White cassock for olive greens, a man of the cloth finds new calling

A CLERGYMAN from Pathanamthitta district is set to tend to new flock by joining the Indian Army as a religious teacher.

- JAISON WILSON @Pathanamthitta

Equipped with the blessings of the Malankara Orthodox Church and rigorous military training, Fr Jim M George's journey is a testament to the unique blend of faith and national service.

The objective of a religious teacher in the Army is to ensure national integration, with religious and regional harmony in the unit.

"Spiritual enrichment of soldiers, their motivation, stress management and welfare are subjects we have to deal with. As a religious teacher, one must conduct spiritual sessions, provide counseling to ease soldiers' mental stress, and promote secularism and unity within the armed forces," he says.

His training also prepares him to bolster the morale of soldiers before high-risk missions.