Did you have a calling?
Yes, looking back I would be able to say that there have been a series of callings in my life. The callings are still continuing. I have to look back to recognize them. I would say that when I talk about callings, as I reflect back and think about incidents or situations in my life, there are moments when I feel that's more than just me thinking that. When I was about seven, my father had already come to England, now this is as a child, but when I was reflecting on it I was thinking I used to go to the cathedral where we lived nearby, and I always have this image of Jesus going to his father in heaven. As a child I used to say, "if you're going to your father, take me to mine." God took advantage of that child's request who wanted to join the priesthood at the time. There's been other people. When I came to London I struggled with my English. There was a Sister Mary Leticia in my school which I attended in London who encouraged me to make the mistakes and to learn from it, and not to shy away from what I was thinking because I was finding it difficult to articulate it in English. She actually gave me confidence, and the image I would have is that she made me feel that there was nothing impossible for me to do. When I look back now, when you look at the message of God, the angel Gabriel with Mary says to her that there is nothing impossible for God. She was encouraging me to trust and helping me to look beyond my own limits of 'I can't speak English therefore I'm not going to get involved'. I used to really withdraw because of the way I struggled with it, and she has helped me. When I look back, there's a sense in which what she has done for me I want to do for others, and she's religious herself. The Oblates I was with, they also were religious and they helped me achieve my potential. They said "Oh, you can't do that, you can't do this." Everything was open, everything was welcoming, everything was about giving it a try. They're parts of the call, people who have inspired me, and people who have said you should think about this, and that in itself is God calling you, when someone comes to you and says to you, "I've seen you for a long time, and I think you have qualities that will be excellent. Have you ever thought of being a priest? Have you ever thought of giving your life in mission?"
