‘Even when I walked away, Jesus never walked away from me’

At St. Joseph’s Basilica this Easter, as the Church celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Saleshni Kumar stepped into new life — her journey shaped by hardship, searching, and ultimately, surrender to faith.

Thirty-four people from across the Archdiocese of Edmonton were received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil—up significantly from nine the year before, and nine again in 2024.

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At 36, Kumar’s path to the Catholic Church has been anything but ordinary.

Born and raised in Edmonton in an Indo-Fijian family, she grew up immersed in Hindu traditions. Yet for her, faith often felt cultural rather than personal. Beneath the rituals, she wrestled with deeper questions about suffering, purpose, and whether God truly saw her.

Her childhood was marked by instability, including abuse and the challenges of alcoholism and mental health struggles at home. Still, a quiet conviction took root: that God was real and knew her.

That awareness deepened during her time in Catholic school, where she first encountered Jesus. “Something awakened in me,” she recalls. “Even as a child, I felt, ‘This is the God I’ve been searching for.’”

But resistance at home and life’s difficulties dimmed that early spark. Years of depression, anxiety, and unresolved trauma followed. Though she pursued healing, something remained missing.

Looking back, Kumar sees a different story. “Even when I walked away, Jesus never walked away from me,” she says.

Her return to faith began with a renewed search for truth. Drawn first by familiarity, she revisited the Catholic Church while exploring other Christian traditions. Over time, she found herself moved by the depth of Catholic worship—especially the crucifix.

“In the Catholic Church, Jesus is on the cross,” she says. “It calls me to be honest about who I am—and what He’s done for me.”

As she studied Scripture and Church teaching, she became convinced of the Church’s historical continuity and sacramental life. Her understanding of the Mass also deepened. “When I realized the Mass is where heaven and earth meet, everything made sense,” she says.

One moment, however, proved decisive. While reflecting on answered prayers and searching for “the true Creator,” she stepped away from her former beliefs. Then, during a moment of distress, she instinctively cried out, “Jesus Christ!”

“When my soul cries out, it’s His name,” she says. “That’s when I knew.”

What followed was a profound sense of peace. “I surrendered—and everything changed.”

From that point on, Kumar experienced steady transformation. Old burdens began to lift, and healing—sometimes gradual, sometimes immediate—took root.

“I feel like a spectator watching God reshape my life,” she says.

Her preparation for full communion deepened that change, awakening a desire to live differently. “There are things I never thought I could let go of, but now I want to—not out of fear, but out of love.”

Central to her journey has been the Mass. “I would come in carrying everything and leave renewed. It became a place of restoration.”

At the Easter Vigil, Kumar received Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, entering fully into the Church. “To be baptized on the night of Christ’s victory over death is something I’ll carry forever,” she says. “It’s the greatest gift.”

Receiving the Eucharist was especially powerful. “To know it’s truly Him—not symbolic, but real—that changes everything. It’s encounter.”

Now fully initiated, Kumar sees her journey as just beginning. “It’s a lifelong commitment—to live for Christ, serve others, and keep returning to Him.”

Her message is simple: “If you are truly searching for Jesus Christ, you will find Him. And if you feel drawn to the Church, follow that. It might be Him calling you home.”