FATHER FRANCIS FERNANDES

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF LETTING GOD SPEAK INTO YOUR LIFE

Would I Make a Good Priest?

I didn’t always want to be a priest. I had wanted to be a priest as a kid, but the desire faded away as I grew. By the time I was applying to university through QTAC in 2012, I definitely did not want to be a priest. I wanted to get married and work either as an engineer or industrial designer and recall being a little anxious that God might have other plans.

My time discerning between engineering and industrial design was a time of confusion and uncertainty. Many voices were offering conflicting advice, and they all seemed correct. Some people said, “Do what you love!” other more practical people said, “do what brings in the money!” Still, others said, “God wants what you want!” To cut a long story short, I gave one course a go and found neither of the two careers were realistic options for me. It was a time of dissatisfaction.

That dissatisfaction, however, opened me up to letting God speak his Good News into my life. I visited the vocations office and various discernment events and was surprised at how much priesthood resonated with me. The things I loved best about industrial design and engineering - that they brought joy and comfort into people’s lives – were things that I could do on a deeper level as a priest. God didn’t annihilate my passions; in fact, he deepened them.

I was fortunate to have chatted with a certain seminarian on one of my Quo Vadis weekends (he is now a priest in the Brisbane Archdiocese). I asked him if he was excited about getting ordained. He responded by saying that he didn’t see himself as being in the seminary to be ordained but to actively discern if God was calling him to the priesthood. Though I wasn’t afraid of stepping into the seminary, I do remember thinking then, “so I won’t be locked in if I give it a go!” Thus, to discern well and leave the seminary journey would have been as much a success as discerning to stay on. So I entered Canali House in 2014 and joined the seminary the following year.

I suppose a challenge I encountered during my time in the seminary was dealing with the question of whether I would make a good priest or not. It was not a crushing concern, but it crossed my mind on several occasions, especially when I became conscious of the areas in my life which still needed growth. The turning point came during my thirty-day retreat in my fifth year. In that time, I got to explore with Jesus all the underlying concerns, assumptions and baggage I was carrying in me. I saw myself more clearly, let go of a lot, and trusted God to continue leading me as I went out into ministry.

To you, the reader, I offer brotherly encouragement. Do not be afraid of letting God speak into your life. To paraphrase St. Augustine, God is closer to us than we are to ourselves. A good discernment begins with daily prayer. Also, remember not to discern alone! Find a priest or religious sister and journey together to explore what God and your own heart is saying to you. If even that is too much, I encourage you to at least pray for the desire to hear and heed God’s call.

DEACON ADAM WALK

“ADAM, YOU AREN’T WORTHY, BUT THAT SHOULDN’T STOP YOU!”

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This year’s Easter Vigil was the fifteenth anniversary of my entry into the Church. Receiving all of the sacraments of initiation was the first big milestone in a process of personal discernment that eventually led to my ordination as a deacon in November 2019.

My years of discernment have convinced me of several things, most importantly that God has a plan for every one of us, and that He gives us gifts and charisms to assist us in realising His plans. I have always marvelled at the diversity in the Church. People are called to serve God and His Church in such interesting ways, as a cursory look at the lives of the saints will confirm. Some combine a serious faith commitment with participation in secular professions. I have read of a Dominican sister who is a physician, a Jesuit brother who is an astronomer, and a Holy Cross priest who is a historian specialising in American presidents! Such examples helped me to accept that God might be calling me to be a deacon, while remaining committed to my marriage and my professional life.

I have never really had a problem trying new things, but I did struggle with a couple of aspects of discernment. First, was the sense of a lack of worthiness. Why on earth would God call me to anything, especially ordained ministry? As the Archbishop told me: “Adam, you aren’t worthy, but that shouldn’t stop you!” Second, I needed to learn to give up my normal preference for planning and being in control. Very early on, we were told that the Church discerns vocations, and it is clear to me there is a great deal of wisdom in this approach.

In the end, these struggles turned out to be positives in that they disposed me to the process of discernment and freed me to respond to God’s promptings without my plans and preferences drowning out the Holy Spirit. Now, I am left with a feeling of peace, knowing that I am, amidst my myriad inadequacies and occasional uncertainties, fulfilling God’s plan for my life. I trust that He will make up for whatever I lack.

DEACON PETER PELLICAAN: The Greatest Adventure

THE JOY OF A VOCATION IS THAT YOU’RE CALLED TO PLAY A PART IN THE ACTIVITY OF GOD!

Imagine for a moment that God is real. Imagine that God is the source of all life, the author of love, the cause of all that is good, true and beautiful. Imagine that every person is specifically designed by this all powerful and holy God and that the deepest desire of every human heart is to encounter God.

Imagine that this loving and creative God revealed himself to humanity by becoming a man, and that this man would give up his life so that humanity could be reconciled to God. Imagine that this God who became man was inviting you to be a part of this divine plan! Imagine that God would continue to impart grace through people like you and I!

The joy of having a vocation is that you’ve come to see that this whole ‘God-thing’ is not simply a product of the human imagination. It is reality. This Jesus, God made flesh, is in fact more real than anything. He is the way, the truth and the life. The joy of a vocation is that you’re called to play a part in the activity of God. You’re called to be a minister of God’s grace in order that God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and life would f low through you to those you minister to. What could be more exciting, challenging, exhilarating, and life giving! What could be more of an adventure!

For me personally, the encounter with Jesus began in baptism when I was only a week or so old, but this baptismal grace came to life for me anew when I encountered Jesus at about the age of 8. This was followed with another significant moment at 14 where I had the distinct sense that God was calling me to give my life in service of the Church. Though this calling has manifested itself in different ways in a variety of contexts, it has been a constant conviction and a great joy.

There is nothing more life giving for me personally then being involved in someone else’s encounter with God. It’s incredible to accompany people as they first discover the furious love, forgiveness, grace and mercy of God. It is such a joy to see people find healing, wholeness, purpose and identity as they encounter Jesus and surrender to him. This vocation thing – as the Archbishop likes to say – is like signing a blank cheque, and it will cost you your life – but in it you’ll find more life than you could ever give away!

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.

Father Frank Jones, A Priesthood Life Story

ONCE I RECEIVED THE CERTAINTY OF HIS PRESENCE IN THE MASS, I WAS HOOKED.

I’ve been a priest for over 33 years, and I’d have to say that every year the joy of priesthood just gets better. It is this joy that keeps me going and maintains my sense of deep gratitude.

At the centre of the life of a priest is this mystery of being loved by God and feeling that love increase as you get older. I have never felt more contentment and deep satisfaction in my life as I do now. All this is due to the grace and blessings of being one with Jesus in His priesthood.

My journey began at 15 years of age when I felt that the Lord was calling me. I started going to Mass daily beginning each day with Him, and once I received the certainty of His real presence in the Mass, I was hooked for life.

I began a St Vincent de Paul conference with mates from school where we would mow lawns for the widowed and visit the lonely once a week. Small acts of charity but the blessings I received through those encounters only enhanced my sense of vocation.

The paths I have taken as a priest have led me from Australia to Latin America and serving amongst very poor peoples. It has been a privilege and again joy to become family amongst different cultures.

As a priest, you are given the name Father because you become part of a family in any mission or parish you are sent to lead. The Spirit is the one who leads you to places you would never have thought possible. The mateship and loving friendship amongst my priest mates and beautiful people of the parishes I have belonged to never leave you. There is a bond that reaches into eternity, and every Eucharist opens that reality each day.

All the wonderful women friends and religious who have taught me the essence of my vocation are part of the joy beyond human understanding that St Paul refers to in his letters. Any suffering I have encountered along the way has always been followed by grace. This joy I refer to is the gift of the Spirit. It is the centre of our being as a priest and part of the hundredfold that Jesus promises.