To the young people discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, be patient and open to God’s voice. Take time always to pray, reflect and ask the Lord for His will to be done on your life. Seek advice by asking questions of the learned, priests and your academic mentors. Religious life is a journey of love. Respond with courage and faith. Face challenges as part of your self-formation to serve God and others with deep joy and fulfilment of heart, one of Perth’s newest Deacons, Br Kenneth Torogori O Praem has said.
In an exclusive interview with The Record following his ordination to the (Transitional) Diaconate, Deacon Kenneth revealed his faith was shaped by the influence of his family’s strong Catholic values.
His mother was a devoted member of the Legion of Mary, while his father was a special minister of the Eucharist for the sick and elderly.
“I grew up in a devout household where prayer and Church life were part of our daily routine,” he recalled.
“Each morning, my mother led us in the Rosary before school, and we gathered for prayers every evening. I began serving as an altar boy, where I learned the beauty of the liturgy firsthand. Growing up in this environment, surrounded by their faith and service, nurtured my own devotion and laid the foundation for my spiritual life since childhood,” he added.
It was during his time as a diocesan seminarian in Papua New Guinea and his studies of monasticism and the canonical way of life that Deacon Kenneth first began to feel called and drawn to the religious path.
“While I valued the diocesan path, I found myself increasingly attracted to a life lived in community rather than a more individual form of ministry,” he said.
“Through prayer and discernment, I came to appreciate the spirituality of the Norbertines, particularly their balance of canonical and monastic life rooted in the Rule of Saint Augustine. This way of life, with its strong emphasis on community, common prayer, and shared mission, resonated deeply with my own desire to serve God.”
As his desire to live a community-centred religious life in the Norbertine tradition grew, Deacon Kenneth realised he would need to leave Papua New Guinea to fulfil his chosen ministry. It was then he made the decision to come to Australia and join the Queens Park community.
“I joined the Norbertine community on 17 December 2015 and started my formation program as a postulant,” he recalled.
He subsequently became a novice on 3 March 2016, committed to the simple profession of religious vows on 5 May 2018, the solemn vows as a full member of the Queens Park Norbertine community on 14 November 2021, and was ordained to the Ministry of the Diaconate on 7 February this year.
“The transition from Papua New Guinea to Australia was both challenging and deeply formative,” he said.
“Adopting to a new culture, improving my English, meeting immigration requirements, and undertaking further studies in theology and philosophy at Notre Dame University while also meeting the demands of religious formation were just some of the challenges.
“Yet through such very challenging moments in the journey, I have broadened my understanding of the universal Church and life within the Norbertine Community. This has strengthened and confirmed my vocation to the religious life that has its foundations in prayer, community and service.”
Reflecting on some of the more meaningful experiences during his formation, Deacon Kenneth said the opportunity to live within the Norbertine community allowed him to grow in fraternity, learning the importance of shared prayer, mutual support, and common mission. Participating daily in the Eucharist and the Divine Office, he said, also deepened his spirituality and strengthened his appreciation for the Church’s liturgical tradition.
“At the same time, my studies in theology and philosophy have helped me better understand and articulate the faith, connecting intellectual formation with spiritual growth. Moments of pastoral service, especially assisting in the liturgy and engaging with the faithful, have also been significant, as they have allowed me to experience the joy of serving others,” he added.
As a member of the Norbertine community, Deacon Kenneth also supports the faith formation of the young people of St Norbert’s College and is actively involved in the St Joseph’s Church community through the celebration of the Eucharist and liturgy, catechumenate programmes and visiting the sick and the elderly.
“Collectively, all these experiences have shaped and have been a profound preparation for my ordination to the priestly ministry,” he said.