, and who influenced you most to accept this calling?
As a young boy at school, I recall, whenever a teacher asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my answer was always: “I want to become a priest.” It wasn’t something I planned later in life – I believe, it was a quiet desire that God seemed to place in my heart.
Looking back, I realise that my vocation was nurtured first and foremost at home. My grandmother was a woman of deep and unwavering faith. Every morning, she would take my brother and me to daily Mass (6am) before we went to school. Those mornings became precious moments where I slowly fell in love with the Eucharist and with the Lord.
My home parish is a Cathedral church, Irinjalakuda, Kerala, India, where we had more than 70 altar servers who had regular meetings. It was so thrilling to be part of it. When I was ten years old, I joined the altar servers, and from then on, I served at Mass almost every day. Standing so close to the altar, watching the priest celebrate the Eucharist, my desire to become a priest only grew stronger.
I must proudly say and thank God that faith was the heartbeat of our family. We prayed together every day, and my parents lived their faith with quiet conviction. They taught us by their example. They were faithful to Mass, trusted God in both joyful and difficult times, and made sure that my siblings and I grew up knowing and loving our Catholic faith.
When people ask me who influenced my vocation the most, my answer is simple: my family. The loving witness of my grandmother, and the simple, faithful lives of my mum and dad, created an environment where I could realise God’s call. Their prayers, their sacrifices, and their unwavering trust in God gave me the courage to say “yes” to His call.
Fr Rojan. Image: Supplied
Can you describe your priestly journey to St Nicholas of Myra Parish?
After finishing high school, I told my family and friends that I wanted to enter the diocesan seminary. For many of my friends, it came as a complete surprise. But deep within my heart, God had quietly planted that desire. Thankfully, my family supported me wholeheartedly, and I attended the vocation camp organised by our diocese.
At that camp, I met representatives from different religious congregations. When I learned about the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, I was attracted to it. Eventually I decided to join La Salette Seminary and was ordained a priest on 21 April 2001.
My first assignment was in a parish in Kerala, India. I really loved parish ministry celebrating the sacraments, visiting families, listening to people’s stories, and being part of their faith journey. Just as I was settling into parish life, I was asked to serve in the formation of our minor seminary and as secretary to the Provincial Superior. It wasn’t what I had expected, but I learned that priesthood often means placing God’s plans before our own. After serving as rector of the minor seminary for three years, I was sent to the United States for almost a year to assist with our mission there.
While I was in the United States, my Provincial Superior shared exciting news: I had been chosen to be one of the first three La Salette missionaries to begin La Salette ministry presence in the Diocese of Parramatta in Australia. I joyfully said yes and began preparing all the necessary documents.
But once again, God had another surprise waiting for me.
Before those plans became reality, I received a call from our Superior General in Rome, asking me to serve as his Secretary General. Instead of Australia, I found myself travelling to Rome. I spent the next nine years there, serving the worldwide La Salette congregation. It was an extraordinary privilege that allowed me to meet people and cultures from every corner of the world and to appreciate the richness and universality of the Church.
When my term in Rome ended, I returned to India, where I spent another six years as rector in our La Salette seminary and later more than two years ministering in our La Salette retreat house.
I always loved parish ministry. Whenever the opportunity arose, I would gently tell my superiors that, if possible, I hoped one day to return to parish life. Then, one day while serving in the retreat house, my Provincial Superior told me there was an opening for parish ministry in the Diocese of Parramatta, Australia. This was the very opportunity that had slipped away many years earlier. God’s ways are mysterious…here I am now in Australia at St Nicholas of Myra Church, Penrith.
What advice would you have for young men discerning the vocation of priesthood?
Priesthood is a beautiful and a challenging vocation. Deep within one’s heart, if a person senses the call of Jesus and if he has the confidence to be available and stay close to Jesus and Mary, there is no need to be afraid! God does not call the qualified, but he qualifies the called.
Fr Rojan. Image: Supplied
Who is your favourite saint(s), and what impact have they had in your life?
St Sebastian has always held a very special place in my heart. I grew up in a parish where his feast day was celebrated with extraordinary joy and devotion. Even today, thousands of people gather for that beautiful celebration. My baptismal name is Sebastian, so from my childhood I always felt a personal connection with him.
Another profound influence in my life has been our Blessed Mother. My school was right next to our parish church, and every morning a few of my friends and I would walk through the church compound on our way to class. Before the school bell rang, we would step inside for a few moments of prayer. Almost without fail, I found myself kneeling before the statue of Our Lady.
Those quiet moments nurtured a deep Marian devotion that has remained with me throughout my life. I truly believe that our Blessed Mother has lovingly guided my vocation, gently leading me to join a Marian Congregation – Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.
What do you think are the biggest joys in your vocation?
One of the greatest joys of being a priest is having the privilege of standing beside God’s people during the most sacred moments of their lives. There is always joy in celebrating the Eucharist, hearing a heartfelt confession, welcoming a new child through Baptism, witnessing a bride and groom exchange their vows, anointing the sick, or accompanying someone as they prepare to meet the Lord.
This year, I had the grace of celebrating the Silver Jubilee of my priesthood. Looking back over these twenty-five years, I realise that despite my imperfections, the Lord continues to use me as a small instrument of His love and mercy. That, for me, is the deepest joy of my vocation to priesthood.
This National Vocations Awareness Week (2-9 August 2026), may these stories inspire all of us to listen more deeply to God’s call, wherever it may lead. Fr Rojan’s path in life aligns with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Prayer, Formation, and Listening, Dialogue and Discernment. To learn more about responding to God’s call, visit Discern My Vocation.
