Jesus Youth International Council Member Vandana Maria Paul to Receive Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity

KOCHI — Vandana Maria Paul, a member of the Jesus Youth International Council, is set to receive the solemn Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity in the Catholic Church on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

The liturgical ceremony will take place from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mount Carmel Church, Mamangalam, Kochi. Most Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakumthala, Bishop of Kannur and Ecclesiastical Advisor of Jesus Youth International, will preside over the sacred rite.
The consecration marks the culmination of a dedicated journey of prayer, discernment, and spiritual accompaniment.

Four years ago, Vandana made a commitment to celibacy within the Jesus Youth movement. Over the subsequent years of discernment, she chose to embrace the Church’s ancient vocation of the Ordo Virginum (Order of Consecrated Virgins).

While consecrated directly by the Bishop through the Church’s liturgical rite, Vandana has committed to living her vocation in dedicated availability to the mission and charism of Jesus Youth. This path of service and ecclesial vocation is undertaken with the full understanding and pastoral support of the Bishop.

Announcing the event, Dr. Midhun Paul, Jesus Youth International Coordinator, described the upcoming consecration as a significant moment of grace for the international Catholic youth movement and invited the faithful, leaders, and well-wishers to join in prayer and presence at the celebration.

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Praise God for this beautiful consecration that is to come! – Jilu Chengatu writes

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Just wanted to share personally how I have been touched by the vocation of consecrated virginity. In 2020, at the end of my term as National Coordinator, Simi Sahu (previous IC member), became a consecrated virgin in her local diocese. Both as a close friend and in leadership, I was able to witness the gift that this consecration was for the movement. It opened up many to the possibility of union with Christ, touching both masculine and feminine hearts in different ways.

In a similar way that a priest being ordained opens up a new access to the embodiment of Christ, a virgin being consecrated opens up a new access to our universal call to be in union with Christ as his beloved bride, the Church.

As a married lay woman, this witnessing this reality has drawn me closer to Christ as my bridegroom. It has been such a gift to see the joys and storms of my own marriage in the light of the heavenly marriage feast of the Lamb. Each CV I have met reminds me that I don’t have to wait for heaven to live in union with Christ.

Typically, CVs are consecrated within their diocese and received by their bishop. Here, with Vandana becoming a consecrated virgin as a Jesus Youth, being received by Bishop Alex, the movement is receiving a great and precious gift. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, a consecrated virgin is “A gift in the Church and for the Church.” Clearly she has offered the gift of her life, intercession and mission over these many years, but now the graces are even more accessible for the wider movement. Praise be to God!

With love,

Jilu

PS. adding a great resource for anyone interested- Wildflower Reunion: A podcast by 4 consecrated virgins (Including Simi) to shed more light on the vocation. https://wildflowerreunion.podbean.com/