On the anniversary of his priesthood, Fr Ken reflects on his journey with the Lord

"I am so grateful for the many blessings the Lord has poured upon me in the last 50 years, and how he has used me to touch the lives of others."

My original call started seven years before ordination. I was a science student at Sydney University when I received an unexpected calling, somewhat out of the blue.

Inspired by a book I read about a missionary priest, I found myself before the statue of Our Lady in the Church at Ashfield, seeking confirmation that my life was to be given to God in this way. The next day I was before the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, and after disclosing my secret to my surprised Mum and Dad, I was in the Seminary within a week. By God’s grace I never looked back.

Ordained in 1974, I started ministry at Cootamundra. After a couple of years the Archbishop sent me to the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. But it was only after returning to Australia four years later that I fell in with some young people who had experienced the charismatic renewal and I opened my heart to a new Pentecost experience which we call the “baptism in the Spirit”.

This is what Pope Francis calls a “current of grace for the whole Church”. Under this grace I was quickly drawn into the Disciples of Jesus covenant community in Canberra (then called Hephzibah). My priesthood was taking a whole new shape – charismatic in expression, sharing a common way of life with lay people, focussed on Spirit-filled youth ministry, and with a deep desire to follow Jesus radically.

From this lay community three young men presented themselves to me as candidates for priesthood. What were we to do? Well, we prayed for a year and during that time we felt the Lord calling us to follow him radically by giving everything to the poor and trusting in his providence.

We were to seek to live the gospel radically and from that base proclaim the good news of Jesus to all who do not yet know the love of God. Thus was born the Missionaries of Gods Love. Soon we were joined by Sr Patti Jo, who had been a Franciscan Missionary of Mary, and now we had a small brotherhood and sisterhood developing, all in the context of the Disciples of Jesus Community. Since then so much has happened. As you know we have close to 40 ordained priests and the same number again in preparation for consecrated life and priesthood, as well as 20 or so sisters all moving under this grace. How could I have expected this to happen? It is all the work of the Lord, and I have often prayed that I would not spoil the work of the Lord through my own self-centredness or stubbornness of heart.

The word that I took as a sort of “motto” for my priesthood was from St Paul, “We are only the earthenware jars which hold this treasure to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us” (2 Cor 4:7). That’s how I feel about it all. We are but fragile vessels, but we hold the treasure, who is Christ, within us; and it is out task simply to share this beautiful treasure, which is the love of God revealed in Christ, to as many people as possible.

“That’s how I feel about it all. We are but fragile vessels, but we hold the treasure, who is Christ, within us.”

Thanks for your prayers for the MGL at this time. Pray that we may remain faithful to our calling. Thanks for your prayers for me on this significant anniversary. Pray that I will persevere in this grace, and keep my heart set upon Jesus as my lasting treasure; that he may be glorified in all we say and do.

WATCH Fr Ken’s anniversary homily here