If there is one thing that binds newly-ordained diocesan priests Carmine-John (CJ) Millen, Marlon Henao-Perez, Alexis Vega-Osorio and Noe Navarrete-Apaez, it is the sense that God has been a faithful guide throughout the years of their priestly formation.
Despite having arrived to last week’s ordination from very different walks of life, the four young men shared a deep sense of gratitude towards both God and the people who helped them in their journey to the priesthood.
“At a certain stage of my youth, I felt that there was more to life, and that God was calling me beyond what I was doing,” said 31-year-old Fr CJ Millen, who received his priestly formation at St Charles’ Seminary, Guildford.
“I went to see a priest and, after having heard my experience, he bravely told me that I had been summoned to a call. ‘Many are called, few are chosen,’ he said to me. I was left with my mouth wide open and I began to think of my future life.”
Born in Kalgoorlie, WA, Fr CJ lived his childhood on the move around the West Australian countryside before attending St Norbert’s College in Queens Park, Perth.
After having completing his studies at TAFE, followed by a Bachelor of Education from Notre Dame and Edith Cowan Universities, Fr CJ says it was then that he felt his calling had grown to a point where it could no longer be ignored.
His decision to seek more serious spiritual direction both confirmed his call and raised a number of fears regarding what was to come.
“When you grow up in Australia, healthy development basically means you get married, have children and dream of the house with the white picket fence, and it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that perhaps that was not going to be my life.
“After going to St Charles’ on a few enquiry days, I was asked to ‘dip my foot in the water to try it’ and, if I liked it, I could try going in completely.”
A similar pivotal moment took place for 27-year-old Fr Marlon Henao-Perez, who confirmed his call to the priesthood in 2005 at a local pilgrimage in Colombia organised by the founders of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello, Carmen Hernandez and Fr Mario Pezzi.
“The call was maturing within me, but it was confirmed at this pilgrimage. Soon after this event I joined a pre-vocational group in order to better discern my call. I later entered into the seminary,” Fr Marlon said.
Fr Marlon arrived to Perth in 2006 and began his formative years at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. He went on to speak about the passing away of his father four years later, which became the most difficult moment of his vocation, as well as the turning point.
“In 2010, I travelled back to Colombia for the funeral [of my father]. Only then did I realise how dependant I was on my family,” Fr Marlon said.
“But this event was a turning point because, although I struggled to come back to Australia, I obeyed my Rectors, completed my studies and, thanks to that obedience, I am here today. I matured and discovered that I could follow Christ unconditionally, and the Lord has given me back a lot.”
Equally inspiring testimonies were given by Fr Noe Navarrete-Apaez, originally from Mexico and Fr Alexis Vega-Osorio, originally from Colombia, both 27 years of age.
Having initially felt called to the priesthood in Mexico, Fr Noe arrived at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Perth in 2006 and spent three years of pastoral experience in Papua New Guinea.
Fr Noe says it was in Papua New Guinea that God cultivated his vocation and confirmed his call to the priesthood.
“Seeing the simplicity and dignity of the lifestyle these people lived helped me to reconcile with who I was and to recognise that God had chosen me for the priesthood, together with my history and my past.
“This was a true turning point of my vocation for me,” Fr Noe said.
The second of seven children, Fr Alexis Vega-Osorio entered the seminary at the age of 18 after feeling unfulfilled by what he saw as a life devoid of any meaning.
“I looked for a sense, a meaning to my life throughout my teenage years; I sought it in my studies, in my friends, in a possible career, but could not find it. At a certain point I felt that perhaps the Lord was calling me to the priesthood,” Fr Alexis said.
Fr Alexis was among hundreds who said “yes” at a vocational meeting held in Colombia in 2005 and now finds himself at the dawn of a new journey as a priest. He recalls the year of pastoral service spent in Israel as perhaps the most powerful moment of his priestly formation.
“There have been various circumstances in which God has confirmed my vocation over these nine years.
“But one of the most important of these was the time I spent in Israel, in 2009. I saw and felt the love of God there, because the image I had of myself and who I wanted to be at that time was somewhat shattered, and a new one was being rebuilt.”
Looking ahead at their future pastoral work, including the challenges which it will bring, the four newly-ordained priests shared thoughts on their ministry.
“Mary MacKillop says ‘never see a need without doing something about it’,” said Father CJ Millen.
“This relates to my own story. I feel that I am here to make the world a better place, and to help others so that they can see both the light of Christ and make the world a better place too. This world is a difficult place in which many evil things take place; sometimes my presence in someone’s life can make the difference between them walking off the edge of a cliff or coming towards God,” he added.
For Fr Marlon, the power of one’s own life experience can be the most useful starting point in bringing people to the Church.
“The challenge is to bring the good news to the people – old and young. Certainly, being young priests gives us a better understanding of the challenges facing the youth today. It also gives us an insight into how they see the Church. But the Gospel also needs to be brought to adults, to the elderly, and to those who are far from the Church.
“How do I reach these people? I have a strong experience of the love of God in my life. This, I believe, is a good starting point,” Fr Marlon said.
Dwelling on the same issue, Fr Alexis sees the task of convincing people of the goodness of God as the focal point of his ministry.
“For me, the challenge is not just how to bring people to God, but to transmit the faith to them so they may have a better understanding of what God gives. God does not take anything away from us, He only gives.”
Lastly, Fr Noe pointed to Pope Francis, asserting that there could be no better shepherd for the Church in the 21st century.
“To quote the Pope, the challenge for our times is arriving to the peripheries of society, there where Christ is not known, or has been forgotten. Wherever there is a need for a priest, I am ready to go. My history can be helpful in this mission because I can see that through my suffering and difficulties, I am able to help people,” Fr Noe said.
The four young men were ordained by Archbishop Tim Costelloe on Friday, 20 March 2015 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth.