I was attending a "Collaborative Ministry" seminar which took up two evenings and two full days on Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, I attended the anticipatory mass on Saturday. It was Vocation Sunday. Fr. Milanese invited Brien Wong to share with us his vocation journey.
Brien entered the Seminary last September. We were colleagues in La Salle for a couple of years. Then I quitted and joined Shung Tak until now. We keep in contact with each other and I am honoured to be the sponsor of his baptism. Both of us grow spiritually in La Salle through leading religious activities for the students. This is the education philosophy of the La Salle Brothers. They dedicate their life for the Christian formation of students as well as teachers. St. John Baptist de La Salle. Pray for us.
Brien is a faithful Catholic. He further equipped himself by studying in the Catechical course offered by the Diocese. Then he conducts catechumen classes as an instructor in our parish. Like most Catholics, Brien prays for priestly vocation but does not think it has anything to do with him.
One day, a La Salle boy told him that he wanted to become a priest. Of course, Brien supported and encouraged him and promised to pray for him. He did not think about his own vocation.
In another occasion, Brien participated in the celebration for the Golden Anniversary of perpetual profession of a nun. He saw that most of the nuns and the priests were very old. He deeply felt that the Church was badly in need of new blood. The seed of vocation was imperceptibly embedded in his mind.
Some time later, another La Salle boy came to him and confided that he also wanted to become a priest. Naturally, he encouraged him and promised to pray for him. Suddenly, he faintly heard a voice saying, "What about you?" Then he began to think about his own vocation more seriously. He searched the Internet and found the Diocesan Vocations Commission. Then he sent an email to them, expressing his wish to explore more about his own vocation. But he did not hear from them for a long time.
One day, La Salle informed him that he was promoted to the panel chair of Chinese History. On the same day, he received a call from Sr. Louise Lam, FDCC of the Commission. They preferred personal contact to electronic communications.
Brien began his exploration of vocation. He had little difficulty in giving up his teaching job. The harder part is the family. His mother is a Catholic but no longer practises. His father is a traditional Chinese. Family opposition was not too steep. The hardest part is rather his emotional attachment to his parents. The day he packed his luggage and bade goodbye to his parents, Brien had a tearful embrace with his mother. He wept all the way on the bus heading to the Seminary.
One day, a La Salle boy told him that he wanted to become a priest. Of course, Brien supported and encouraged him and promised to pray for him. He did not think about his own vocation.
In another occasion, Brien participated in the celebration for the Golden Anniversary of perpetual profession of a nun. He saw that most of the nuns and the priests were very old. He deeply felt that the Church was badly in need of new blood. The seed of vocation was imperceptibly embedded in his mind.
Some time later, another La Salle boy came to him and confided that he also wanted to become a priest. Naturally, he encouraged him and promised to pray for him. Suddenly, he faintly heard a voice saying, "What about you?" Then he began to think about his own vocation more seriously. He searched the Internet and found the Diocesan Vocations Commission. Then he sent an email to them, expressing his wish to explore more about his own vocation. But he did not hear from them for a long time.
One day, La Salle informed him that he was promoted to the panel chair of Chinese History. On the same day, he received a call from Sr. Louise Lam, FDCC of the Commission. They preferred personal contact to electronic communications.
Brien began his exploration of vocation. He had little difficulty in giving up his teaching job. The harder part is the family. His mother is a Catholic but no longer practises. His father is a traditional Chinese. Family opposition was not too steep. The hardest part is rather his emotional attachment to his parents. The day he packed his luggage and bade goodbye to his parents, Brien had a tearful embrace with his mother. He wept all the way on the bus heading to the Seminary.
Brien entrusts his parents in the hand of God. He is sure that God will take care of them better than he is able to do. At the moment, he is undergoing preparatory training with the priests in the morning. He has to manage his own time in the afternoon, praying and studying. He has adapted well and his spirit is gaining strength. I wish I could have more opportunities to share with him.
Dear Lord, I pray for Brien and myself. We have taken the first step to respond to Your call. Guide us gently on this path. Amen.
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