This Capuchin Did Not Want Social Media. But God Had Other Plans.

Kerala, September 10, 2025: Picture this: You delete your Facebook account deciding social media is pointless, join the capuchins, and plan to go off social media forever. Twelve years later, you are scrolling through Instagram with 1.97 million followers hanging on your every post.  

This is not a Hollywood script, it's the real life of Br. Sachin Baby, a 28 yr old deacon from Wayanad who never saw his viral fame coming. 

The Latest Million-View Miracle 

Recently, it was an Ed Sheeran song, ‘Perfect’—that sentimental pop ballad that’s been the soundtrack to countless weddings. Br. Sachin took it and did something nobody expected: he turned it into a prayer!

"For me, the perfect love is the love of Jesus on the Cross," he says, his eyes lighting up as he speaks. "No human love can ever be compared with it." 

He changed just a few lyrics, strummed his guitar, hit record and watched his phone explode. "At first, I was unsure how people would receive it," he admits with a nervous laugh. "But the response was overwhelming." 

The Reluctant Influencer 

Here's the plot twist: this isn't your typical fame-hungry content creator story. Br. Sachin has never sought the spotlight.

"There are undoubtedly many more skilled musicians and guitarists than me. I don't consider myself worthy," he insists, unconsciously adjusting his simple brown habit. "Just as I hold the guitar in my hands, I am ultimately an instrument in the hands of Jesus." 

Remember, this is coming from someone who once deleted his Facebook account because he thought social media was "a complete waste of time." For nearly a decade during his religious formation, he lived like it was 1995, no personal phone, no internet, no digital distractions. 

"I felt the time I spent on social media was wasted and not worthwhile. I hated it," he recalls, shaking his head at the irony of his current situation. 

The Saint Who Changed Everything 

The story began when a priest friend gave young Sachin a biography of St. Francis of Assisi. Inspired by the saint’s radical simplicity and love for Christ, he chose to join the Capuchins and give up social media for good.

Later, he came across a line from St. Francis: “What was once bitter to me became sweetness, and what was once sweet has now become bitter.” It felt like his own story. What once seemed impossible—silence, sacrifice, and surrender—had become a source of joy. And what once felt exciting had lost its charm.

The Prophecy He Tried to Ignore 

Fast forward to a retreat in Wayanad. Br. Sachin is sitting across from a CMC nun during counseling when she drops a bombshell: "God will use you to evangelise through social media and music." 

His response? Immediate denial. "I told her straightaway, 'Sister, this is not going to happen,'" he laughs, remembering his younger, more stubborn self. "I had firmly decided against it." But the nun wasn't backing down. She prayed, repeated the prophecy, prayed some more. Her words wouldn't leave him alone. 

When Art Opened the Door 

The crack in his digital wall started innocently enough. Br. Sachin had always been an artist sketching, painting, creating. One day, he thought, "Why not share some artwork with family?"  

He created an Instagram account. Just for art. Nothing more. But creativity has a way of spilling over. Soon, he was uploading a song here, a reflection there. The comments started pouring in: 

"This made my day." "I feel closer to God after hearing this." "Your music touched my soul." That's when it clicked. "I realised that God was using me as an instrument," he says. The prophecy was coming true, whether he liked it or not. 

Scrolling with Purpose 

Today, Br. Sachin’s Instagram is a refreshing oasis in the desert of digital chatter. Gospel covers, book reflections, movie discussions, and those reels that somehow make you feel better about life. 

His content strategy? There isn't one. "I keep my heart open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit," he explains. "Inspiration is like a seed, it takes root in prayer." 

He's acutely aware of what his followers are going through. "Often, after an hour of scrolling, we feel like we've wasted our time," he observes with that knowing smile of someone who's been there. "People aren't going to stop scrolling anyway, so why not share content that makes their time meaningful?" It's social media with a soul, something most of us didn't know we were missing. 

The Boy from Wayanad 

Born in Sultan Bathery in 1997, Sachin was the baby of the family. His father, Baby P.J., worked as an excise officer; his mother, Mercy, taught school and now serves as a municipal councillor. Nothing in his ordinary Kerala childhood screamed "future Instagram sensation." 

But sometimes, God ordains the most extraordinary stories from the most ordinary places. 

The Final Chapter Begins 

On November 8, Br. Sachin will take his final step toward priesthood. After years of preparation, millions of views, and a digital ministry he never planned, he's about to become Father Sachin. 

"My first call is to be with Jesus," he says, his voice soft but certain. "Everything else is secondary." He made one sincere request, not for likes, shares, or subscribers: "I have only one request, please keep me in your prayers as I take this step toward my priestly ministry." 

In a world obsessed with going viral, here's a man who went viral by accident and stayed humble by choice. Maybe that's the most viral-worthy message of all. 

Follow Br. Sachin Baby’s journey on Instagram, where 2.1 lakh people are discovering that sometimes the best content comes from the most unexpected places. 

Let’s say a Prayer for Br. Sachin: 

Dear Lord, as Br. Sachin prepares for his ordination on November 8, we ask You to bless him with wisdom, courage, and grace. May You continue to use him as Your instrument, touching hearts through his music and ministry. Guide his steps as he transitions from deacon to priest, and help him remain humble in service to You and Your people. We pray that his digital ministry continues to bring souls closer to You, and that his life becomes a beautiful song of praise for Your glory. Amen. 

By Catholic Connect Reporter