C5.2

My Vocation Story 

A Journey from Sonntagberg to Macau

I was blessed to grow up into a large family of five children, with parents and grandparents, on a small farm in the Alps of Austria. My father died young with cancer, thus, we children had to work hard on the farm to make ends meet. Since then I really loved nature, but also faith played a meaningful role. We walked to Sunday mass one hour on foot, and prayed the Holy Rosary on Saturday evening together, led by my grandfather. I still see his big rosary made of dried olives hanging on the wall. The daily practice of faith was important for me in hindsight, especially to find my way in times of crises and decisions. 

My home parish Sonntagberg (“Sundayhill”) is run by the Benedictine monks, a rare pilgrim church dedicated to the Holy Trinity situated on a mountain top like Penha Hill, but at an elevation of 704 metres. Our famous Baroque organ started to play in 1776, and still plays well. It is a small lively parish until today, with deep faith, a caring community. We have several parish pilgrimages annually on foot to neighboring parishes, which exerted a positive impact on me in view of finding my own vocation. Our catholic youth group organized many events, including theater, soccer, and also helped the elderly.  

I went to a technical school studying electrical engineering, combining nicely theory and practice. There, physics became my most favorite subject, and I loved reading books. In hindsight, God has led me all the way, step by step, through all these interests and experiences towards the more comprehensive missionary and priestly vocation and ministry. I went to study physics at the Technical University of Vienna, but soon, I realized that there were deeper questions beyond Physics, there loom the exiting questions of Metaphysics, Ethics, Philosophy, and even Theology. Also, Chernobyl accident in 1986 triggered in me a crisis, leading me to change my studies to Catholic Religious Education at the University of Vienna. While still a lay person and student, I had the chance to visit the Philippines, specifically the Prelature of Infanta (Bishop Julio Labayen OCD) in Quezon Province. Its engagement for the poor, for justice and peace was an eye-opener for me, revealing the global relevance of the ministry of the Church. It helped me also on my vocational journey to join the Divine Word Missionaries in Austria. God leads us gradually, step by step in discovering our specific vocation and mission. But we must be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, recognizing the actual presence of God in our daily experiences, questions, and struggles. These are not accidents, if one believes in the Holy Spirit. Every step of our journey as well as every minute of our life is filled with a deeper meaning and relevance. 

It is a joy as a missionary priest to be a channel and instrument for unity, hope and peace, for the faithful of the church and beyond. Many people are seeking for hope, healing, meaning, and community life. There is basically no difference in what people are basically looking for,  whether they are in Lafayette, Louisiana, Vienna, Austria, or in Macau, China, which is a very unique and blessed place to serve. The Church has a very important role in helping to nourish people, offering healing, and building communities. As SVD missionaries we are called to help Bishops and their dioceses to build up parishes and churches, schools, universities, cultural and social institutions, in whatever way we can. Mission, for me as a Divine Word Missionary, also means to learn from other cultures and traditions and help to enrich our Church with whatever is precious in other cultures and traditions. Every culture and every country has treasures to offer, like here in Asia the value of the family and of children, or the importance of sharing meals.

I am grateful to God for my vocation and that I had good people who have accompanied me in finding and living it, or who are helping me to know to live my vocation. There will always be challenges of course, but we grow with the help of the Lord’s presence and His saving grace, within all the challenges we face. Also looking to the cross is important for me as it reminds me that we are not left alone in any difficulty. He gives us the hope and the strength needed for our vocation and mission. 

(Fr Franz Gassner is Associate Professor in the Faculty for Religious Studies and Philosophy at the University of Saint Joseph. He hails from Austria)

From: “O Clarim” Year 76

https://www.oclarim.com.mo/en/2024/06/04/a-journey-from-sonntagberg-to-macau/

The Austrian priest, Fr. Franz Gassner

Conference on Sinology and Western Learning