Damian Dempsey

"You received freely; give freely " (Mt 10:8)

"Brother, we need someone to help us." A former resident of the Marist home for street-children in Davao City, Pedro had been given my name by the priest there. I was working on the chaplaincy team at the public hospital where Inday, Pedro's wife, was about to deliver their first child. The problem was, they didn't have enough money to buy the medical supplies which were needed.

There were procedures for getting financial help at the hospital, but it inevitably took some time. So, assuring Pedro that I would do what I could, I set about making inquiries and let him get back to Inday. Not long after, Pedro found me again, and what he had to say touched me to the core. Another expectant couple, he reported, had given them their own supplies. Although by no means wealthy, this couple figured that Inday's need was more urgent, and that they themselves could wait until I found the money. What extraordinary generosity! This was giving, not only from the little they had, but of that which the couple themselves needed. They in turn would now rely on God's providence

I recall this incident from my time in the Philippines because it sums up well the story of my vocation. When I was at high school and considering my future, I decided that I wanted to do something that would be of service to people. I was strongly influenced by Jesus' saying: "You received freely; give freely". I initially thought that becoming a doctor would be the best way to help others, but I knew straight away that I wasn't cut out for such a job. Soon after, I found myself thinking, "what about being a priest?" This was an urge which wouldn't go away, so, after some time, I decided to check it out. After a period of vocational accompaniment, I then entered the Marist Seminary and began formation for religious and priestly life

As part of my training, I had two years of missionary experience on the island of Mindanao. That's where I met Pedro, Inday, and the other couple whose names I never learned. As I said earlier, the real-life parable which I saw in their meeting basically captures why I want to be a Marist and a priest. I'm only an ordinary kind of guy, but I feel incredibly blessed by the many simple things God has given me - family, friends, education, good health, etc. In return, I best appreciate these gifts and feel most alive by trying to give the whole of myself back to God in service of God's people

The most important thing in life to me is love. Saint Paul says that "the love of Christ overwhelms us" (2 Cor 5:14), and that's certainly the sense I have. God has called me to follow Jesus by living as he did - poor, chaste and obedient. And in giving my life over in this way, I seemto receive so much! My hope is that I can become as free as that nameless couple at the hospital. I, too, want to love with a generosity which embodies the Gospel and which totally trusts God. For it is by means of such love that I know Love Himself