Camellias in Jeju are famous for their beauty. Photo: Fr. Shim Hong Seok (Ambrosio)
I served as an assistant priest at a parish on Jeju Island for seven months. Jeju Diocese holds a vocation gathering called "SPES school", and all assistant priests in Jeju should accompany youths from their parishes. The distinctive feature of SPES school is promoting all vocations, not just diocesan priesthood. Its goal is to guide our young disciples to listen to God's calling and respond. By accompanying youths from my parish, I could listen to their stories, glimpse their world, and share my experience.
One day, a student from my parish asked to speak with me. He said he had become interested in the Columban vocation through my sharing at SPES school and was inspired by my homilies, in which I mentioned my vocation.
I was surprised because I did not expect a Columban vocation, nor did I actively promote it. Now, the first person to tell me that my sharing encouraged his vocation has appeared. Through this sudden encounter, I came to look back on my vocation journey.
There were always people who shared their stories and inspired me. At first, I decided to find my way after hearing a postulant from the Capuchin friars share. I also became interested in becoming a missionary through the sharings of fellow Columbans Fr. Kim Jong Geun Domingo and Fr. Lee Jehoon Augustine. I had not known the Columbans before. Of course, my Columban grandfathers' lives as missionaries here in Korea have given momentum to my missionary vocation. My Columban vocation owes a great deal to the sharings of many people.
However, sharing our own story is dangerous. According to relationship wisdom, sharing our personal story gives an adversary an opportunity to offend us. Our weaknesses, issues, wounds and shadows, included in our story, are easily used to strike us ruthlessly. This is true. When I shared my sincere and precious story, I frequently had to deal with someone who trampled on it. Once you taste this hemlock, you never want to share a personal video or article. However, if, right there, where a smell of death hovers, a field of fresh flowers can bloom, it is worth the bet.
Columban Fr. Shim Hong Seok (Ambrosio) works in Korea.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
- Embracing the Columban Vocation & Mission - Ambrosio Shim Hong-Seok
