| |
|
Nicholas Tumbelaka - Vancouver Seminarian
|
 Back to Seminarians
|
-
- The questions that are frequently asked of me when people know that I am going to enter a seminary are: when and how do you know that you have a vocation, and why do you want to be a priest? Well, these are the same questions I asked a priest and he answered that God always spoke to us through every event which happens in our life.
-
- I must thank Jesus that I could stay in this beautiful city of Vancouver where I have time to recall what happened in my life. These are some of the following signs that help me in discerning my vocation to the priesthood:
|
|
-
- * During my childhood I liked to play "priest" and I even made my own tabernacle. (I was deep in my prayers.)
*My reading about the lives of the saints inspired me to be like them who were holy in their life due to their great love for Jesus.
*I was touched when I was attending an Ordination Mass. In my heart I could feel the happiness of being a priest who can consecrate the Body and the Blood of Christ.
*Being a member of the Legion of Mary and the head of a Presidium for six years and a co-worker of Mother Teresa for nine years opened my eyes to see so many people who are thirsty for the love of Christ.
*Taking a part in the church activities such as choir, lector, teaching Sunday school and Catechism always gave me joy.
*My recent appointment as chairman of the Indonesian Catholic Society in Vancouver gave me great happiness in serving them by listening to their difficulties and nourishing them with the teachings of the Church.
Besides these reasons, the monthly vocation meetings (Vocations In Progress) really helped in discerning my vocation where I met some priests who shared their experiences as a priest and watched the video about the life of the priests. One thing I learnt from them is that they were not worthy but they allowed Jesus to shape and use them according to His will. This gave me encouragement to move forward to apply to the Archdiocese of Vancouver and in the beginning of August of this year, His Grace, Archbishop Exner accepted me as a seminarian at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission. I thank Jesus for allowing me to be His servant and I thank all my friends and my vocation directors Father James Hughes and Father Mark Schwab for their prayers and encouragement.
Finally I realize that my journey to my priesthood has just begun. Therefore, I kindly ask for your prayers so the Holy Spirit may always guide me in my journey and I can be like Mother Mary who always said ‘Yes’ to the will of God. I also would like to encourage all readers who might have similar experiences as mine to open your heart to Jesus by contacting our vocation directors.
Back to Seminarians
|
|
|
|
