Recently ordained Fr Josh Whicker MGL reflects on his time in the seminary
HOW LONG WERE YOU IN FORMATION IN THE SEMINARY?
I was in formation for eight years - two years in Canberra and six in our Melbourne house of studies.
WHY DOES IT TAKE EIGHT YEARS?
The eight or nine years of formation to become an MGL priest seems like a long time, but it flies by! Our first two years - called the pre novitiate and novitiate - are a time to learn about the MGL way of life, deepen in our relationship with Jesus
WHAT DID YOU STUDY EXACTLY? WHAT SUBJECTS AND AREAS OF TRAINING DID YOU COVER?
In priestly formation we talk about four primary areas that we focus on - spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral/missionary formation. We study these things in various ways; theological and philosophical study through Catholic Theological College, in-house formation, mentoring and pastoral care from MGL priests, as well as lots of mission and ministerial experience!
HOW DID THE FORMATION PREPARE YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING NOW?
My time in formation helped me come to know
in a deep way what it means to be a Missionary of God’s Love, to encounter this love for me in a personal way, and it also helped me to - in my own broken way - share that love with others through my consecration and through the priesthood.
SPECIFICALLY, HOW DID YOUR TRAINING PREPARE YOU TO MINISTER TO AND CARE FOR PEOPLE?
We spent lots of time learning how to be with, listen to, and reach out to people, especially the poor, the young, and the marginalised. Far from being walking textbooks or sacrament dispensers, to be a missionary of God’s Love is to have encountered this love and to then minister that same love to others in the way we sit with people, listen to them, care for them, and lay our lives down for them.
We don’t do that perfectly, but by God’s mercy and grace he touches people through our humble efforts.
AS A PRIEST, IS THERE AN ASPECT OF YOUR WORK THAT YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOY? DID YOUR FORMATION PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN PREPARING YOU FOR THIS?
I particularly love working with our young people! Formation provided me with lots of opportunities to work with young people as well as learning the underlying theology of mission and youth ministry which has enabled me to step into this area in a deeper way in the early days of my priesthood.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY OF YOUR TIME IN FORMATION?
My favourite memories were always the ones spending time with my brothers, particularly when we stepped out into ministry together!
Fr Josh Whicker MGL
Journey to the Priesthood | A Journey of Discernment
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