Call Waiting
I am 24 years of age and from Galway. I joined the executive of 'Vocations Ireland' last November. This is my vocation story...
I considered a number of careers as I moved through secondary school in St. Joseph's Patrician College, Galway. One such career was law. I have always been interested in areas such as social justice. Music studies was another option, I come from a musical family and I play a few instruments, including piano and violin. I also considered lan-guages. Alongside these was another voice which ebbed and flowed, sometimes strong, sometimes less so. It seemed to be calling me to religious life. I was a mass server when I was a child and come from a family where prayer is important. The Redemptorists visited the parish on a mission and that experience was another influence. I had one or two close friends that I confided in and they helped me tease things out at a deeper level. I sat the leaving cert in 1997 and enrolled in NUI, Galway, that year. I attained a Bachelor of Corporate Law and LL.B. I enjoyed College life and made the most of it. During the student sum-mers I worked in a drugs project in Dublin. I studied and worked in Paris and for a voluntary organisation in Haiti. Throughout my college years the desire for religious life was at times strong but then it waned and moved into the back-ground. I was confused by this. Sometimes I wished it would go away for good, but at other times I was glad it was there. It gave me a sense of direction for my life which some of my friends did not seem to have. Then, towards the end of the time at university I began to realise what I wanted. I thought to myself if you are mature enough for other things, why not for religious life ? I asked myself why are you not responding to the call in your heart? When I made the decision, I felt a great burden lifting off me.
In August 2001, I joined the Redemptorists. I told my parents about it two weeks beforehand. They never put any shackles on me as to what I should or should not do but as you can imagine it was a surprise for them ! They were very supportive. Mum would have had an inkling years ago, and then saw me going to university. For Dad it was a nice surprise.
I have two years completed with the Redemptorists and in August 2003 I will enter the novitiate in Dundalk. Three other men joined with me and the four of us will be entering the noviatiate together. My training with the Redemptorists up until now has included studying philosophy and being involved in various pastoral work commitments as well as living in community with other Redemptorists. The last two years have provided many challenges but have also given me a deep con-tentment. I am very happy with my time so far and 1 look forward to what God has in store for me
