Postcard from Hong Kong (Part 3)

Br Karl Emerick is living in Hong Kong as part of a year-long novitiate with the Order. The Queensland man sheds some light on what the first six months of his experience has entailed in Queensland’s Catholic Leader. This is part three of three.

While living with family I have experienced the logistical nightmare it is to arrange to take four children, under 10, out for the day, food, change of clothes, nappies and on and on, also the experience of a small child only wanting you to comfort them when upset, the trust they have that you will always be there for them and be able to solve their problems.

So I believe that these experiences have helped me understand what I am giving up to enter into religious life, it has also assisted me in understanding why as a Catholic priest it would be very difficult to be married.

As a husband and father, I would want to dedicate as much time as I could to my family, to be with them and watch them grow and experience life, and this would conflict with what I would be called to do as a priest.

I know everyone has a job and at times must decide between work and family, however as Presbyterorum Ordinis states, “since every priest in his own way assumes the person of Christ he is endowed with a special grace. By this grace the priest, through his service of the people committed to his care and all the People of God, is able the better to pursue the perfection of Christ”

January 1, 2008 was the six-month mark of the novitiate.

In early June, my fellow novices and I will have to make a decision about whether or not we wish to apply to be accepted into simple vows with the order, then the community here will vote on how suitable they think we are to join the order.

All going well we should make our profession in late June or early July, and Br Thomas and I will then come back to Australia to continue our studies in Melbourne, continue our formation in the Dominican Order and attend World Youth Day in Sydney.