VOCATIONAL STORIES

Province of Our Lady of the Rosary

I am César, I was born in East Timor on January 11, 1994. During the civil war between Indonesia and East Timor, the Indonesian army took control over the territory and many children were deprived of education. The war caused many children to become orphans. I remember that the East Timorese army, my parents and I hid in the mountains to safeguard ourselves. My parents were worried about my future since I was around 6 years old and I had not started my studies. My father, trying to find a solution for me to start my education, thought of my uncle who was working in the Salesian College, and who in turn was a reliable and responsible person.

I started my first grade of primary school when I was about 7 years old. That was a moment to feel happiness in my life because that school was the only place where I could express my feelings and share my dreams with my friends. During the six years of primary school I tried to do my best, study hard, do my homework on time, trying to be a good student at the school. However, sometimes I felt sad because my parents were far from me since the conflicts between East Timor and the invaders had not ended and hence my parents could not come to visit me often. In 2002 our country became independent and my parents left the mountain to live in the city; but I did not live with them, we lived in a different city.

When I reached the sixth grade, one of my teachers suggested to my parents that I could continue my studies at the Salesian Don Bosco Minor Seminary. My parents thought it was a good option for me. I was happy with such a decision. In my first year of high school studies, I began a devotion to Our Lady the Virgin Mary. Since then I have prayed this prayer. I have always prayed the following prayer:

 “O Virgin Mary, You, the most beloved mother, come to my aid and give me an idea and knowledge so that I may give the best of myself before my brothers, the people with whom I live."

After my high school graduation, I met a Maryknoll Sister who invited me to join the Dominican youth group. In group meetings, I heard about Dominican spirituality, the motto “Veritas” and life based on study, prayer, community, and mission, all these elements moved me. From that moment I was very interested in religious life. After that, I felt like fire in my heart. I really wanted to become a Dominican. Finally, I decided to join them on January 4, 2016.

Province of Our Lady of the Rosary

My name is Mark. I was born in South Korea, in 1988. While I was a kid, whenever I saw altar boys assisting a priest at the altar I desired to be the one celebrating the Mass. At the age of nine, I started going to church every day and I became an acolyte. 

While I was in the middle school, a diocesan seminarian invited me to a series of vocational meetings. Those meetings were held at the local church once a month and there were many students attending. When I was in the 3^rdgrade in the middle school I did not do well in my studies, the teacher advised me to move to the Technical high school. I did not like that school because if I joined it I could not apply to the diocesan seminary. I somehow became desperate at that time. However, I prayed and studied very hard, so finally, I succeeded in getting into a high school to study humanities.

In 2007, I was wondering whether I should become a diocesan priest or a religious priest. I did not know much about each of these two ways of life. By then, following the recommendations of my parish priest, I applied to the diocesan seminary. They rejected me. I felt very embarrassed and did not like anyone to see me, not even my family. With this feeling, I wanted to be away for a while. Thinking about what to do, I remembered that the Dominican friars had a retreat house in Ansan, I contacted them and asked if I could live there for a while. They agreed and asked me to do some homework.

That year I had to enlist on my 2-year army service. During this time, I thought a lot about my vocation. I often asked God, “Why do you give me so many sufferings and trials?”“Why, God, do you rebuff me?”(Ps 88, 14). After finishing the military service, I was appointed as a staff sergeant. I gained a lot of experience in life! Thus, I decided to work for one more year in the military service to earn money, and with that money, to pay some theological studies that would help me to be prepared to take again the entrance exam in the seminary.

In 2011, my parish priest forced me to apply to the diocesan seminary again, but I needed to rest and think about my vocation seriously. After all, I applied to the diocesan seminary without success. Later, due to my health, I was treated in the hospital for three months.

Finally, I decided to go to college to study business administration. I wanted to work in marketing companies and advertising companies. I told myself to forget about the priesthood. During college life, most of the students were younger than me. I was 25 years old and my classmates were around 19 or 20 years old. I got a scholarship every semester. After graduation, I applied to a few companies and three companies wanted me to join them. During this time, I met many people and learned many things. But the most important is what the proverb says: “No man is so old but that he may learn”

Fr. Tomas More, one of the Dominican priests, called me one day. He told me about Dominican life. He said, “People do not know when the opportunity will come. If you do not choose this opportunity, there may not be another chance for you.”I was not sure whether to accept his invitation because I did not want to delude myself and end up suffering, however, I must confess that in the deepest part of my being, the idea of becoming a priest was not dead. The invitation of Fr. Tomas More revived my illusions again. And there was something that made me take that step, I remembered those days in Ansan and the daily life of the friars. I realized that I loved community life, I discovered my vocation.

Finally, I was accepted as an aspirant in the Order of Preachers in the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. I cried out with joy because I was really very happy. I said to myself: “God had given me a fresh start in my life.” I gave up everything and joined the Dominicans on the 2^ndday of August, 2015 in Korea.

Dominican life has helped me to learn how to know and love each one of my brothers for what they are, with their virtues and limitations. I had to try to see the merits of others and that was not easy. Before I went to Singapore to study English for a few months I was afraid of going abroad. 

In April 2016, I arrived in our community in Singapore a few days later than my brothers because I was sick and I had to go to the hospital. My life in Singapore was difficult. I challenged myself to survive there because I could not speak English, I could only say these two sentences: “Yes, Father” or “it’s ok. Father” That was really a problem. Now I can speak English, though I know it is not yet as perfect as it should. 

At the beginning of the Novitiate, I received the habit. Then, during the Novitiate, I learned about the life of St. Dominic, the Constitutions of the Order of Preachers, the History of Our Lady of the Rosary Province, etc. I like community life especially in its international setting since there are brothers from different countries. I always feel that the community is like my family. Although we come from so different cultural background, however, we are all brothers and form one family. This is the first time that I have such a feeling in my life. This brotherhood has impressed me very much.

Recently I made my simple profession. I became a Dominican friar. It is the beginning of a new life. As I begin a new stage as a student in Macau, I look forward to all things. I am following the footsteps of St Dominic de Guzman. My journey is not over but just beginning. My story continues. I am walking in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Province of Our Lady of the Rosary

My name is Andre. I was born in Timor Leste, in 1996. I must say that my vocation to the religious life could have its beginning in my first years in school. We were studying Mathematics, basic Physic sciences, Geography, Portuguese and Tetun, which is our national language in the school. We attended also catechetical classes. In the very beginning of my life, my dream was to finish high school and then to pursue further study at the University.

I continued my studying in a junior high school which was supervised by our parish priest nearby my home. Since the school belonged to the diocese every single student had to participate in the activities of the Parish, such as being a member of the choir, an altar boy or joining any of the parish groups. From these activities, I came to know better my parish and became very active in the church, more than ever in my previous life as a young boy. This experience formed me as a person. 

My parish priest sent some of the diocesan brothers to every parish in the diocese to do their pastoral exposure once a month. And I should say that my vocation to become a priest started from here. In fact, I had never thought about my future nor of my religious vocation before. They organized a vocational group and some catechetical classes. They share their experiences as seminarians and many other things about consecrated life. One brother, who was very affable and very close to the young people, organized the youth in my parish and he tried to form a vocational group in my parish. Quite a number of us joined it. 

We agreed to gather together once a month to share experiences and to know one another better, to discussed matters concerning priesthood and, most importantly for me, to learn a little about the consecrated life. During this learning period, I tried my best to be present at every monthly meeting. 

When I was confident enough to decide to continue on this journey of my vocation, I presented myself for the selection of the candidates from our parish for the entrance exam in the minor seminary. We studied as much as we could to be accepted in the minor seminary. As a result, four of us passed the examination.

During those three years, I had to leave my home to live with my aunty because in my hometown there was not a senior high school. While living with her I could only go to see my mother and my brothers once every three or five months. 

The end of my senior high school was near and I did not even have any idea yet about what I was supposed to do afterward, apart from going to the University. It happened that one day a Maryknoll sister started talking about the life of Saint Dominic de Guzman, and the Order of Preachers (OP). As a result, quite a number of us introduced ourselves to her to know more about the Dominicans. As time went by, we manifested our desire to go to the Dominican house in Dili to have some sort of contact with the Dominican friars in order to know better them. 

My blood brothers did not want me to join the Order because they wanted me to study at the University. But the more I knew the OP and the life of the Dominican friars, the stronger was my desire to join them, despite the unwillingness of my family. 

When the time for the admission exam in the Order of Preachers arrived I got a call from my co-candidates inviting me to take the exam. This time also we had to make a great effort because we were around twenty candidates and only five would be accepted. Thanks to God, I was one of them. I was accepted in the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary.

I was very happy but at the same time quite worried because I had to get myself ready to tell the news to my family, which were still a little bit unwilling. Despite it, upon seeing my determination and my readiness for it, they had nothing more to say than to accept my decision.

I am here and now as a Dominican brother. I have decided to give my life to God if such is His plan for me. I say to myself and to Him: “Here I am Lord” (1 Sm 3:4) ...“Use me as a useful instrument of yours.” 

Becoming a religious is an especial call which takes quite a number of years to go. I have been in my religious formation as a Dominican only for three years, first as a postulant, then as a novice, now as a newly professed student. During these three years I have learnt many things related to religious life, such as how to understand what it means to be a religious, how to adjust myself to this way of life (because it is quite hard to change my old lifestyle) and, most importantly, to live it and make it as a part of my life. Of course, things are not easy from the very first stage! 

Province of Our Lady of the Rosary

My name is Bro. Richardger Ávila. I was born into a Catholic family and I had my mother and grandmother as my first teachers in the faith. I was baptized and I made my First Communion at 12 years of age; one year later, I was Confirmed. Then, without knowing when and how it happened, I started to get away from the Church.

I remember that from an early age I dreamed of being a soldier, I was convinced that in the armed forces they would have everything I needed; honestly, never before passed through my mind the idea of becoming a priest or a religious.

Upon completing my Bachelor’s studies I started making arrangements to enter the military school; for it, I worked in several jobs and offices, among them in a service station or gas station. The purpose of working and earning some money was in order to cover the expenses for the admission exams. I was 17 years old at the time and something unexpected happened: my brother suffered a very serious accident in which he almost lost his life, and I found myself in the need to continue working to help my family. That prevented me from taking the entrance exams in the Armed Forces. Without realizing it, three years of hard work passed.

On one occasion a co-worker asked me a question: Are you going to church? To which I replied: I do not have time because I work. He, in turn, replied: If you do not have time for God, how will you later demand from Him time to listen to you when you ask for something? His words kept resounding in my mind. I began to think about my relationship with God, my faith and my baptism. Then I understood that being a Catholic was not a matter of relating to God in my own way. And I decided to return home and made also the decision to return to God’s path. I felt the need to change my lifestyle as I was living without Him, I had attitudes that were not properly Christian and I did not want to live that way anymore.

How did God call me?

I made the decision to make room for God in each of my decisions and I began to participate more and more in the things of God. I started going to Mass on Sundays. Months later I got involved in the activities of my parish as an auxiliary catechist: this pastoral exposure helped me reaffirm my knowledge and teach others. At that time I moved to another working place and I began to study law at the University; I made new friends, I participated in a youth group of the parish, and I joined the group of acolytes. Day by day my life was moving toward new horizons.

Performing this pastoral work in the Church, I discovered my vocation to the priesthood. At first, I was scared by so many doubts. In addition to them, there were my past, my mistakes, and my uncontrolled life. I thought that those people called by God for the priesthood were called in a mystical manner, and I was convinced that in order to be a priest one had to be a saint from birth. Shortly after giving me the opportunity to follow that vocational concern that had arisen, I understood that “God chose the lowest and most despised, and that which is nothing to nullify what is, so that no one can boast in his presence” (1 Cor 1: 28-29).

A Diocesan priest guided and encouraged me to meet the Order of Preachers. And I started this journey by taking a risk and trying to discover whether it is for this that God called me. And so far I firmly believe that God has called me to fight other wars with other weapons and without violence. I can describe my life as exciting because I have experienced both difficult and good times, and I have never stopped being happy.