Gerson Badayos
One day I watched a video of Pope Francis about vocation. I cannot exactly recall what he said, but what I remembered was, “If you have that sense of the vocation, cultivate that, it’s actually God himself who puts that in your heart”. It struck me… After watching it, I started searching…
Gerson is from the Philippines. He spent a year in Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, and started his seminary formation in February 2021.
Emilio Capin
Somehow, I felt there was an emptiness in me that could not be filled by obtaining a degree, or finding a good job. I was involved in many ministries in my parish, but this too was not enough….
Emilio is from the Philippines. He spent a year in Wellington South Parish, and started his seminary formation in February 2020.
Kinh Nguyen
My cousin, a religious priest, asked me – ‘would you like to become a priest?’ I said no, because I didn’t think I was intelligent or worthy enough… Now I know that it is not because I am worthy that God calls me to priesthood, but because of His great love for me.
Kinh is from Vietnam. He arrived in Wellington in 2018 and started seminary formation in February 2019. He is currently on pastoral placement at St Joseph’s Parish, Upper Hutt.
Matthew White
I’ve always had a desire to know more about God and to love Him more. I tried serving God in all sorts of ways – as a high school teacher, in youth groups, as lay pastoral leader – but I always felt there was something more…
Matthew is from Te Ngākau Tapu Parish, Porirua. He is currently on pastoral placement at the Catholic Parish of Otari.