Just as Rome was not built in a day, my vocational journey does not consist of a single event. Rather, my entire journey has been shaped by many past events, and each new day leads to a discovery.
My name is Joseph Juries. I was born and raised in Korsten, Port Elizabeth. To start with my childhood, I come from a family of five and was raised by a single mother. I am the youngest of five siblings—two boys and three girls. Sadly, my eldest sister and my brother, who was the second eldest, have since passed away. I completed both my primary and secondary schooling in Schauderville, Port Elizabeth. We attended Mass at St. James Catholic Church in Schauderville until the beginning of my matric year.
During my matric year, we moved to Hillside, Cleary Estate, after my mother was attacked on her way to work. From our early childhood, our mother was a prime example of someone deeply rooted in faith, and she continues to be steadfast in that faith today. Recalling my younger days, she would attend Mass and prayer meetings as often as possible. More importantly, how she lived her life and showed her love for us each day was a true blessing. The love we received was far beyond the material riches of this world. Despite the many struggles and obstacles she had to endure, she never deserted her faith or stopped caring for us.
We also had Father Maxwell—known as Father Max in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth—who was our parish priest at St. James during my school days. He was a true people person and a great servant of the Lord. He has a heart for young people, and to this day, he shows that same passion and love for others. I still remember how Father Max would call the children to sit closer to the altar and welcome us with a smile. Beyond that warm smile, he would spend time talking to us and always encouraged us to remain steadfast in our faith. Even more importantly, he made an effort to know the youth and their parents on a personal level, understanding their social environments and assisting them whenever possible.
Before joining the Salesians, there were times when I wondered how religious life and the priesthood would appeal to me. After completing my matric at Paterson High School in Schauderville in 1999, I decided to study Marketing Management at Bethelsdorp College in Port Elizabeth for three years. After completing my studies in 2002, I was employed at various automotive component manufacturing companies over a period of nine years. Due to the global financial meltdown, these companies eventually decided to close and move their operations abroad. While later employed at Kezan Tiles, I decided to enrol in a diploma course in logistics; working in the private sector for many years had taught me that I loved working in warehouses and interacting with people from other companies when receiving and dispatching goods.
Being employed and earning a steady weekly income was something to be proud of. At the same time, enjoying the nightlife and spending endless weekends in bars became the norm. Yet, although I spent a lot of time in entertainment venues, missing Mass was never an option; attending Mass remained a priority for me. Around this time, I also became involved in different activities at church.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this reflection, my life journey does not consist of a single event. There were many occasions on which I almost lost my life, but three events stood out and had a profound impact on me. The first was during our matric farewell; while heavily intoxicated, a few of us woke up the next morning lying on the seashore, completely soaked.
The second event occurred when my friends and I were caught in the crossfire during a fight between two rival groups. I was struck by a stray bullet and was incredibly lucky to still be able to walk. The final event happened while I was watching rugby at the stadium; during an exchange of words, a supporter of the rival team hit me in the face with a glass of beer.
During these years of enjoying the nightlife and the various entertainments of youth, I also grew more involved in parish activities. Being approached to assist during Mass without prior notice one particular Sunday morning was the start of something profound. Soon, I became involved in the welcoming ministry, youth activities, and later became the leader of our ward at St. Kevin’s. In addition to these parish activities, I decided to volunteer during my free time at the Missionvale Care Centre after having an inspiring conversation with our deacon.
All of these events—the near-death experiences, the example of Father Max, participating in parish activities, volunteering at Missionvale, and the incredible example of my mother, who overcame life’s obstacles by never letting go of her faith—were instrumental in my decision to join the priesthood and religious life. At the same time, many people have entered my life and played important roles along the way. One thing is for certain: God speaks to us, and He uses many different ways to do so. It is never God’s intention to bring harm upon us; rather, it is our own ego that leads us into temptation, causing us to fall into sin. But God will never leave us abandoned; He will always welcome us back into His Kingdom if only we hear His voice and take His words to heart—not only to remember them, but to put them into practice in our daily lives.
There comes a time in life when we need to step back and reflect. After reflecting deeply on my own journey, I decided to join the Salesians in 2016, resigning from my job to follow this call.
- Vocation Journey – Brother Joseph Juries, SDB - July 6, 2026
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