Authentic formation is not about limiting freedom but cultivating the ability to make faithful choices through prayer and discernment.
That was one of the powerful and inspiring messages delivered by Auxiliary Bishop Nelson Po in his address to the Catholic Man Breakfast Series facilitated by menALIVE on Thursday 11 June.
Gathered to hear Bishop Nelson’s story – in his own words – the large audience comprised parishioners and supporters from across the Archdiocese, students and staff of Notre Dame University, Aquinas College, Prendiville Catholic College, Sacred Heart College, Seton Catholic College and Trinity College, and a number of special guests including Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey who played an instrumental role in Bishop Po’s decision to pursue his calling and vocation in Perth.
For Bishop Nelson, the foundations of faith were not laid in a Catholic school classroom, but within the home, nurtured by family, community and the witness of a village where “almost everyone was Catholic.”
Reflecting on the influence of his upbringing in the Philippines, where Catholicism was embedded into daily life, he said at the heart of his formation was his grandmother, whom he described as his catechist, teacher and spiritual guide. Her example, together with the faith of his family and wider community, laid the foundation for his vocation.
One of the questions Bishop Nelson is most frequently asked is whether he attended a Catholic school. The answer, he says, often surprises people.
“There was no Catholic school in my village or surrounding area,” he explained. “All my formative years and formal education were in public schools, so I am not a product of a Catholic system.”
With that in mind – but while expressing deep appreciation for the important work of Catholic education – Bishop Nelson said he did not believe that one needs to come from a Catholic school to become a priest.
Similarly, he said, schools should never replace the essential role of parents/family in developing the faith.
“Parents are the first teachers of the child and the first teachers of the faith. Schools are there to assist them,” he suggested.
Relating it back to his on his own experience, he emphasised that the family remains the primary place where faith is nurtured and vocations are born.
“My family was the seedbed of my faith,” he said. “What I am now, I owe to the family that raised me and the village I grew up in. As the well-known phrase goes, it takes a village to raise a child.”
Turning to his arrival in Perth, Bishop Nelson said it was unexpected as heading overseas was “never in my plan.”
After beginning seminary formation with the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, he experienced a period of uncertainty and discernment, questioning the direction of his religious life.
Through a friend with connections to the Archdiocese of Perth however, he was introduced to Perth’s Vocations Director who subsequently recommended him to then-Archbishop Barry Hickey. What followed seemed almost providential.
“My visa application was approved just four days after being lodged in Manila. To me, that was a sign that God was in a hurry to get me to Perth,” he joked.
Arriving at St Charles Seminary in 2003, Bishop Nelson encountered a formation environment unlike any he had previously known. Rather than the restrictions and control as he had experienced in the Philippines, St Charles fostered personal responsibility, freedom and maturity.
“We were treated as mature men who were in charge of our formation,” he recalled.
The experience allowed him to flourish, strengthening his capacity to discern God’s will freely and openly.
For Bishop Nelson, authentic formation is not about limiting freedom but cultivating the ability to make faithful choices through prayer and discernment.
That same spirit of trust and surrender characterised his response to an even more unexpected call – his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Perth.
When the Papal Nuncio contacted him, there was little opportunity for prolonged discernment.
“He didn’t say the Pope was planning to appoint me,” Bishop Nelson said with a smile. “He said the Holy Father has appointed you.”
Reflecting on the announcement, Bishop Nelson admitted he shared the surprise of many.
“Some people might have raised their eyebrows and thought, ‘Why him?’ Don’t worry, I raised my eyebrows too!” he said.
The question, he said, was partly answered in a congratulatory note from a parishioner following his ordination that read, “God does not choose the qualified; He qualifies those He has chosen.”
Paraphrasing the words of an Archbishop in the Philippines, he added, “God’s choice is not about human qualifications, but about His grace. He chose me, not because I am the strongest or the most capable, but because He has a mission to accomplish through my weakness and call. Remember it is God who chooses; and when He chooses, He sustains; and when He sustains, He equips; and when He equips, He strengthens. God’s strength will always be enough.”
Following his address, Bishop Nelson fielded questions from the floor about a range of topics including the process of becoming a bishop; his top three inspirations to help face the challenges of life; his background as an engineer and how he has applied that to his vocation; grappling with and strengthening personal faith; finding time for prayer; his hopes for his legacy as a bishop; and synodality in the Church.
menALIVE is a national Catholic ministry which aims to bring men together to enjoy fellowship, strenghten their faith in God, and encourage them to become active participants in the renewal of their marriages, families, the church and the world. To learn more, visit https://menalive.org.au/