Good Shepherd Sunday

I gave this talk last weekend in all four Masses in Gladstone Park. In all those four occasions this piece only served as my guide because I added some reflective thoughts (or should I say more jokes).**

Vocation Talk: Good Shepherd Sunday April 15, 2005
Good Shepherd Parish, Gladstone Park Parish Priest: Fr. Victor Buhagiar

Introduction

My name is John Joel Vergara. I am a sixth-year seminarian from Corpus Christi College in Carlton. I was born in the Philippines and arrived here in Australia four years ago.

Every year, we seminarians from Corpus Christi College, go out to different parishes on “Good Shepherd Sunday” also known as “Vocation Sunday”, which is today. We share our vocations story in all weekend Masses, hoping to encourage many young people (and those “young at hearts”) to consider God’s call to priesthood and religious life.Today is a special day, as Catholics around the world are united; praying for the increase of priests and religious brothers and sisters. We pray for new shepherds and pastors who will lead Christian communities and families.

The Shepherd and the sheep

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of himself, “I am the GATE of the sheepfold.” Jesus is the gateway or entrance to the sheepfold or pasture, which is the true home of sheep, where they are safe and cared for.

We also hear the intimate relationship between the sheep and the Shepherd. The sheep hear and recognize and follow their Shepherd’s voice. They follow the voice of their Shepherd because it assures them security, away from wild animals or thieves.

Perhaps you would know this better because we don’t have sheep in the Philippines. First, the climate is too hot to keep the sheep. And secondly, we don’t have enough space for the sheep, we are too crowded already. I think that’s why I am here. I have heard that here in Australia there are more sheep than the people!

Who and what influence me to enter the seminary.

Looking back from my own vocational journey I can’t remember anything dramatic event in my life. I didn’t hear a big voice of God calling me from heaven: “My Son, come follow me, enter the seminary.” Not at all! It’s funny because when I was a young boy I never of becoming a priest. My dad is a retired police officer, and so I my first dream was to be like him. I would like to be a soldier; I thought it would be a good idea to carry a gun around my waist, like my father.

I grew up in a Catholic family and we used to pray the Rosary every night. But I think it was my grandmother who made the greatest impact on my vocation. When she was still alive, I remember every time I come to her place she was either praying a Rosary with my grandfather or reading a Bible. Once when I told her that I joined the Altar Servers in our parish she immediately sewed me my first soutane.

Why I want to become a priest?

My friends in high school also created a great influence why I am here today. I don’t why most of friends in high school all wanted to become priests. Maybe because we just couldn’t attract girls at that time! In high school I was thinking of three things: to be a military officer, to be an architect, and lastly, to be a priest. Priest was always my last option. I could not imagine myself growing old without a wife. And also I got easily attracted with girls. So I think it was impossible for me to be a priest.

However, God’s plan is not my plan. God has a better plan in my life. I believe this is true to each one of us. Immediately after high school at tender age of 16, I entered the seminary. I spent five years of my life inside the seminary which was not really a great deal as long as we play basketball everyday. But more importantly I developed a strong devotion to the Eucharist, to Mary, and other saints and I had a deeper understanding about my vocation. To the long story short I left my seminary in the Philippines and decided to continue my training here in Australia.

Seminary Formation at Corpus Christi

In Australia in takes seven years to become a priest. Seminary academic training includes the study of Philosophy, Systematic Theology, Church history, Scriptures and Sacraments. We go for pastoral work once a week; some go to primary and secondary schools; nursing homes; hospitals; prisons; and alcoholic centers. But other than this serious business we have drama course, music practice and sports activities, we play specially soccer.

We have students from different nationalities and backgrounds we have engineers, lawyers, a doctor, accountants, teachers, and high school graduates. We begin the day in the seminary with Morning Prayer at 6:45 am, followed by 30 minute meditation and then Mass. We go to Catholic Theological College in East Melbourne to attend lectures during the day or in the evening. We are 41 altogether this year, which is a good number, and with your continuous support and prayer we will increase more in number in the next coming years.

Gospel’s Challenge

But do we really need priests today? We heard may people say that religion only divide the people. Sometimes when we talk about our faith, about God or about Jesus people ridicule us. Do we still need a Shepherd in a rich country like Australia? In a well-developed and secular society God has a very little space. As we see there is a very poor attendance of young people in Sunday Masses. I feel sad, discouraged, and challenged.

But when I watched the funeral of Pope John Paul II last week, I was amazed with the numbers of young people around the world who strongly support the pope, who are faithful to the Church. This means the Church is not dead. The Church is still alive in many hearts of young people. So, this means the Church needs more employers.

Duc in altum

Pope John Paul’s message for Vocation Sunday was always based on the theme: Duc in Altum- “Called to Put Out into the Deep.” In particular he addresses young people to follow Christ with conviction: “Trust Christ; listen attentively to his teachings, fix your eyes on his face, persevere in listening his Word.”

Conclusion

After this Mass I will make myself available Mass for those who have questions or just want to have a chat.

I brought some brochures with me, please feel free to get one or two, you may give them to your neighbours, friends, brothers, children, grandchildren…(and even to your boyfriend, perhaps God is calling him as well!)
I pray that all of us may continue to follow the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, whether we are called to married life, single life, priesthood and religious life, so that we may all “have life and have it to the full.”

Post Script

Saturday. 5.30 pm Mass.

Unang hirit. Sa simula pa lang ng Misa kinabahan na ako pero alang magagawa dahil nagsimula na nga ang Misa. Pag nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa ganitong pagkakataon lagi kong naiisip, “Sa klase since elementary mas nanaisin ko pa ang mamamatay (o madapa na lang kaya) kaysa magsalita sa harapan ng mga classmates ko. Hindi ko inisip na lagi pala akong haharap at magsasalita sa tao paglaki ko…” Na-overcome ko naman ang kaba ko, lalo na nang mapansin kong biling bili nila ang jokes ko, at kahit kapag serious na ako. Mas mainam na sa tao ang medyo kinakabahan kesa sobra ang self-confidence, it’s a humbling experience ika nga pag kinakabahan ka sa public speaking. After ng Mass para akong pulitiko na bumabati sa mga tao. Kamay dito kamay duon. Kaso alang picture:(. Isang taga-Cebu na nanay ang nagpakilala sa akin kasama ang kanyang 2 anak na lalaki, grade 3 and 4, puti ang tatay nila. Nakakatuwa dahil sabi nung isang bata magpapari din daw siya.

7:00pm Mass.

Bago magsimula ang Misa may lumapit sa akin na matanda habang hinahanapan ko ng corrections ang talk ko. Winelcome nya ako sa parokya, Yvonne daw ang pangalan niya. Lumabas na ako sa simbahan para ayusin ang mga brochures. Tapos may nagpakilala na Yvonne din ang pangalan pero mas bata siya, 56 years old. Ilang sandali pa ay lumapit uli si Yvonne na matanda. Halos lahat ng pumapasok sa simbahan kilala niya at lahat ipinakikilala sa akin na para bang dun na ako titira. May nakilala akong Singaporean sabi sa akin, “Mabuhay!” Kasama niya ang dalawa niyang anak si Josh, year 12., at Erica (yata?), studyante sa Melbourne University, half-Chinese @ half-Caucasian, maganda siya, artistahin sa atin. Binigyan ko siya ng mission na magbigay ng brochures sa university na kung saan ako gumadweyt kahapon. After ng Mass mas marami akong nakilala. Natutuwa daw sila sa kwento ko. May dalawang Pilipino na nagsimba, isang buntis at isang lalaki (di ko alam kung buntis, hehe). Nalaman ko na si Yvonne (senior) ay dati palang madre sa America; lumabas at nakapag-asawa. Kaya pala iba ang karisma!Sunday.

9:15am Mass.

Nagdrive kami ni Fr. Victor sa Greenvale, around 20 minute drive ang layo. Ang ganda ng location, super sa laki ang mga bahay, parang sa abroad, kaya lang napakatahimik. Wala man lang naglalakad sa kalsada. Ang simbahan ay nasa loob ng gymnasium ng isang school, parang temporary lang pero permanent na daw ito.

Una kong nakilala ko si Maria, Italian lady, napaka-friendly niya, at naikwento na halos sa akin ang buong buhay niya. Before ng Mass busy siya sa pagwelcome sa mga tao at pagbibigay ng parish bulletin, pagtapos ng Misa busy naman siya sa kitchen may konting salu-salo kasi ang mga tao pagka-simba. Sa Pilipinas gawin ito siguradong magsisimba lahat ng mga tao…kahit yung mga nakasimba na.

Halos Italiano lahat ang mga nagsimba, may ilang Maltese, Croatian, at may 5 Pilipino na taga Quezon Province. Masaya pag katapos ng Misa dahil halos magkakakilala lahat ang mga tao. Ganito sana sa lahat ng lugar. Inimbatahan akong kumain sa bahay nung Pilipino kaso may schedule na ako. Halos lahat lumapit sa akin at nagpasalamat, bata, matanda at teen-agers.

11am Mass

(Last na ito at sa wakas makakagimik din ako pagkatapos.)

Balik uli kami ni Padre sa home parish. Nagulat ako bago magsimula ang Misa, nakita ko ang ate Hazel ko, humahangos at umupo sa pinakaharapan kasama si Joshua at Jaya. (Na-extra ko tuloy siya nung magsalita na ako.) Hindi ako sanay magsalita na nanduon ang ate ko, kasi alam niya ang mga kalokohan ko. Malakas pa rin ako sa kanya, pangalawang Misa na raw niya ito, dinayo pa talaga ako. Katouch.

Mas puno ang simbahan ngayon, ang daming tao, mas maraming Pinoy (kaya naextra din sila sa speech ko). Mas marami akong nakilala ngayon pero ala na akong matandaan sa mga pangalan nila. Ewan ko, hindi ko gusto pag nagiging-center of attraction ako, napepressure ako, gusto akong kausapin ng mga tao, nag-aantay sila, lalo na iyong grupo ng mga Pilipino. Mabuti na lang nandyan ang ate ko, pinapakilala ko siya sa kausap ko para makalipat naman sa iba. “Sana’y pala siyang mag-tagalog” sabi ng isa Pilipina. Sabi ko, “hindi po!” May mga nag-invite sa akin ng kumain sa bahay nila, may nag-invite din mag-talk sa meeting nila, pero di ako pwede. Ang saya-saya pag madaming tao. Mamaya mag-isa na lang ako sa kuwarto ko :(…pero gigimik muna ako!

Mission accomplished.