Paul Chandler reflects upon his Ordination…

February 22nd marks a significant change in my life and it also marks a defining response to an inner voice that has been part of my thoughts and prayers for about 10 years. 

I am excited. I am nervous. I am full of wonder and awe as this day comes closer. Yet, at the same time, underneath there is the gracious presence of God's Spirit who brings peace and an inner certainty of the heart. In going forward to ordination I trust not in myself but in God, who is leading me to the deepest fulfilment of my humanity.

My journey to this point began in my family, in the schools I went to and among my friends. There I experienced love, understanding and a sense of God who was very much part of our lives. After school, I joined the Christian Brothers, who had educated me. They gave me pre-service education for teaching but after a few years I sensed, in ways that can't easily be put into words, that my life was not entwined with theirs totally. So, when my temporary vows expired I left and continued teaching in Catholic schools around the Archdiocese. I think primarily through the example and friendship of the Oblates at Iona College, where I taught for most of my career, I started to think of priesthood as a possibility for me. It took years, much thought, prayer and many conversations until I reached the point where I had to go to the seminary to see if the call was real and possible for me.

I am so pleased I did because from the first few weeks I felt I was in the right place. That feeling of congruence and right-fit has never left me. Through hard times and difficulties it hasn't been far away and throughout the years of formation I have received much affirmation that has also been God's way of letting me know I was on the right track.

Now, as I approach the close of one chapter of my life and the opening of another, I am grateful for all that has gone before in my life and full of hope for the future.  Not an optimism that everything will be rosy; rather, a belief that in being responsive to God as I am able and where I am, there is peace, there is life in its fullest.

To those who read this, are interested in or thinking about priesthood, my message for you is threefold:

Firstly, keep thinking, keep praying and keep talking about it with those you can.

Secondly, because God deals directly with us, ask God for answers to your questions. God will answer; not with shining lights from heaven but, most probably, in an interior way and through other people.  Be prepared to give the seminary a go. To find that being a priest is right for you is great. To find it's not is also great because in that you're finding more about what God desires and dreams for you.

Lastly, if you can, come along to my ordination and be part of our local church as we celebrate God's abiding fidelity to us and one person's faltering and limited response to our faithful God.