So, It's been a little while since my last post, so I thought I had better end your suspense!
You know that feeling when you've just bought the latest CD, IPod or gadget, and you really want to hurry up and get home to try it out, and every little hindrance annoys the heck out of you?...
That was me after I left that Vocations Expo with a bag full of Pamphlets and prayer cards. I wanted to race home on the train, back to Liverpool, lock myself away like a hermit and look up these websites!
When I did eventually reach home, I high tailed it straight to my room, and flipped open my laptop. With all this anticipation building up I stumbled over my keyboard as I typed in my first address.
http://www.patricianbrothers.com/ [I know, mad subliminal message right?]
With my slow paced Internet connection, the page finally loaded, and I was greeted with!....
.... a basic, slightly out of date home screen ....
I was slightly taken aback by this. I was one who liked searching the web and getting all my information off flashy websites; Normally if I had come across a page like this, I would have clicked 'BACK' and looked for something else. But I knew there was something here.
As I poked my way around the website, I realised that there was actually quite a lot of content; lots of articles and photos, and seeing these Brothers in their long white/black 'things' with a green sash made it very exciting to think "I wonder what they are like in real life?"
I read a lot about their history, and it related to a lot of things that I had learnt at school but had never paid attention to. I saw their 'Necrology' page with all their deceased Brothers, and their long funny sounding names. I looked at the maps of where the Brothers were around the world, and was surprised to find it wasn't just Ireland and Australia, but P&G, America, India, Kenya and Ghana too!
Eventually I reached the 'Vocations' page, and in it was written a few paragraphs, but didn't really tell me what the process of actually becoming a brother was, but it did give me some contact details and after a little deliberation, I decided to send an email to the Brother who's info was given on the page.
... 5 days later, and still no response... didn't these Brothers take time off from prayer and teaching to check email?...
Each day, I'd go back to the website, and find some new information or article that intrigued me. Eventually I stumbled onto another website that gave me more information about different vocations and religious orders.
http://www.catholicozvocations.org.au/
By reading through this site, it allowed for me to really understand a little better what exactly a Religious Brother was, and most importantly, the CORRECT contact details for the Patrician Brothers.
Round 2...
So I contacted Br. John Verhoeven, the CURRENT Vocations Director for the Patrician Brothers (as opposed to Br. Paul who's name was on the website and was then serving in P&G, and who hadn't used that email address for years!). I wrote a long winded email to him, saying who I was, what I was doing and what I felt in my heart; that I really think I am being called to be a Patrician Brother.
The next day, Br. John replied to my message, but it wasn't really what I wanted to hear.
something along the lines of:
"Dear Luke, thank you for your inquiry, we would love to get to know you better, but at present we are celebrating our Bicentenary and are engaged in WYD activities. We apologize for this, and will contact you back as soon as things die down".
waiting.. waiting... waiting...
FINALLY, I received a message from Br. John, and over the next little while we kept correspondence through email, until we eventually decided it was time that we had a face to face meeting at a place that I saw fit. I decided to hold our first meeting at the Liverpool All Saints Presbytery, where I knew people were around, and the refreshments were free.
As I waited for Br. John to arrive, all these scenarios started playing through my mind; "what if he thinks I'm not capable?", "what if I'm not smart enough to be a Brother?", "I wonder if he'll wear his white/black 'thingy'?".
When Br. John came to the door, he looked like any other person; glasses, woolen vest, green shirt, grey pants and leather shoes, holding a brief case. Turns out that Br. John is a very down to earth guy, who loves movies as much as I do, and even made the 'Star Wars' reference to my name... like so many others...
He wasn't nearly as scary as I thought he would be, and we had a great first conversation and discussion about my vocation. We discussed more about who the Brothers actually were and what they did, and what I was hoping to do with myself.
After the meeting, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I left with a feeling of complete excitement and enthusiasm. If you had asked me five years ago if I would ever consider becoming a Patrician Brother i would probably have just looked at you strangely, because I didn't know what that was, and after having it explained, walk off and laugh myself to death. But now, now I was on fire with the Holy Spirit. I felt so alive, like someone had breathed new life into me. Br. John advised me that I should really tell my Mum and Dad, so at leased they would know what I was thinking, and where I was going all the time for secret meetings.
One evening, when Mum and myself were the last ones awake, I asked her to come sit down, because I had something I wanted to share with her. In the past, this normally meant something bad, but I said to her something like: "Mum, you know how involved I've been with Antioch and Church and stuff?.. well, during World Youth Day, I had such an amazing experience, and It made me think of so many great things, and It's led me to think that God might be calling me to be a Religious Brother...". She really was taken by surprise, and questioned me, 'how do you know?', 'Why a Brother, not a Priest?', 'you know it's going to be hard?', etc. I filled her in on what I had been up to, and answered all her questions. I didn't quite know how to tell dad, as we had never really had a very deep conversation, let alone one about religion. So Mum broke it to him, and he was very accepting of my decision and supported me 100%.
After some a few more meetings at Liverpool, Br. John asked if I was interested in coming along to a Patrician Bicentenary Dinner at the Liverpool Catholic Club. I jumped at the opportunity! ... but wait... it's going to be me, alone, in a massive room full of people who I didn't know. For those of you who knew me well back then, I had a hard time just going to the supermarket alone... let alone have to make conversation with strangers!
When the evening came, I was SO nervous. Br. John came to my front door, and off we went in his car. On the way, we chatted about random things and made good conversation. I asked a lot of questions about who would be there?, what exactly was it about?, what do I have to do?, but he just said to be myself and enjoy the evening, and that It is a great chance for me to meet all the Brothers and their Affiliates.
When I walked into the Ball Room, the place was packed with people, and surprisingly I recognised a few of my old teachers and Principal, and a few people from my parish. Br. John introduced me to many people, most of whom had heard about me...(was that a good thing?)... and were happy that I could come along. I met most, if not all of the Brothers who were present, and they each greeted me with firm handshakes, and a warm Irish welcome (some, not so Irish).
The evening was great, and I did come out of my shell a lot. The people at my table were great conversationalists, and had a lot to ask this young person who was thinking of joining the Brothers.
I left feeling relieved, and happy knowing that this journey was beginning, slowly but steady.
And so this concludes Part 2 of my story. I hope you have been enjoying it thus far, and be sure to tune in next time when I continue the Journey; talking about my first time visiting monasteries and coping with telling friends and family about "this".
Thanks for reading!
God Bless!
Postulant Luke.
p.s. The Patrician Website is a lote more up to date now! Check it out!
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