FATHER MICHAEL ARRO: Farmer“I SUPPOSE I would have been a farmer in France. Well, I’ve always been in the countryside, being with animals, always admired the fertility of plants. I would’ve enjoyed being a farmer.
“But I have no regrets because I’m perfectly happy in my priesthood. You have to make a choice. You cannot have one foot here and there. Besides, it’s like the parable of the sower and talents – farmers are essentially sowers too.”
FATHER ANTHONY HUTJES: Professor in Dutch linguistics and literature
“I WOULD MOST probably have been a teacher/professor in Dutch linguistics and literature, for that would have been in line with my original, academic qualifications.
“I have no regrets about my decision to become a priest, because I have never been able to think of any better purpose for my life than to spend it in the service of Christ and His Church. That is also my personal definition of the role of a priest, i.e. to be a representative, exclusively and totally dedicated to the service of Christ and His Church.”
FATHER HENRY SIEW: Teacher or doctor
“I THOUGHT OF becoming a teacher, and also a doctor. The desire to become a doctor was more idealistic. I considered that a doctor would save lives, and that was what I wanted to do. On hindsight, if I did not become a priest, being a teacher would be a better way than being a doctor to utilise my gifts. I have the ability to explain difficult things in simple terms, and I have the interest to teach and write. Teaching will also enable me to realise my goal of serving people, which, in education, would be the formation of the young.
“Becoming a priest was my final choice, a response to God’s calling to be a pastor to His people. Being a priest actually combines my desires of saving and teaching. As a priest, I can help to enrich the lives of many, and not just their physical life, but their life holistically, which includes the spiritual aspect. I have many opportunities to use my teaching talent to educate both the young and the old, through my homilies, talks and retreats, and also to lecture at the major seminary. Besides, ministering of the sacraments and giving personal pastoral care go beyond the limit of teaching to enhance people’s lives.
“I enjoy my priesthood and I have no regrets.”
FATHER ERBIN FERNANDEZ: Actor
“I WAS VERY interested in the field of drama. When in drama in Catholic Junior College, I liked getting into different characters, different skins, exploring their feelings and motives. Because I was very shy then, the stage gave me license to do what I wanted to do. Interestingly enough now, I even see my priesthood as that, it’s a theological drama so in some sense I am still pursuing that.
“Regrets? Maybe in the teething years. Now, no, it’s been 14 years since I became a priest. Now I find myself really settling down and seeing how the whole journey has transpired and how the different building blocks gave me the passion to do what I’m doing now, and how it all fits into catechetical work.”
FATHER LUKE FONG: Owner of French restaurants or writer
“I’D MOST likely be in the hospitality industry or at least have some connection to it – perhaps owning or operating a French restaurant. Another thing I might be doing is writing books ... about operating French restaurants.
“Why hospitality? Generally because I’m ‘OCD’ (obsessive compulsive disorder) when it comes to tiny details, and in the hospitality industry, it’s the tiny details that separate the excellent from the good.
“I guess I think I have a knack for those things, and these, coupled with the ‘broad picture’ outlook which I received from management courses, would have put me in good stead for the career in the hospitality industry. That, and of course, the fact that I do enjoy seeing people appreciating with joy what they are experiencing.
“Why French? Because it’s the traditional backbone of western cuisine.
“Any regrets? Not regrets, but occasional instances of a longing that I would call ennui, especially when challenged with the many obstacles that seem to be in the way of the Kingdom of God. That’s when I know that I either need a spiritual shot, or some time away.”
BROTHER EMMANUEL GAUDETTE: Male nurse or doctor“I WOULD HAVE become a male nurse or a doctor.
“From my youngest days my mother used to take me to visit people in hospital or in their home – ever since I have joined the Brothers of St. Gabriel I have always had a love of predilection for the suffering sick and when one of my religious brothers or someone is ill, I will spend hours at their bedside attending to them, praying with them and loving them – it is something within me that tells me ‘Visit me in the persons of those who suffer’. I have no medical training but I am very attentive towards the sick and the dying – my heart is very sensitive to them all.
“After all, my Founder was very close to the sick and dying – I just try to imitate him and of course Jesus the Divine Healer. Jesus has used me to heal many and to prepare others for their great journey.
“This is why I have no regrets whatsoever. I can fulfil the role of nurse and doctor and even beyond it, as a brother.”
BROTHER DERRICK YAP: Chemical engineer
“I WOULD HAVE been a Chemical Engineer but I have no regrets whatsoever becoming a religious brother because now I am a companion on the journey back to God with Catholics, non-Catholics, all Creation, and even though I am still embracing crosses, some of which have already blossomed into resurrection experiences and others still pending.”
SISTER WENDY OOI: TV producer and mother
“I WOULD PROBABLY have continued my career in the media as a broadcast journalist/TV producer. Perhaps I might have evolved into film-making. Actually, I’m still in the media, only now I have a veil on!“What I really enjoyed (and still enjoy now) about working in the media was/is the creative process that is involved and also the fact that I deal with both visuals and audio, giving me also the opportunity to work with music which I love.
“Perhaps I might also have become a mother of about five kids! I’m probably at my mid-life phase now, so I guess my maternal instincts are just naturally coming to the fore. Sisters like myself find other avenues to channel our maternal instincts so sometimes we joke that our apostolic projects (eg: a video production in my case) are our ‘babies’!
“But I am [ultimately] someone who has responded to the call to follow Christ more closely and tries to witness and reflect His love to others while living in community.
“And I have no regrets – it’s been quite an exciting adventure but I do sometimes miss having a family of my own and having kids to call me Mummy!”
SISTER JESSICA TEO: Part-time worker/mission worker
“I SEE MYSELF doing some part-time job to sustain myself and at the same time dedicate my other time for volunteer services or mission work.
“As a religious, our emphasis is community living and mission. We share our faith experiences through the word of God and daily Eucharist. We communicate, support, accept and respect one another. We also empower one another in our various ministries with openness and dialogue.”
“Till today, I have no regret of being a religious. To be able to bring the joy, hope and love to people, thus making Jesus known and loved, is a source of great joy for me.”
