FINAL PROFESSIONS

Remain in My Love…

On the day of our baptism we are brought into the love of God that knows no limits. It is the call of every baptised person to discover and live love.

Recently, the Archdiocese of Brisbane has been blessed to witness the final profession of vows of four young women who have chosen to respond to God’s call, devoting their lives to love as consecrated religious. Whilst they have done this through embracing different charisms, they share a common desire to lay down their lives for the service of their brothers and sisters.

Whilst there are many ways that one can serve the Church, the life-commitment of Srs Monique Singh, Theresia Maria, Teresa Monica and Teresa Francis bears witness to the truth that Religious Life is still a viable option for young people. Through embracing vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, they have availed themselves to witness to the God who draws them to himself.

Let us continue to pray that young women and men throughout the Australian Church will listen deeply to the invitation of God, and be open to a vocation to Religious Life.

ISAAC FALZON

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME”

(PHIL 4: 13).

keeping my focus on His face

Saint Ignatius of Loyola once said, “you wish to reform the world? Reform yourself [first].” My entire discernment journey started (and will continue) with the want/need to become a better person. If I can be a better person, then I can be a better disciple.

Life has not always been smooth sailing for me; however, I should not complain in comparison to many people’s lives. By the age of fifteen, things were not going so well. I searched for meaning, purpose, and happiness in other people and material goods. This led me down a dark path; I was in serious trouble with many different people and authorities. I had developed various illnesses, and I was unhappy with who I was and who I was becoming. I continued this way of life for 12 years until I had a re-conversion experience on a mission trip in Uganda. To cut a long story short, Uganda led me to serve with Net Ministries, and Net Ministries played a part in me joining the Seminary in 2017.

The biggest challenge that I faced in my discernment journey was myself. I had lived a full and colourful life, and when I looked at those priests and Seminarians, I knew they all seemed so perfect to me. I questioned my abilities and worthiness. I thought, why me? There were many other people who I thought would be better suited to the role. But God did not call them, He called me, and I had to act. If everyone left important things up to those they thought would be better at the job, nothing would get done. God does not call the equipped; He equips the called.

As I discerned the right decision two things stood out to me. Firstly, I felt God saying to me that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4: 13). I just needed to step out onto the water and keep my focus on His face and not the storm around me. If I believed that I could do it, if it was the work of God, and I worked hard, I could do anything, and everything would fall into place. Secondly, it was a simple decision; it was either a yes or a no, and I thought it was either a yes or no to God, so I felt that I had better say yes.

Despite all that went through my mind during my initial discernment, I have enjoyed every moment of the formation process. I have noticed that the reasons I joined the Seminary have not been the reasons I stayed in the Seminary and will most likely not be the reasons I will (potentially) be ordained. Namely, as I grow and change and my relationship with God deepens throughout this formation process, my goals, desires and dreams have deepened and changed as well.

Presently, I find and experience God the most during praise and worship and traditional liturgies. I feel God in equal amounts through listening to the likes of Emmanuel worship (‘desire’ is my favourite song) and in singing Latin or Gregorian chants. I am deeply attracted by the immense diversity, beauty, and potential that our Church, the sleeping giant, holds. I am in love with our mother Church, and I desire nothing more than to see her and the entire faithful shake with life and joy. And finally, I am very excited about my (potential) future ministry as a priest and the future of our great Church.

LAWRENCE (UCHENNA) EZEDINMA

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

My first vocation!

A soul in need reaching for meaning to life – this led me from Nigeria to Australia. I am a young man trying to discern my vocation. The idea that a career change and an exchange of culture would give meaning to my life was questioned a year after I arrived.

One Sunday at Mass, I saw a priest celebrate the liturgy with great joy despite getting around with a cane, when a voice came to me, ‘What are you waiting for?’ Young, single, Catholic, I was unable to shrug off the constant questioning.

I spent some time in the Canali Discernment Program, hoping I could get the questioning off my mind. This period was captured succinctly by the ever-visible tagline, ‘Where are you going?’ Through spiritual talks and exercises, I began to formulate my response, but it was only during a recent online meeting that the book To Save a Thousand Souls turned my ideas around: HOLINESS IS MY FIRST VOCATION. Yes, I had been putting the cart before the horse. I thought that I would become holy when I became a priest. Without first finding rest (holiness) in God, my soul remained restless. 

Holiness provides the spiritual compass to navigate the Christian journey, to respond to the question ‘Where are you going?’ with some clarity. I am coming to see holiness as perseverance in a way of life, continuously refined in the sacrament of reconciliation, refuelled in the Eucharist, and sanctified by the Paraclete.

The joy of this first vocation (holiness) will enable me to live out my secondary vocation – single life or marriage, holy orders or religious life – not as a burden, but as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

For now, the practice of living my first vocation allows for the journey towards the second vocation to be clearer, more joyful and worthwhile.

FELICITY JONES, God's Timing is Perfect

IT WAS THROUGH THE BLESSING OF A PRIEST THAT I FIRST BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER GOD

When I reflect on my faith journey so far, I am incredibly moved by the unconditional love God has for me, and for the blessings he graced my life with to make me the person I am today. Four years ago I didn’t know this kind of love.

I could never feel God around me, encouraging me to pursue a path of holiness. It was through the blessing of a priest that I first began to encounter God and realise the plans he had for me. Fr Chukwudi Chinaka, and many priests, showed me what it was to be the hands and feet of Christ. Through their ministry, I saw the face of Christ and felt God beckoning me.

After a life-changing experience at World Youth Day Poland 2016, I couldn’t deny God’s call any longer and made the choice to always desire a life of faithfulness and to glorify God’s kingdom. I was then blessed to step into the role of Youth Coordinator of The Hive in the Ipswich Catholic Community, where we endeavour to provide opportunities for young people to encounter Christ. I also decided to study a Bachelor of Theology to deepen my understanding of the faith.

I was enjoying ministry and my faith when the question of my vocation was proposed to me: “Where do you think God is calling you?” Now that I had accepted Jesus into my life, and trusted in his will and plans for me, where was he actually calling me? Had I given God the chance to show me where he wants me to be? I decided to pursue some spiritual direction. I soon realised something: God’s timing is perfect. I didn’t need to decide then and there. I needed to be patient.

JO HAYES, An Inspiring Single Story

SMACK BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF GOD’S WILL

4KQ NEWS READER/CHANNEL 7 REPORTER

“I feel like I’m smack-bang in the middle of God’s will for my life”.

I’m a journalist, and I journal … and this was an entry in one of my prayer journals from nearly three years ago. I know I would not have written that a decade ago. In fact, probably not even five years ago …. despite being a committed catholic, and doing my best to seek God’s will for my life.

But in 2017, something changed. I started a daily practice that literally (and almost immediately) transformed every area of my life: Lectio Divina. Reading and meditating on the Word of God.

I am convinced – through lived experience - that we cannot know God’s will for our lives, unless we are spending quality time with the Lord, in His Word, every single day. It’s like oxygen for my soul and spirit. I’m like a bulldog, guarding that precious 1 to 2 hours each day. Because I know that I won’t have the God-vision, wisdom, focus and power I need to fulfill my life purpose - my vocation - if I don’t make God and His Will, my first priority in life.

Jesus tells us, “Seek first the Kingdom of heaven, and ALL THESE THINGS will be added to you as well” - Matthew 6.33.

I believe ALL THESE THINGS means the satisfaction of our heart’s greatest dreams and desires. Including an abiding sense of “the six P’s”: peace, protection, provision, prosperity, power, purpose.

I believe that our heart’s greatest dreams and desires = our vocation. Not everyone sees their career as their vocation, but I certainly do. I know to the core of my being that God put me on this earth to be a journalist/broadcaster. I got ‘the call’ at the tender age of seven (I used to make my five siblings play ‘news bulletins’ with me!).

Not only was there a STRONG desire, but my natural gifts and talents were perfectly suited to broadcast journalism: I loved (like, really loved) public speaking, I was naturally curious and empathetic, and I loved asking people questions about their lives, giving them an opportunity to tell their story.

While I’ve enjoyed a great 10 year career in journalism, it has only been in the past 3 years, as I’ve “sought first the Kingdom” in a more diligent way, becoming more receptive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, that I have seen ALL THESE THINGS come to pass in my career/ vocation/life.

Amazing ‘only God’ favour, opportunities, promotion and platform. Doors opening I could NEVER open on my own. With a deep sense of peace, joy and fulfilment, knowing there is nothing else I should be doing right now. Nothing else I WANT to be doing. And without ‘striving’! I’ve found there is a ‘supernatural ease’ that comes on us, as we align ourselves with God’s Will.

Knowing and feeling that I am smack bang in the middle of God’s Will for my life … let me tell you, there ain’t a sweeter feeling in the world!

Gerard Lai, A Seminarian's Story

I REALISED THAT JESUS WAS THE REAL DEAL AND THAT I COULD HAVE A PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM, JUST LIKE A BEST FRIEND.

I was brought up in a Catholic family as the middle child between two sisters. My parents are both from Malaysia, and they met here in Australia. Faith at home was praying before meals, praying before bedtime and going to mass on the weekend. I had faith, I believed in God, but I did not quite understand what that meant. Growing up, I never really considered the Priesthood.

I was at a youth camp in year 10 when I had my first spiritual awakening. The most exciting part of the camp was experiencing the power and love of Jesus for the first time. This happened during a time of reflection we were invited to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At first, I told the priest the little things, but finally, I poured out my heart and told him everything. I looked up to see the priest’s reaction, he just looked at me, smiled very gently and warmly, said the prayer of absolution and wished me well.

As I walked back to my seat, I remember feeling a wave of peace come over me. It finally all made sense. I realised that Jesus was the real deal and that I could have a personal friendship with him, just like a best friend.

After high school, I completed two years of missionary work with NET Ministries Australia. I then continued pursuing my dream to become a scientist by studying a Bachelor of Science which I completed in 2016.

However, I felt like something was missing. My time on NET had really deepened my faith and made me realise that it was not automatic that you got married, had kids. There were other ways to serve. I wanted to find out what this whole priesthood thing was for myself. So I had a chat with the Vocations Office, and they recommended that I move into Canali House, a house of discernment of men thinking about the Priesthood. I spent two years in Canali house discerning God’s call for me.

I remember towards the end of my second year at Canali, I thought to myself: “Gerard, you can’t discern forever.” I remember still being torn between becoming a good dad and a good priest. So I said a sincere prayer asking God to show me which path I should take. I reflected on my life journey from high school until my current moment.

The fact that I was still considering Priesthood for two years in Canali House without any clear sign opposing it, made me sway in favour of the Priesthood. I still felt compelled to give Priesthood a go and knew that I would be discerning in the Seminary anyway so I went ahead with it.

I knew deep down that I would be running away from God and live in regret if I didn’t give the Seminary a go. So I gave it a go and here I am three years later, still on the journey and still discerning in the Seminary, but now I feel even more convicted that I’m supposed to be a priest.

In the Seminary, we do not pray 24/7, we do not know the bible back to front, nor do we have our lives in perfect order. Just like Jesus’ disciples, we are very ordinary people who have responded to the call of God in an extraordinary way.