Call to priesthood is one of reconciliation and hope
Fr Paul Nulley
This week, the Catholic Voice will be running a series of articles related to Vocations Week. The following article was written by Parish Priest of St Joseph’s O’Connor, Fr Paul Nulley.
I will never forget the first time I met a victim of clerical sex-abuse. I was a seminarian, working as a prison chaplain.
I met a young man, a few years older than me, whom I went to visit. He explained his story – that he was abused at 11, shortly after that he started using heroin and his life seemed to go downhill from there.
He was coming up for parole and was hopeful to have a new start at life. He had dreams of opening his own bike shop, or at least being able to buy a bike when he got out.
He had been through a Church process which found that he was entitled to compensation. He had made a phone call to the particular office, and when the person on the end of the line did not sound helpful, he said he was scared to continue the process.
I felt many different deep emotions during that time and I was upset with the Church – specifically, that this tragedy of abuse had happened and that there weren’t better processes in place to assist this man get back on his feet.
Remarkably, he said he was not angry at the Church because it was a person who did this to him. At that moment, I felt he had much more faith than me.
Apology
A few years earlier, Pope Benedict XVI had come to Australia for World Youth Day and I remember being interviewed about an apology he was about to make on behalf of the Church to all victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and religious.
At the time I didn’t know why he was apologising – I was incredibly naïve and never imagined it was a problem with the Church that I had grown up with and experienced. In fact, I don’t think I had ever heard much about it when I was growing up.
I am now a Vocations Director and so it might sound unusual that my first article for National Vocations Awareness Week begins with this reflection on my first encounter with a victim of clerical sexual abuse and my initial naivety about this issue when I entered the seminary.
But a call to the priesthood is always heard and understood in the context of a culture and there is no way that the Church in Australia, Post-Royal Commission, can speak about vocations without speaking specifically to this context.
In fact, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse started in 2013, the year I was ordained.
Like every Australian and every Catholic, I could not believe the systemic cover up, the number of Catholics, especially priests and religious who had complaints against them, and what victims subsequently suffered from an Institution that should have had them at the centre.
I wear my clerical collar most of the time and so I get all kinds of reactions – I get it when people are angry and yell at me, even though we’ve never met, because I’ve been angry at what the collar represents for them.
But I’ve also had profound encounters with other people who have seen me in the street or at the shops, who have been deeply impacted by this issue and a simple smile has led into a deep conversation.
Christ is the one who heals and he does so in a very special way through the ministry of priests. It is because I have experienced the peace of Christ, especially through the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, and in quiet prayer, that I can be an instrument of peace, to listen to people share their deep wounds, to share in this in some way and to take these pains to Christ.
At this time of great hurt and division, even within the Church as preparations for the Plenary Council has also revealed, I think the Church needs priests who are people of reconciliation.
I therefore do not find it surprising that the many young men who are discerning vocations have a very personal and profound encounter with Jesus, who not only heals but offers hope.
Mental health
As I was preparing this article I visited the headspace website to discover alarming statistics about the mental wellbeing of TAFE students in Australia:
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide: 35.4 per cent
- Feeling stressed: 83.2 per cent
- Lack of energy or motivation: 82.1 per cent
- Feeling anxious: 79.0 per cent
- Low mood: 75.8 per cent
- Feelings of hopelessness/worthlessness: 59.2 per cent
- Trouble sleeping: 55.6 per cent
- Panic: 52.7 per cent
Pope Francis in his most recent document, Christus Vivit, wrote specifically about vocational discernment:
- A particular form of discernment involves the effort to discover our own vocation. Since this is a very personal decision that others cannot make for us, it requires a certain degree of solitude and silence. “The Lord speaks to us in a variety of ways, at work, through others and at every moment. Yet we simply cannot do without the silence of prolonged prayer, which enables us better to perceive God’s language, to interpret the real meaning of the inspirations we believe we have received, to calm our anxieties and to see the whole of our existence afresh in his own light”.[157]
This is an important passage for any person experiencing hopelessness or despair. God loves you more than you can imagine and He has a plan for your life. This plan will be discovered in silence and prayer.
Perhaps the very hurts in your own life, your own fears and anxieties will be the place where you will experience the transforming love of God and discern his call for your life.
After all, it is only when we experience the peace of Christ in our life, when we experience peace in ourselves that we have any real chance of having peace in our world.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
If you feel the Lord calling you to explore the possibility of the priesthood or consecrated life, or if you would like more information on the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn’s discernment initiatives, please contact our Archdiocesan Vocations Director Fr Paul Nulley: paul.nulley@cg.org.au, or the Assistant Director Fr Trenton van Reesch: or trenton.vanreesch@cg.org.au.
a well written and thought out article Fr Paul. Thanks. And thanks for taking up this wonderful call and doing it well.
Excellent reflection Fr Paul. The way you live your priesthood brings healing to many and helps to restore faith in the future of the Church. Blessings
A great article Fr Paul. Deeply felt and openly shared. Thank you God for providing His church with wonderful priests.
Thank you dear Father Paul! The general public need to see a priest wearing his clerical suit and Roman collar again. If everybody had a chance to see a Priest dressed like a Priest again it would do a great deal of good especially in these days when many people need help, or need to SEE a Priest again. Of course there could be a few people who would insult the Priest, but what did Jesus put up with during his last days? God bless you always!
Well written Father Paul. A prudent and wise piece that most in our Australian Culture could appreciate and respect. I love Saint Paul so I will quote what he wrote in 1Cor 15:58. “Never give in then, my dear brother(s), never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.”
Very well written and thoughtful article. I agree that Priests need to be wearing clerical garb, especially the Roman collar so that people can see that they are still proud to be seen as followers of Christ who loved us so much that He died for us. They need to recognise a cleric especially in times of sadness and torment so that they can see someone to whom they can go and talk, receiving much needed support and comfort, in this way helping them see the Church for what it is, a place of Christian love, support and example of Christ in our community, not a place of sin as it was at times in the past. Thank you Fr. Paul for your dedicated and loving service in God’s vineyard. May you be blessed every day of your Ministry and life.
Fr Paul, thank you for being so open in telling this story as it was obviously recounted to you. Your humility in admitting naivety and in being truthful towards the young man, hopefully did much to strengthen this chaps believe in the goodness of so many young men and priests, and those presenting for priesthood. Please God he has achieved some of his dreams. Sadly we always hear of those who offend, so at this stage may the good Lord continue to strengthen the many good, dedicated and committed priest, and may they continue to be a good example to all. Keep strong and focused in passing on the Lord’s message
Thank you for the words of hope, Fr Paul. As you know, sometimes also in the lay apostolate, we come across our brethren who have been hurt by people in the Church, and some of them want nothing to do with us.
We hope that we can find a way to better serve those who have been abused, so they may know how much we do care about their pain and what they are going through.
Praying to Our Lady for more good priests in our Archdiocese to help lead us in this work of healing.
Anna(a parishioner at St Joseph’s)
Yes, thank God for our good priests. It is a glorious vocation; and we are very very lucky at St Joseph’s O’Connor.
Yes, thank God for our good priests. It is a glorious vocation; and we are very very lucky in St Joseph’s parish, O’Connor.
Thank you Fr Paul Nulley it was a great and interesting piece you have wrote. It really made me think about what is our approach in the church community in supporting those experiencing mental health issues.
A well- written article. To promote vocations , Priests must present themselves as priests. Let us be happy with the fact that many people still value and respect the Roman Collar. All the very best in your endeavours to promote more vocations to your diocese.