Dennis Raj a/l Rasu

Penang

My Vocation Story: Called to Serve

It was an ordinary Sunday and I was eight years old; I still remember the first time I touched the cassock during my catechism period when my teacher brought us to the sacristy. There, I saw a long and soft cassock. I quickly asked my teacher, “Can I wear it?” Suddenly to my surprise, a loud voice replied, “It would not fit you!” and everyone burst into laughter but not me. When I turned back it was the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Clement Pereira. He came to prepare for the evening Mass. Looking at my rather sad and perplexed face, he asked me, “Why do you want to wear it?” I replied hesitantly, “Just to try Father”. He then said, “If you wear it without understanding the meaning, it would just be another piece of cloth in your eyes. A question rang in my mind, “What is so great about the cassock?” At that moment, I never thought of becoming a priest, but it evoked a strange feeling, which I could not express in words.

When I was 11, out of the blue, I told my parents that I wanted to become a priest, but they did not take it seriously, thinking I was just joking. After completing my primary education, secondary school education was a new beginning which changed my focus. However, my involvements in church remained and I was actively involved in various ministries. In 2006, after my PMR examination, my focus shifted to other things, just like every other teenagers. During this time, I faced many challenges and obstacles, but somehow the grace of God saved me.

By the time I finished my tertiary studies I had already started working. Still, I have always felt something was missing, and so I began to search for it. At the same time, I joined the Police Voluntary Reserved (PVR) in 2013. It was a great experience and exposure for me. In that short period of time, I was able to see and understand the reality of people's mentality in dealing with cultural issues, injustice, discrimination, bribery, selfishness, and many more. It is an ugly side of human life. In between these two lifestyles I was confused, even disturbed and always felt that there was a void. That was, until I met Father Robert and Father Simon who helped me to overcome the challenges and share with me the knowledge on Church teachings. They become my spiritual guides.

In 2016, I was employed in the Diocese of Penang as a Migrant Relations Officer for the Perak Deanery. In my first year, I struggled to cope since I had little or no knowledge of working in this ministry, so I decided to quit the job. On that evening, I visited the Blessed Sacrament. That was when the word of God came to me “Whom shall I send?” It struck me deeply and I was confused. Nevertheless, with God’s grace in the following years I was able to face all obstacles and successfully overcome them. Moreover, I discovered my call to serve the Lord with passion for the migrants.

God’s presence in this ministry has always helped me to focus on my work. Then again, even in the presence of God’s grace and mercy, I still felt there was a gap and a sense of dissatisfaction and a lack of fulfillment. So I began to search for the answer through my prayers and with my parish priest’s guidance. Frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament have helped to clear my mind, and I have strongly felt God’s calling to serve in his vineyard.

So, I decided to answer him “Here I am, Lord” and join the seminary, and that is how I arrived in College General this year to begin my journey as a seminarian.

Dennis Raj