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At a time like this one cannot help reflecting on the
mystery of Vocation, of God's call. We are told that the
only sure sign of that call is the bishop's summons at
ordination. Technically that may be true; but there is
an experience, an awakening to possibility, even necessity
by which God, at least, asks a question: Will you serve
Me and My sons and daughters with Word and Sacrament? It
is then for the individual and for the Church to discern
the meaning of this call. Since I have been reflecting
on that experience in my life, I thought I would simply
describe it to you.
I was the youngest of six in a family which took for granted
that our lives functioned around the actions of the Church,
mainly through the parish priest. He was frequently in
our home. My mind focussed more sharply on that when, at
the age of about ten, I saw my eldest sister enter the
convent and my brother join the Redemptorists. One day,
it was quite casual, I asked my mother a question about
what their life was now, and she asked me if I was thinking
of doing the same. I wasn't, but I started to think about
it. She told me to pray about it. There was no great drama
about it; the Archangel Gabriel did not intervene. It did
not much preoccupy my mind till I was in secondary school.
The Rector of Banyo came and spoke on the priesthood and
the seminary. We were asked to fill in a form about what
we wanted to do after school. One boy with an artificial
leg said he was going to be a jockey. I put down that I
was interested in priesthood. Nothing happened; but he
came around the next year. By then I was more sure of my
desire, but I was not convinced that I was then ready to
go to the seminary. The Rector was not put off. He called
on my parents and told them I should go to Banyo the next
year. My father said I should do what the priest advised.
So I went. My father's attitude was significant. He was
a builder; he had three sons, and he was keen for one of
them to follow in his footsteps. My eldest brother died
at the age of 14; he was the only one who showed the talent
for it. My next brother had joined the Redemptorists. That
left me. He tried to train me to be a carpenter. Jesus
was a carpenter, but he did not communicate his skill to
me. This jelled with other experiences. Not only the priest
came to talk to us, Doctors, lawyers and representatives
of other callings came too. The only one that interested
me was wool-classing; and I had never so much as seen a
sheep in my life. It gradually dawned on me that I was
attracted to priesthood and I was quite unsuited to anything
else. That may sound negative, but it was God quietly leading
me on.
This became critical when I had been some years into my
course of theology. I believed that I was not suited to
the pastoral role. I still wanted to be a priest, but I
could not IMAGINE myself in pastoral work. I thought of
joining a religious order, probably the Benedictines. Fortunately,
the Spiritual Director persuaded me that you did not take
on a role just because you were fit for it. The grace of
God came when you needed it, not when you wanted it.
With hesitations that increased with the years, I went
ahead for ordination. The ordaining prelate was Archbishop
Duhig; he was then about 80. I wondered how anyone could
be so old, and how he could possibly be a priest so long.
Then I discovered that my Spiritual Director had been
right. I was appointed to Wavell Heights. The first day
the Parish Priest drove me to the furthest limit of the
parish and told me to walk home, calling on the Catholics
on the way. He gave me a list. Apprehensively I plunged
in at the deep end – and found that I loved it. No doubt,
it was satisfying but – I have difficulty saying this from
a sense of frivolity – it was fun, even when they set the
dogs on to you.
I discovered that the people of the parish were my best
teachers – not only of pastoral work, but of the spiritual
life. The solid hours in the confessional revealed to me
the deep longing of many for the Christian life. Work with
the boys and girls of the YCW was a revelation of the love
of Christ.
I am deeply grateful to all the people I have had the
privilege of serving for 50 years. I am grateful for the
support of the parishioners of Noosa district. I am profoundly
grateful to all the priests who have helped me understand
the priesthood, including Fathers Basil, Mark and Vinh.
I cannot be unaware of my failures and insufficiencies.
They are patently obvious; but I thank God for being so
tolerant of them, and I accept the years ahead.
That is a story of a vocation. I pray that there may be
many more.
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