Following a well-attended Enquiry Day at St Charles on Sunday 5 May 2025 (read the event’s news story published recently by the Record), the seminary and Perth Vocations Office conducted a follow-up engagement at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 19 May.
The event – Vocations Afternoon Tea – invited those who attended the Enquiry Day – to spend an afternoon of spiritual discussions with Fr Kenneth Acosta (spiritual advisor to the Vocations Office), and St Charles’ Rector (Fr Francis Nguyen) and Vice-Rector (Fr Joe Laundy).
The event is part of a series of ongoing engagement to be delivered by both St Charles Seminary and the Perth Vocations Office to support those within our Church community who are discovering how to answer God’s call to serve others, through ordained ministry.
Fr Kenneth shares his Vocations journey
Fr Kenneth Acosta formally opened the Vocations Afternoon Tea event with an acknowledgment to the country and a prayer for vocations. Addressing the attendees, Fr Kenneth delved into the essence of vocations, emphasising that a vocation is a call to partake in life fully, embracing both our passions and faults. He shared his gratitude for the opportunity to live a life answering God’s call and invited everyone to consider their own life’s broader purpose.
Fr Kenneth also recounted his personal journey towards ordained ministry, which began with a sense of calling he felt as early as nine years old. Despite his aspirations for a conventional life with a career and relationships, he acknowledged the persistent pull towards priesthood. Initially, he tried to resist this calling by pursuing business administration and English studies, and even enjoyed a good job and social life. Yet, he found himself unfulfilled.
It was through the Neocatechumenal community support and his faith in Christ that Fr Kenneth found clarity. He emphasised that the universal call to be a Christian is paramount, and that his priesthood was a secondary, albeit significant, aspect of his faith journey. He highlighted the role of the church and baptism in nurturing one’s faith.
At 21, during a World Youth Day meeting in Rome, Fr Kenneth publicly accepted his calling. This pivotal moment led to a six-month stay in a parish and participation in the Neocatechumenal Way, which took him to places like Manila, Vienna, and Marseilles, ultimately leading him to Perth.
Fr Kenneth shared that his journey was not always clear, but with humility and guidance from spiritual advisors and his community, he found his path. He encouraged those who attended the Afternoon Tea who are learning how to also answer God’s call to support one another in their vocational journeys, stressing the importance of community, support from the Vocations Office, the Curia, and St Charles Seminary, and regular meetings for mutual encouragement. In his concluding remarks, Fr Kenneth urged everyone to embrace their unique callings and serve others selflessly, as true fulfillment and happiness come from giving oneself to others.
Spiritual discussions further explore life as a priest
Following Fr Kenneth’s address, the twenty men who attended the Vocations Afternoon Tea split into two smaller groups – where they spent 45minutes with Fr Francis and Fr Joe – to ask questions about discernment into ordained ministry and life as a priest. The intimate discussions explored many aspects of the priesthood journey.
Lectio Divina – Jesus Stills a Storm
Following the small group discussions, Fr Joe guided participants through a scripture reading using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, focusing on a passage where Jesus calms the storm. He began by reflecting on how sometimes God allows us to make decisions, even in the midst of life’s storms. He recounted the disciples’ panic during a storm while Jesus slept, highlighting their desperate question, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”
Fr Joe drew parallels to modern faith, noting how believers often act as if God is still asleep during their trials, seeking divine intervention. He shared that true salvation in such storms comes only from God, who commands “Peace, be still.” He pointed out that Jesus addresses the wind and the storm directly, not the disciples, indicating that life’s storms can be beneficial and transformative.
Fr Joe concluded the scripture reading by emphasising the importance of faith and surrender to the Lord, especially in discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
Next steps for those discerning
Before the participants enjoyed a one-hour tour with volunteer Cathedral guide, Carol Wright, Fr Kenneth shared how the Perth Vocations Office and St Charles Seminary is supporting anyone who would like to find out more about the discernment process and/or continuing to journey into answering this unique call from God. You can find out more about available support and resources via the Perth Vocations website.
