1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:01,800 In the name of the Glorious Trinity. 2 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:03,900 Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever. 3 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:06,800 Amen. Glory be to the Everlasting 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,200 mercies which sent you to us. Oh, Christ the light of the 5 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:15,000 world and the life of all give us wisdom by a law and Enlighten 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,900 our impulses, by your knowledge, sanctify, ourselves by your 7 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:22,800 truth, and Grant that we may be obedient to your words and may 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,800 fulfill your Commandments at every hour. 9 00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:29,000 Oh, you who enlightens the rationale with the knowledge of 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,900 your greatness do in light or my Lord are thoughts that we made? 11 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:37,200 Meditate upon your holy and divine scriptures at all times 12 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:41,400 O, Lord of all Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever. 13 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:09,400 I pray that everyone had a blessed Christmas and New Year. 14 00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:12,000 I would like to just take a minute on behalf of Father, 15 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,200 jonard, Stephen and myself of how grateful we are for all of 16 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,600 our listeners. As we have delivered 30 17 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,400 episodes. Praise God. 18 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,400 I pray that this Christian podcast has encourage someone to 19 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,700 grow in their faith. I would also like to thank you 20 00:01:24,700 --> 00:01:27,300 all. Your feedback comments and 21 00:01:27,300 --> 00:01:30,100 suggestions. In today's episode, we have a 22 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:33,600 very special guest who has been a very active church, member 23 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:36,900 from being a youth member to president of Youth. 24 00:01:36,900 --> 00:01:40,400 And now part of the NEC committee, Christian Morelia 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,200 will be interviewing father jonard about his journey to 26 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,600 priesthood. Here is Kristin hello, beloved 27 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,700 listeners today. I have the privilege of 28 00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:53,800 interviewing, father, jernard Lazar, father, jernard a someone 29 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,200 I've had the opportunity of Of working alongside toward the 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,400 fruition of our local youth ministry. 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,100 Here in the Central Valley of California for the past 10 32 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:06,200 years. We all go through a season or 33 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,100 seasons of difficulties, but we know that the Lord is always 34 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:12,700 there. Although we may experience 35 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:15,300 hopelessness. It is through this season, in 36 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:18,600 which, we experience a purification of our hearts, 37 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,900 whatever unexpected situation, the Lord puts before us is in 38 00:02:22,900 --> 00:02:27,900 our best interest as written and filmed Beings for 6 to 7, do not 39 00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:31,600 be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and 40 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,700 supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known 41 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:39,400 to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all 42 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,600 understanding will guard your hearts and Minds in Christ 43 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,000 Jesus. We thought it would be fitting 44 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,500 to capture, fathered Renard's testimony to serve as a 45 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:51,800 testament of Hope and encouragement for whatever God 46 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,200 places before you in the coming days, here we go. 47 00:02:55,300 --> 00:03:05,800 Go. Slam, Robbie, shama sister. 48 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,100 How are you? Good, how are you? 49 00:03:07,100 --> 00:03:08,200 I'm good. Thank you. 50 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,600 Thank you for having me as your guest on the podcast. 51 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,600 It's nice to be on the side of the microphone. 52 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,200 I love this lovely to be with you. 53 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,600 And thank you for being with us to thank you first thing first, 54 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,800 I think something myself and many of the listeners are 55 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,100 curious about is, what does your name mean? 56 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:26,300 It's not a common name jernard, and the Syrian community. 57 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,700 So what was the inspiration behind it? 58 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:31,200 You know, there is a history. Trivia and I'm glad you asked me 59 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,600 that question. My name is supposed to be Shin. 60 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,300 Our Shin are, you'll find, which was a city in Assyria in the Old 61 00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:42,800 Testament. So in the Persian language it 62 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,400 was Jean are. So when I got to Australia 63 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,300 people having so much difficulties like every time I 64 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:53,500 kid, you not Kristen, every time I would mention my name, it was 65 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:57,200 always sorry what was that people have called me jummah, 66 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,400 which means Friday in Arabic gif. 67 00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:04,700 After. So one day, he's then Grace 68 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,300 marvelous. Now the Metropolitan when he 69 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:10,700 arrived in Australia was visiting the family and we had 70 00:04:10,700 --> 00:04:14,000 invited him and he asked me, goes, what's your name? 71 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:16,000 And I thought to myself, oh my God, here we go. 72 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:21,000 I said Gina Rodriguez, sorry at that time, I tell people my name 73 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,300 is Tony, I change today some of my old friends, still call me 74 00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:27,800 Tony. So I said, I guess it's, you 75 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,100 know, he goes no no why You so reluctant I said, because I have 76 00:04:31,100 --> 00:04:34,100 an issue with my name. He goes, no, no. 77 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,200 Your name supposed to be generated, so marvelous has 78 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,800 renamed me. So fast forward many, many years 79 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,600 back in 1995. I specifically remember this 80 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,900 day, I was visiting the United States with my family and 81 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:50,300 Melissa was only born. Then. 82 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:54,400 I was visiting my friends and I could hear someone call out Shin 83 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,700 are I turned around I but no one was looking at me so I, you 84 00:04:58,700 --> 00:05:01,200 know, didn't pay much Dungeon and then I heard it again. 85 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,400 Is she not? I thought Who you calling you? 86 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,400 They said This Little Child. His name is shin. 87 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,100 Are I thought? Oh my God, this is about 30. 88 00:05:09,100 --> 00:05:11,800 He's down the track. My name was supposed to be Shin 89 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:17,400 are but she's not his a city as I said, or a region in, in 90 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,200 Ashley, you'll find that in the Old Testament. 91 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,000 I'm not sure which book it is. So yeah, yeah. 92 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:24,600 And then jernard is marvelous invention. 93 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:26,500 Beautiful. Thank you, Robbie. 94 00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:29,400 So, in one sentence, who is Father's Day? 95 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,000 Right? Is the person sitting next to 96 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,600 you one sentence? You can. 97 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,000 Yeah. Father jernard is an unworthy 98 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,800 servant of Christ. So let's go into your early 99 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:44,200 upbringing. So where were you? 100 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,500 Born and raised. I was born in Iran in order Mia 101 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,100 and the village of Syria serum are serious. 102 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:55,300 So all those syrians or the syrians. 103 00:05:55,700 --> 00:06:00,900 I was born in serum. Our circus in Iran in 1866. 104 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,500 And when did you move to Australia? 105 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:08,700 I moved to Australia in 1975. I was 9 years old, then and 106 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,700 directly to Sydney and briefly kind of explain. 107 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:14,000 I know you were very young but explain that transition from 108 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,000 Iran to Australia. And why specifically Australia, 109 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:21,200 I didn't like him on the plane and my dad was forcing me to eat 110 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:26,400 it and I, you know, I'm sorry to say but I had to throw it up on 111 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,400 the plank and on and let me take this another story there. 112 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:35,800 Or as well on that same plane, were the late Martin Quezada, 113 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,600 and the late Marner says, well traveling to Australia. 114 00:06:39,100 --> 00:06:43,500 So yeah, when I, when I arrived in Sydney and I saw the greenery 115 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:45,200 and, you know, it was it was amazing. 116 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:49,800 It was, it was like, I was in a Wonderland and then so what's 117 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,000 one of your earliest memories as a child? 118 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:59,000 Earliest memory is, you know, in Iran, it would snow and we would 119 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,200 make a, we call it. The Seesaw. 120 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,600 Is that what? It's called the season. 121 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,500 Yeah, you know, it was one of those met could do your own 122 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:08,600 seesaw. And I remember when I was on 123 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:14,500 there, I had jammed my thumb and my actual nail from the thumb 124 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:18,800 peeled. That is my earliest memory, not 125 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,700 a great memories. I remember, I had, I think, 126 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,900 Added my cape. And so these are the memories I 127 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:28,900 have are so touch-up on your upbringing, your childhood in 128 00:07:28,900 --> 00:07:30,600 Australia. Maybe from like the age of like 129 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,500 10 to 17. You know, what were you doing? 130 00:07:33,500 --> 00:07:35,100 Were you involved in the church at all? 131 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:38,400 Going to Sunday school, the Friday language school. 132 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,600 Well in Iran, we weren't so active in the church simply 133 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,300 because the church was a quite a distance from home. 134 00:07:46,300 --> 00:07:50,800 But we would go every now and then at Shadow gosh Lori at 135 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,700 Margaret's Church and much Miriam. 136 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:56,600 Such as well. The Catholic church when we did, 137 00:07:56,700 --> 00:08:01,400 when we did arrive in Sydney, I was at the age of 11 and I 138 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,800 basically was involved in the church. 139 00:08:05,500 --> 00:08:11,800 My dad, would he was the Pioneer behind me going to church every 140 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:16,200 Sunday so at the age of 11, I would be at church and as I was, 141 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,100 we were speaking about this. I won't be sleeping in my 142 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:23,400 mother's lap on my arm. I would be I had to sit With the 143 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,200 readers in the front and they're all old people too. 144 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,300 I was the youngest and I would be frowned upon sometimes. 145 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:33,700 Like what's this kid doing here? Simply because if I didn't, I 146 00:08:33,707 --> 00:08:36,200 would, I would be disciplined when I got home. 147 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,299 So there was a lot of discipline physical discipline that times 148 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:43,000 for my father, but yeah, I've been, I've been involved in the 149 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,000 church at the, since the age of 11. 150 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,300 So now let's fast-forward to your After High School days. 151 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:51,500 So now, you're about 17, 18 years old, high school, little 152 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:55,700 bit, High School, That's okay. Now if you want to we can 153 00:08:55,700 --> 00:08:56,900 definitely talk about that to you. 154 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:58,900 I talk about high school high school. 155 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:02,400 Yeah. I changed to high schools and 156 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,500 great memories, you know, exploring Exploring Life. 157 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:12,900 But again being very, very careful because I was raised in 158 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:18,000 a very very strict environment. My dad God, Rest his soul, very 159 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,200 strict. And if my sisters are listening, 160 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,900 now they know what I mean by. Be very strict. 161 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:28,100 Some people would come and complain about how how demanding 162 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:30,500 their parents were outside. And I don't even think, you 163 00:09:30,508 --> 00:09:33,700 know, you gotta, you gotta jump for joy because very strict 164 00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:37,000 environment. So, at high school, I was 165 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,000 exploring things. But, you know, very discreetly 166 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,900 like, you know, smoking cigarettes, never tried alcohol, 167 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:48,600 or any drugs, or what have you, but yeah, I was, I was a little 168 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:53,700 bit rebellious at school. I don't have to tell you this, 169 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:58,300 my parents were called, simply because I had in the science 170 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:01,300 lab, I did something that put the whole school in danger. 171 00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:04,400 So in John's Park High School, those are paid upon. 172 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:09,800 So if you're listening in any case, I was I was I was not the 173 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,900 angel. I was the clown of the the 174 00:10:11,900 --> 00:10:13,700 class. I would love to make people 175 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:18,700 laugh and you know, but yeah, I was the ordinary person and 176 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:22,300 growing up in high school and keeping in mind that I was very 177 00:10:22,300 --> 00:10:24,000 much involved. Moved in the church during high 178 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,600 school as well. And do you think your 179 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,200 involvement in the church at that time? 180 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,700 Really helped you in a sense? Because, you know, we have a lot 181 00:10:29,700 --> 00:10:32,400 of listeners are in that high school age and they go through 182 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,700 many difficulties living in society, a lot of Temptations. 183 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:38,400 Like you mentioned a little bit about, you know, being exposed 184 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,900 to a lot of drinking and smoking and that influence from friends 185 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:45,000 that are living in society. Maybe not of the Christian faith 186 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,800 or of different cultures, maybe not having that strict lifestyle 187 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,500 as far as parent wise. So, you know what could you kind 188 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:56,100 of Be an encouragement to tell those High School listeners that 189 00:10:56,100 --> 00:11:00,400 are listening, how you overcame, that more of a difficult time 190 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,100 and the influence that you had around you at the time. 191 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,400 It was my conscience. Kristen, yes, I would do things 192 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,800 and and you know again my parents wouldn't know and the 193 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:15,100 teachers couldn't see. But I remember and I call recall 194 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:19,500 back very, very clearly my conscience would would steer me 195 00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:22,200 in the right direction like what I would do something wrong. 196 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:26,200 My conscience would be eating me alive as they say. 197 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,000 You know, I knew it was wrong. I'd go back and I would pray, 198 00:11:30,300 --> 00:11:33,400 Lord, forgive me a lot and I would continue to do the same 199 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,300 thing, you know, as we read in the Proverbs like the like a dog 200 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:40,200 who returns to his vomit. Oh I used to go back to that 201 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,000 father tomorrow many times. But that conscience was always 202 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,900 and and looking back now I fell I thank God and I know that yes 203 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:52,600 the the disciplinary environment I was in but at the same time, 204 00:11:52,900 --> 00:11:57,200 From that point God was steering and directing that no. 205 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,400 No my son, this is not right because I have bigger and 206 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:05,000 greater plans for you. So you know, my my advice always 207 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,200 has been to anyone who comes and opens up with struggles. 208 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,800 I say, you know, examine your conscience, because Christians 209 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,500 have the Holy Spirit, he who is in you is greater than he who is 210 00:12:15,500 --> 00:12:17,200 in the world, which is the Holy Spirit. 211 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,000 And the Holy Spirit, is that, that voice of God, it is God 212 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,000 within us that No reminds us. What is right? 213 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,000 And what is wrong. So my conscience did me a lot of 214 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:32,000 favors beautiful are. So now we can move a little bit 215 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,500 forward. Now that 1718 you're in 216 00:12:34,500 --> 00:12:37,200 Australia, you've been enrolled in public school and you kind of 217 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,100 touched upon the different struggles and how you overcame 218 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:43,000 those at that point and you have a lot of friends of different 219 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,300 cultures. Maybe religions, living, a 220 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:48,100 variety of Lifestyles. You know, what was your life 221 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:50,100 goal at that time? Did you want to pursue higher 222 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:52,600 education? Did you want to go get a job? 223 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:54,300 What we, what did you want to do? 224 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,900 I hated school? I didn't like reading up to 225 00:12:57,900 --> 00:12:59,900 date. I don't like reading books. 226 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,800 I only read the Bible, and let me tell you, I haven't read the 227 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,900 Bible cover-to-cover as some people have. 228 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,900 I haven't read the Bible, you know the holy scriptures, 15 20 229 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:10,800 times. You know, I had a friend who's 230 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:15,300 to say, I've so read the Gospel of John that only, I only need 231 00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:17,100 some John to come and tell me what is right? 232 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:19,900 What is wrong, right? And I'd say well no you haven't 233 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:21,800 because you have a lot of Pride so you haven't been reading, 234 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,900 discover the gospel So I didn't like school. 235 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:28,300 And again, my dad would enforce it. 236 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,100 You know, you're going to be a doctor. 237 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:31,600 I remember. And I've said these, I've 238 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,000 mentioned this. In my sermons, my father would 239 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,100 walk into the room and I had books all over the place on my 240 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:39,500 table. When he wasn't in the room, I 241 00:13:39,500 --> 00:13:43,500 have my headphones on and listen to Sargon Gabriel and Whitney 242 00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:48,300 Houston and Lionel Richie and mimic their you know pretending 243 00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:51,000 I'm playing the piano and mimicking as soon as you walk 244 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,400 in. I'd be you know in my dad walked 245 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,000 in he said Rooney and I'm going to translate because you know 246 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,700 what if you if you study all these books and you read them 247 00:13:57,700 --> 00:14:00,100 you're gonna be a doctor. I said sure thing that 248 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:03,600 definitely a doctor, right? But I knew thats not going to 249 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:07,600 happen because I didn't like I didn't I just I wasn't The 250 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,800 Bookworm if you want to call it that. 251 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:15,600 I just I'm a i-i-i-i listen and learn but yes, cool wasn't my 252 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:18,300 what did you want to do then they want to pursue it. 253 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:21,500 Well I wanted the well I had I had, I wanted to be a physician 254 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:25,100 but without reading any book X. I wanted to be an insurance 255 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:27,200 salesman. I remember once God, Rest his 256 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,400 soul, my mum said Rooney, what do you want to do in love? 257 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,400 I said, Mom, I'm going to study and become insurance sales and 258 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:40,700 you know I wanted to pursue a singing career might give all 259 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:45,500 give all give all these shoe if you're listening, I remember a 260 00:14:45,508 --> 00:14:49,000 group of friends at listen, we need to get get a band together 261 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,200 and you know, start performing. So, you know, Will be our 262 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,400 vocalist. I was definitely because I have 263 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,300 performed on stage. Charles too much. 264 00:14:57,300 --> 00:14:59,700 Charles Toma. The renowned Australian singer. 265 00:14:59,700 --> 00:15:03,400 He's my cousin, it's my first cousin, but when time T So 266 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:08,400 twice, I think know, once it was on a New Year's Eve party that I 267 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,900 was his backup singer and I sang hello. 268 00:15:11,700 --> 00:15:16,400 I sang fresh cooling, the gang and I sank suddenly Billy Ocean, 269 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,300 right? And so I love singing. 270 00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:23,400 But again my dad didn't allow me to pursue singing and My friends 271 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,000 went out and bought all their instruments, and the next thing 272 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,900 they saw that, I was being ordained a deacon, and they were 273 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,200 just taking Bank thought away one. 274 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,000 Why this, you know? So, so talk about that. 275 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,200 Now you said you wanted to become a deacon and I know you 276 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,300 were 20 years old. So who or what really inspired 277 00:15:39,300 --> 00:15:41,600 you to want to take on that responsibility? 278 00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:45,400 Wilson at the age of 11, being in the church, in the choir and 279 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,500 Performing and MC and dramas very, very much involved in my 280 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:51,200 community, the Assyrian Community. 281 00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:56,000 I mean, the people in Sydney I grew with basically would know, 282 00:15:56,500 --> 00:16:00,800 you know what I'm talking about every Sunday at church, then 283 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,500 choir. And I was called to be ordained 284 00:16:04,500 --> 00:16:06,200 a deacon at the age of, I believe. 285 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:12,400 It was around 14 years old. But again, my father, opposed 286 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,300 simply because he said, no, he's too young to be a deacon 287 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:19,100 because, you know, you know, in hindsight, I thank God for my 288 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:23,600 father for a few things but is he He's, you know, he's too 289 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,200 young, you know, you or Damon ordained this person, a deacon 290 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,100 and in what happens when he grows up and he doesn't want to 291 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:30,100 begin. What have you? 292 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,600 So so it was left off and always going to be ordained. 293 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,900 A deacon with Asha assure. His is the archdeacon in Rob 294 00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:41,400 enormous. Now, and there was shamash 295 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:46,900 David, a few other shamash, prior to modeled issue being 296 00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:50,700 ordained a deacon. So that didn't happen. 297 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,300 But I was at church and I Audit. I remember I started. 298 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,100 What is it craving to be a deacon? 299 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:03,200 Now was it just so I can go into the Altar and sing because my 300 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,900 life is being singing and people are you have allies lovely 301 00:17:05,900 --> 00:17:08,900 voice, and whatever your glory to God, the gift of praising 302 00:17:08,900 --> 00:17:13,099 God, that is not singing. I would crave it so fast 303 00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:15,300 forward. Many years, his grace, then 304 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:19,200 marvelous was appointed at Bishop to the Diocese of 305 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:26,500 Australia and 1986. It was we got called and and I 306 00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:30,200 was I was elected to be ordained. 307 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,000 A deacon and there's a story behind that but let's look. 308 00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:36,500 Now looking back. I know you mentioned how your 309 00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:39,000 father didn't want you to be a deacon at such a young age and 310 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,500 wanted you to be a little bit more mature and kind of be able 311 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:45,500 to make that decision also for yourself and take on that 312 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:47,100 responsibility that comes with it. 313 00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:50,900 Now looking back, do you agree with him for having you wait? 314 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:56,300 Yes, it wasn't my father, I mean, I keep mentioning my 315 00:17:56,300 --> 00:18:00,100 father, but it was all the perfect plan and will of God is 316 00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:04,100 the province of God, you know, when I was called to be ordained 317 00:18:04,100 --> 00:18:07,100 a deacon, let me, let me tell you the story behind, and I love 318 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:09,400 sharing it. I just only as a as an 319 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:14,500 encouragement to others and glory to God, the night, the day 320 00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:19,100 before, he's his grace modeled, he should then a shoulder issue, 321 00:18:19,100 --> 00:18:27,200 father, or the issue the day. The night before the day before 322 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,300 he called me that night I had a dream I was sitting and 323 00:18:31,300 --> 00:18:36,700 conversing with Robbie Pasha and marmalades just comes out of the 324 00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:42,400 blue and lays his hand on me and then walks away. 325 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,900 And the next day I showed you should calls me and says that, 326 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:50,100 you know, his grace wants to meet with you and a few other 327 00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:52,800 people. And it's about The diaconate. 328 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,800 So I told my dad I'm going and off the bat. 329 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,500 He said, well, I've told you, you know, Deacon just if you 330 00:18:58,500 --> 00:18:59,600 want to be a reader, that's fine. 331 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,600 So, you know, don't get your hopes up, basically. 332 00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:07,100 So I went to the meeting and he's Grace, spoke to us. 333 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:09,600 And and I said yes, your grace, I agree. 334 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,500 I accept, I would like to be a deacon so that was one hurdle. 335 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:17,600 The greatest hurdle is coming back home and having the the 336 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,400 whip ready and the belt ready, right? 337 00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:21,600 So my dad asked me what I thought I said, well, he's 338 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:23,100 great. That is recommended that we 339 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:26,800 would become, you know, we, we ordained Deacon and I'm one of 340 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,000 the candidates and I've agreed, I want to be a dick and he said, 341 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:33,100 well, I told you that, no, you know, you can't be a deacon 342 00:19:33,100 --> 00:19:37,900 because that add up and it was during the time where I had met 343 00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:39,100 Juliet. And I know you're going to ask 344 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:42,100 about her and we're going to be engaged as well to be married. 345 00:19:42,500 --> 00:19:47,900 So that night, I amazed everyone, like my sisters are my 346 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,000 brother-in-law's eyes were popping out like what are you 347 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,800 doing Jenna. But you can't read, you can't 348 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:55,500 speak back to your father like that. 349 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,800 So I remember he said, okay, go to sleep now, you know, don't 350 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:00,900 get carried away. Go to sleep. 351 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:04,700 I'll talk to you in the morning. Kristen, when I before I went to 352 00:20:04,700 --> 00:20:07,300 bed, I saw always pray by their eyes will always pray and always 353 00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:10,800 read my scriptures. I kneeled and I pray and I said 354 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,600 Lord. And I I always, you know, very 355 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:19,100 bad time lord if you are calling me, not 1,000, not one Natan. 356 00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:22,100 My dad's name like God's grace is always Nathan, not one 357 00:20:22,100 --> 00:20:27,300 Nathan. But if 1008 ins oppose you you 358 00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,600 will it will be, or will I had a vision. 359 00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:34,800 I had a vision that I was being laid and ordained as they 360 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,500 ordained Bishops. And a big light. 361 00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:41,200 I saw this great, huge luminous light and I could feel footsteps 362 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,900 on my back. I was Running out. 363 00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:44,900 You know, I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy. 364 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:48,800 And I just snapped out of it and from that point onwards, I knew 365 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:53,000 that I'm going to also enter the priesthood. 366 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,900 So in the morning I got up and dad said, you know, last night 367 00:20:55,900 --> 00:20:57,000 you got carried away. So yeah. 368 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,200 But I still want to be a deacon. It's okay, go to work, go to 369 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,500 work, before I deal with you, the way I deal with you. 370 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,600 Anyway I called gosh and every but listen, this was my dad's 371 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,600 reasoning. You know, sometimes beloved 372 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,700 youth, sometimes parents Parents may seem unreasonable. 373 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:18,000 Sometimes parents may seem that they don't know what they're 374 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,600 talking about, but you ought to stop and think well maybe God 375 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:26,800 using them maybe not the method, but God's using them, when went 376 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,400 ashore, they should ask my dad. What's the problem? 377 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,900 He said Robbie. I'll be more than it's a 378 00:21:32,908 --> 00:21:34,900 privilege for me. More than pleased to have. 379 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:38,200 My son be ordained Deacon, but he's going to get married soon. 380 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:43,200 Will his wife? Be a deacon Deaconess with him. 381 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,500 Meaning he has to be in church every Sunday to fulfill his role 382 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:53,700 and, you know, then being at the age of 20, I felt this man knows 383 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:56,800 what he's talking about. So I called her and everything. 384 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,200 I wasn't what struggles at that time. 385 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,500 You're 20, just became a deacon. What struggles were you in 386 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:06,400 during your, somebody that is in involved in the church. 387 00:22:06,700 --> 00:22:09,300 But you have friends that are maybe not involved in the church 388 00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:12,900 or mine. Have a position as you did as a 389 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:15,600 deacon within the church, what kind of struggles were you 390 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:21,300 enduring? You know, Kristen my friendship, 391 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:26,500 my circle of friends was also had to be authenticated by my 392 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:31,400 father, I wasn't permitted to to go out with any person. 393 00:22:32,500 --> 00:22:34,800 So I'm not saying I didn't friends. 394 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,300 I had plenty of friends. I didn't have any struggles, 395 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:40,700 really good friends. The only thing, the only thing 396 00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:46,500 that was, I'd say a little uncomfortable is what the Saint 397 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,200 Paul writes? In Romans chapter 1 verse sorry. 398 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:55,100 6:21 and what fruit do you have then of which today you are 399 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:58,700 ashamed for its result is death, right? 400 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,900 So, you know when people would see me and say I already can now 401 00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:06,600 but you know, we used to be out. We used to go to the swimming 402 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,400 pool and we used to do whatever. So now you're a deacon Wright, 403 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:13,100 you know? But but then again, the positive 404 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,700 point of that was many of my friends would say, you know 405 00:23:15,700 --> 00:23:19,100 what, good on you Shh. Masha back then. 406 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,600 Good on you sure? Michelle you know you took the 407 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,000 right path. Yeah we're still in the world 408 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,700 where that and and most of my friends ended up in the church 409 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:30,300 to so praise God. I remember 11 very close friend, 410 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:34,900 God Rest, his soul Lecter, Dennis very close and if 411 00:23:34,900 --> 00:23:38,600 re-issues listening to this, he said to me, you know what? 412 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,800 Robbie out of all of us our group, you know, you took the 413 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:47,000 right path and I envy you but he was an amazing Christian and he 414 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:51,700 was Was he was a very faithful active Christian, a very 415 00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:55,000 influential Christian in the lives of many as well. 416 00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:57,500 And I think it's beautiful how God works in mysterious ways 417 00:23:57,500 --> 00:24:00,400 that how he could use you through this path, that you're 418 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:04,100 now taking to also encourage the friends that you have, or your 419 00:24:04,100 --> 00:24:08,000 family, whoever to kind of pursue wanting to get to know 420 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,100 God and work within the church as well and different calibers, 421 00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:13,500 you know, the scriptures say in 1 Corinthians, God uses the 422 00:24:13,500 --> 00:24:18,200 foolish and and truly he did because When my friends would 423 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:22,300 see me and think, how are you, you know Jacques you're going to 424 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:26,000 be a singer and Donna Donna and what have you but you know well 425 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,000 you know God comes out and looks for those who are on rubbish 426 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,000 tips, rubbish dumps and he takes them off the rubbish Tom's and 427 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,800 puts them planes them, in the garden of the church, you know, 428 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:40,100 and that's a testimony, it's of, that's God's gracious. 429 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:45,300 Love grace, mercy, that he does not really truly does not, he's 430 00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:48,200 not pleased with the death of his sin until Till he returns 431 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,600 and live. So and you were a deacon for 17 432 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,100 years. Looking 16 or 16 years, looking 433 00:24:55,100 --> 00:24:57,300 back. And now what lessons did 434 00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:00,100 Christian organized for my social security number, I really 435 00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:01,700 did. Just that's a disclaimer, I'll 436 00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:04,400 share it on Instagram, I'm sorry. 437 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,600 But what lessons did you learn from joining it from Just lawn 438 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,600 being a deacon and living in society and having all these 439 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,200 friends and so forth, Looking Back Now on that phase of your 440 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,500 life, what's something That you took away from it. 441 00:25:19,500 --> 00:25:24,300 We'll remember, I became a deacon and when I was ordained, 442 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:29,100 Deacon one week after that, it was my engagement. 443 00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:32,900 I was being engaged to Juliet and then we got married two 444 00:25:32,900 --> 00:25:38,000 years after that. So during my decanate, I was a 445 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:45,300 married deacon however, You know, and I got it and this is 446 00:25:45,300 --> 00:25:50,000 this is a testimonial interview and we need to be open and true 447 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:52,500 with respect to everything that I say. 448 00:25:53,600 --> 00:26:02,500 During my time at church there was no you know formation of 449 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:08,800 Youth as far as, you know, Bible studies and spiritual events. 450 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,300 Like for example we have worship night here, we have Bible. 451 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,000 Eddie's, you know, every week and we're adults Bible studies. 452 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:21,700 Youth Bible says that wasn't provided back then, actually the 453 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:26,900 first Bible studies per se where we would sit and discuss. 454 00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:32,500 The holy scriptures began when I was the president of the you 455 00:26:32,500 --> 00:26:34,600 that much money. I'm in st. 456 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:40,100 Louis Cathedral and we would sit but really without any 457 00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:42,300 background knowledge or training. 458 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:48,700 Meaning I would lead Bible studies but something that's 459 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:54,100 that still today boggles my mind and and and I just ascribe 460 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:59,600 praise and glory to God what I used to speak back then Reading 461 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:03,000 the church fathers today, I see that. 462 00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:06,500 Hey, I was, I was on the right path, you know, I wasn't wrong 463 00:27:06,700 --> 00:27:10,500 because again God was leading. So we didn't have all these 464 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,000 formation and, you know, spirituality. 465 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:19,000 It was just, you're a deacon. You do your servers, your into 466 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,200 youth, you have to do activities and socializing. 467 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,000 A little bit of Bible studies here and there and and what 468 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:32,600 have, you know, until until 2000 and I I would say 2001 is when 469 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,900 we began this Bible studies, and spiritual nights, and prayer, 470 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:39,000 meetings, and, and what have you? 471 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,600 So during my dik night, I was a deacon. 472 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,700 I was a white husband and I was a father as well. 473 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:50,700 So not much formation, not, not much training, you know? 474 00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:54,100 But he's Grace, when his grace marmol has arrived, he 475 00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:59,500 immediately began preaching, and I would be the, I would Called 476 00:27:59,500 --> 00:28:02,700 the sermons and I would make copies of cassette tapes back, 477 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:06,200 then I had to work. I had a Steve and I had one of 478 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,800 those tears cassette plays where you can I had to and I would 479 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,800 take all my cassettes, their enduring serving my been 480 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:17,100 serving, the customers, I would be recording because it's and 481 00:28:17,100 --> 00:28:20,400 I've picked up a lot of my knowledge from his grace and 482 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,400 Neeson's as well. So now let's paint the scene 483 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,300 again. You're 37 years old. 484 00:28:25,300 --> 00:28:27,900 You're living in Australia, you've been married. 485 00:28:27,900 --> 00:28:31,400 Now for 15 Years and you have a young daughter, what happened? 486 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,100 That made you want to take on the role of priesthood? 487 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,900 I know you mentioned a little bit of that calling you had. 488 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,300 When you became a deacon, you knew you would be a priest. 489 00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:41,400 But why at that point, you're 37? 490 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,800 Why at that time? Yes, you absolutely when I was 491 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,800 being ordained Deacon and by the time, by the way, when I was 492 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:53,200 being all died and they can I was injured, my head, chopped my 493 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:57,000 finger off with a lawnmower so you see my pictures and there is 494 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,700 a picture that really hits me and and touches my heart is, you 495 00:29:01,700 --> 00:29:05,500 know, I spoke a lot about my father but there is a picture 496 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:10,700 where I had to tie. My shoelaces, my, my shoes I 497 00:29:10,700 --> 00:29:13,300 would wear for the altar. There is a picture of my dad 498 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:15,500 kneeling down in tying, my shoelaces. 499 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:17,800 All right. And, and, and I was being 500 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,300 ordained a deacon from that point onwards. 501 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:24,700 New II started again, craving and wanting to be a priest. 502 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,500 His grace asked me, once he said, shh Marshall, why do you 503 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:32,500 want to be a priest priest? For I said, I want to serve, I 504 00:29:32,500 --> 00:29:35,200 want to be a servant, he said, but you are a servant, you're a 505 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:36,500 deacon. That means a servant. 506 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:42,100 I said, I want to be a servant of the servants and and the 507 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:44,800 drive behind it was I want to preach. 508 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:51,800 I want to evangelize, you know, the late Martin had blessed 509 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:55,900 memory came to Australia once and I was ordained a priest. 510 00:29:55,900 --> 00:29:59,700 And he said, I said, you know what, Jessie, I don't want to be 511 00:29:59,700 --> 00:30:03,600 tied to a parish. I want to go out, I want to 512 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,300 Mission eyes. I own to do missionary work, you 513 00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:09,300 know, established parishes. And because all you want to be 514 00:30:09,300 --> 00:30:12,700 saying Paul, I said, well yeah, I don't know if I can fill those 515 00:30:12,700 --> 00:30:16,600 shoes, but something like that and that's where he he when he 516 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,800 wrote me a blessing, a letter of blessing. 517 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:21,800 He calls me. Can I even gal? 518 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,600 I updated modern sir, the Evangelical Priests of the 519 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:28,500 Assyrian Church of the east from that point onwards, I wanted to. 520 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:34,000 So I wanted to, you know, be entrusted with a flock and to 521 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:39,100 tend to the flock and and yeah, my roommate has asked me and 522 00:30:39,100 --> 00:30:43,100 that was my answer, but I didn't get an ordination, then I don't 523 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:46,500 know what I, but maybe wasn't satisfying, answer back then. 524 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:49,900 So when you did become a priest, but was your family's reaction 525 00:30:49,900 --> 00:30:52,200 when you told them, If you want to take on that path and I think 526 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,600 this is a good gateway to reflect on the life of a wife of 527 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,000 a priest and how much Gillette your wife has helped you through 528 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,100 that Journey. Are you going to be specifically 529 00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:04,600 asking me about Juliet or you? Would you like me to talk about 530 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:06,200 her new? It's free for you, it's good. 531 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:17,100 Okay, I don't want to sit here and brag about my wife and put 532 00:31:17,100 --> 00:31:22,200 on a pedestal. And but I do want to say that 533 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:28,800 when I pray, if I don't enter the Kingdom of Heaven because of 534 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,600 my foolishness, I pray that the Lord will grant her the kingdom 535 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:37,700 of heaven. you know, in the Lebanese language they say Horry 536 00:31:37,700 --> 00:31:44,500 which means priest and the priest wise is horia This woman. 537 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:49,500 By the way, we were separated, when we got engaged, we were 538 00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:52,400 separated because her father, her brother was killed in the 539 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,300 war between Iran and Iraq. We were separated for a year. 540 00:31:55,300 --> 00:31:59,000 And then again, my father wanted me to get married and he was, he 541 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,700 was going around shopping around for me and going around asking 542 00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:04,000 for hands in marriage. I say, you know, is they got 543 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:05,300 back? I don't wonder what have you 544 00:32:06,700 --> 00:32:09,600 when I, when, when we were separated. 545 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,500 I knew it was in my heart that conscience. 546 00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:13,800 God's telling me. No, no, no. 547 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,700 She, it has to be because I'm going to call you to pray. 548 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:22,500 Priesthood and you need a priest s and from the time I was a 549 00:32:22,508 --> 00:32:26,700 deacon. I was so involved in the church 550 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,700 Juliet truly and this is not just a cliche. 551 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,000 She has been the mother and the father of the two children we 552 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,300 had. I was always with the youth. 553 00:32:39,700 --> 00:32:41,600 I remember. She only complained once. 554 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:46,700 I joined the youth, soccer team, Kristin, I scored this goal. 555 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,500 From halfway I was trying to pass it but anyway, it went in. 556 00:32:50,500 --> 00:32:51,600 It was a God. Anyway, I love you. 557 00:32:54,100 --> 00:32:57,600 I know it's called fluke actually, from that point on was 558 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:01,700 the only time she's complained is just once and said, why do 559 00:33:01,700 --> 00:33:04,400 you need to play soccer? Because you need to take care of 560 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,300 the girl, Melissa. I'm at work and, you know, and 561 00:33:07,300 --> 00:33:11,000 she was right. I, she would be ready for her 562 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:16,400 and I to go out and the priest, the parish priest would call me 563 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,900 and say So we're going to go visit people, I would actually 564 00:33:18,900 --> 00:33:21,500 call her all ready to go and say I can't make it. 565 00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:23,900 I'm going and she never complained, right? 566 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:26,200 She was in. We met each other in the in the 567 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,700 Kirk, why? I was a choir conductor and she 568 00:33:28,700 --> 00:33:33,000 was the choir singer, right? So I'm not going good going to 569 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,800 go too much into, you know how I asked her to marry me. 570 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:37,600 All right? All I gave her a kiss. 571 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,900 Good ones that Sunday after church, I gave her my eyes to 572 00:33:40,900 --> 00:33:44,400 work at the Commonwealth Bank. Gave her my car and I said, 573 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:46,600 listen, give me a call. I want to talk to you. 574 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:48,900 And she thought it was about a job. 575 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,200 She told her mom, her like, Mom, out of money. 576 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:55,500 Fleshy said, oh, Jenna Hearts, is called me a give me giving me 577 00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:57,100 his card to call him, so I'll Call Me. 578 00:33:57,108 --> 00:34:00,300 Maybe it's about a job here. So, she called me and I said, 579 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,000 and I'm gonna do, she's gonna hate me for this, but I'll do 580 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,800 this, I called she called me. I said, listen, I'm interested 581 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:08,000 in you that I die. And I know, I know that you are 582 00:34:08,007 --> 00:34:10,500 not the young. You haven't been brought up to 583 00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:13,600 go out and, you know, go on a holiday with your fiance, with 584 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:15,900 your boyfriend. What I have you, I know that, 585 00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:18,900 you know, I mean, Marriage. So, think about I'll give you a 586 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:21,500 week, Chris. And I said, I'll give you a week 587 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,900 to remaining three days and said I accept that. 588 00:34:25,300 --> 00:34:29,000 But anyway so so she and and then that night I called her 589 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,500 about being a deacon. She was so she was over the 590 00:34:32,500 --> 00:34:34,100 moon. She said of course why would I 591 00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:36,199 want to die? Like this is a dream to have a 592 00:34:36,208 --> 00:34:40,500 deacon in the house and then when I, you know, I I have 593 00:34:40,500 --> 00:34:43,000 dropped the ball. Many times being a human being 594 00:34:43,100 --> 00:34:45,699 as a shamash, as well. I've done a few things that and 595 00:34:45,699 --> 00:34:48,600 I don't want to go into those Too much, nothing serious. 596 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:54,000 Like - I've been very faithful so but when I said to her that I 597 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,000 you know, I've been called to be a priest. 598 00:34:56,100 --> 00:34:58,200 She basically I think her words were. 599 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,000 So what's new? I mean, this was in inevitable, 600 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,400 we could see this coming because I was so involved in that 601 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:06,800 church. I was The Unofficial secretary 602 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:09,500 to the bishop. I had the choir I had to church 603 00:35:09,500 --> 00:35:13,900 radio program. I was the chair of the boards of 604 00:35:13,900 --> 00:35:16,700 the school Saint Jerome, assume primary. 605 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:21,800 School president of youth group Deacon and Here, There and 606 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,700 Everywhere. So when I did, because when I, 607 00:35:24,900 --> 00:35:29,400 when I not, I decided when God said, now is the time I had the 608 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:33,700 full support of my family, my, auntie Charles and Charles 609 00:35:33,700 --> 00:35:38,400 Thomas mother. I remember I said, I took I'm 610 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,800 going to be a, you know, pretty as yours alabbar, local Bruni 611 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,700 and she was the first one who saw my cloak. 612 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:46,900 The, my Opera. I remember it was in the in A 613 00:35:46,900 --> 00:35:50,100 car, it was Saturday. I had to go pick up some I said, 614 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:53,400 I'll talk to come and go because my aunt is very dear to me. 615 00:35:53,900 --> 00:35:56,400 I said not to come and look at my and she started kissing a 616 00:35:56,600 --> 00:36:01,100 product of want to learn and and the night then that night 617 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:04,900 Kristin that night I had another dream that I was being elevated 618 00:36:04,900 --> 00:36:08,700 in front of st. Homeless Cathedral I said up to 619 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:10,100 I had this training as well. There it is. 620 00:36:10,100 --> 00:36:13,200 You're going to be elevate, your rankings going to be elevated. 621 00:36:13,300 --> 00:36:15,900 I had the full support of all of my family. 622 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:19,700 And they were, they were like, you know, we were, we were 623 00:36:19,700 --> 00:36:22,600 waiting for this, it was, you know, it was going to happen 624 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,200 sooner or later. So Rob you mentioned a lot about 625 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,200 the Ministries are involved in an Australia and talk about the 626 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,600 prison ministry. It something you didn't mention. 627 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,400 Oh thank you. Where'd you get your information 628 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:35,500 for? We have our sources. 629 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:39,900 Yes. The prison ministry, a very 630 00:36:40,300 --> 00:36:44,600 significant Ministry of the many Ministries that I was involved 631 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,700 in. We began that I can't pinpoint 632 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:55,800 the date or the ebit. I remember visiting Brother who 633 00:36:55,800 --> 00:37:03,100 was in jail for, you know, nothing very serious but and the 634 00:37:03,100 --> 00:37:05,300 parents approached me and said, you know what, I'll be. 635 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:07,400 Would you be willing to go to a prison? 636 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,500 I said, oh, of course. I mean Jesus, Jesus mentions 637 00:37:10,500 --> 00:37:13,200 that I was in prison and you did not visit me. 638 00:37:13,700 --> 00:37:17,600 So when I, when we, when we went and actually I went by myself 639 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,500 and visited the person and you know what you do, you got to be 640 00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:22,700 careful what you say because everything is recorded. 641 00:37:22,700 --> 00:37:26,200 So we only, you know, we only I concentrated on, you know, 642 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:30,700 giving hope and and talking about grace and mercy, talking 643 00:37:30,700 --> 00:37:33,300 about the law. According to the law, you should 644 00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:36,200 be not out of here but there's Grace and there is Mercy. 645 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,700 And after that I thought, you know, this is a great ministry. 646 00:37:39,700 --> 00:37:46,300 So I wrote to a lot of the prison chaplains and basically 647 00:37:46,300 --> 00:37:49,800 they said listen, father it's not easy to become a chaplain, 648 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:54,500 just don't go through all that you know trouble, anytime you 649 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,100 Come and visit someone, you just call me and I will arrange it 650 00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:01,800 with the head guard, whatever the name is and, and your, you 651 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:03,700 know, feel free to come and visit your people. 652 00:38:04,100 --> 00:38:07,800 So it was effective and you know, something amazing Kristin 653 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:12,700 many times. The first question was so, so 654 00:38:12,700 --> 00:38:15,100 you're telling me God's going to forgive me for what I've done, 655 00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:18,600 you know, and you're talking about murder, you're talking 656 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:23,400 about drugs and you know extortions and what have you so 657 00:38:23,500 --> 00:38:26,100 you tell me that God Is going to forgive me for what I've done. 658 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:28,500 I said, that's exactly what I'm here to tell you, you know, 659 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:32,300 Society may never forgive you. But so what do I need to do? 660 00:38:32,300 --> 00:38:35,900 Well, you know, reach out to the Lord cry out to the Lord. 661 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,600 Be prepared to repent. And and what have you know II? 662 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:43,600 Think I still have a brother who's who I knew from a very, 663 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:45,700 very young age. He still serving time and that 664 00:38:45,700 --> 00:38:47,400 was a question. As I said his son, you're going 665 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:51,000 to be here for a long time. You know that very well but use 666 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,800 that time and don't forget 1000, he's is one day. 667 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:57,200 I remember He's saying that in 1000 years is like one day to 668 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,700 God. So, you know, use your time to 669 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:05,500 to reconcile with God. It was a very good Ministry. 670 00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:09,400 Is, there's an interaction that still remember to this day with 671 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:11,000 somebody, you spoke with, and something. 672 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:14,600 Maybe they told you and how much their life changed through this 673 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:16,000 ministry? It was this person. 674 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,800 This, this inmate that I went visit in the first thing, he 675 00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:22,300 said, he actually looked at me because I knew him from her and 676 00:39:22,300 --> 00:39:23,900 I said, you know, how are you? It was good. 677 00:39:23,900 --> 00:39:28,000 I said well, You know, here we are like and he was like his, I 678 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:29,300 know you're here to tell me that. 679 00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:31,200 God's gonna forgive me. Do you think he will forgive me? 680 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,700 That's what he asked me are. You know, I had to hold it 681 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,100 because I was going to crumble myself, you know. 682 00:39:36,100 --> 00:39:38,500 And I said, that's exactly what I'm here to tell you. 683 00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:41,600 I'm not here to tell you. It's okay. 684 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,900 You know, I'm going to help to get, you know, I'm not here to 685 00:39:44,900 --> 00:39:46,400 do that. It's not okay. 686 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,400 You're here. Now, this is reality face 687 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:54,600 reality, but There is always hope with Jesus Christ, you 688 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:56,600 know. And and I hear around that some 689 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:59,400 of these inmates that I did. Visit some of them have have, 690 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:03,400 you know, been released and some are in the church, they're 691 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:07,200 active in the church has won't. And with that being said, people 692 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,000 think the life of a priest is much easier than that of a 693 00:40:10,008 --> 00:40:13,400 parishioner you that, um, since you're bulletproof, you don't 694 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:16,800 have struggles, you don't fall into Temptations or so forth. 695 00:40:16,900 --> 00:40:20,200 What struggles, specifically, maybe in your first five years 696 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:25,200 of your now vocation of A priest were you in during that 697 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:27,000 transition? Now from, in a sense, you're 698 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:29,600 more of a parishioner. You were just a deacon, still, 699 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,300 having a position of authority, you're not leading A Flock. 700 00:40:32,300 --> 00:40:36,000 What were you trying to overcome the struggles? 701 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:37,300 You're trying to overcome at that time. 702 00:40:37,300 --> 00:40:40,200 I have I have not overcome anything yet Kristen. 703 00:40:40,500 --> 00:40:43,500 I still struggle and more than one of the greatest 704 00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:49,300 characteristics of Christ is humility. 705 00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:52,300 Jesus, didn't find a place. To be born. 706 00:40:52,300 --> 00:40:56,800 He was born in a stable full of dung and that's humility. 707 00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:58,300 We spoke about that last program. 708 00:40:58,300 --> 00:41:03,100 I think humility and perseverance. 709 00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:07,600 You know, I always say faith, entails Faith. 710 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:13,500 Obviously trusts And patience and perseverance. 711 00:41:14,900 --> 00:41:21,200 These are the, the four attributes that I could be 712 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:22,900 speaking on behalf of very other priests. 713 00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:26,600 I don't know. But that we all go through, it's 714 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:30,200 not easy. Kristen because we have some 715 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:33,300 difficult people in the flock and Christ encountered 716 00:41:33,300 --> 00:41:35,900 difficulties opponents. We're just so difficult. 717 00:41:35,900 --> 00:41:38,600 They didn't budge it was on the cross. 718 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:40,500 He was he just said, give me some water in there. 719 00:41:40,700 --> 00:41:44,900 Even guile to drink, right? And then you have demanding 720 00:41:44,900 --> 00:41:49,300 people and there were demanding people when Jesus was, you know, 721 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:53,600 Lord, tell my brother to, to, you know, split half the entire 722 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:56,800 inheritance and Jesus who who told you that I've been put to 723 00:41:56,808 --> 00:42:01,000 be, you know, I'm the arbitrator and then you have those people 724 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:06,600 that are so down in life that are so helpless. 725 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:10,500 So you have to be everything to everyone. 726 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:13,300 One. And then you have your own 727 00:42:13,300 --> 00:42:18,700 struggles, personal struggles, family struggles, health issues, 728 00:42:18,700 --> 00:42:25,300 you know, just before we begin this program, Audrina said 729 00:42:25,300 --> 00:42:29,200 something and I said, I said something about my having a 730 00:42:29,208 --> 00:42:32,300 little bit of pain here and then she goes I said yeah, so when 731 00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:33,900 you want to cry you come to me and cry. 732 00:42:33,900 --> 00:42:36,100 Who do I cry? Just because I he's my he's my 733 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:37,700 shoulder. You can create you know who do 734 00:42:37,700 --> 00:42:40,300 we cry too. And we have when we have issues, 735 00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:44,000 obviously we cry to them. What, you know, but the 736 00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:46,100 struggles are always going to be there. 737 00:42:46,700 --> 00:42:51,900 And as far as I'm concerned for me to overcome, I'm, I've put 738 00:42:51,900 --> 00:42:55,600 this in Motion in practice the past three weeks now. 739 00:42:56,500 --> 00:43:00,800 See, we're not perfect, you know, I didn't I didn't become 740 00:43:00,900 --> 00:43:03,700 bulletproof as, as soon as I was ordained priest. 741 00:43:04,300 --> 00:43:09,000 What I try to now as personally, and maybe this is a help as is 742 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:11,200 always remember what st. Paul says. 743 00:43:11,700 --> 00:43:14,900 Always think yourselves as being less than others. 744 00:43:15,700 --> 00:43:19,800 So, if you and I have an argument and I know I'm, right? 745 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:22,500 I must say to myself, will know, maybe it was my fault. 746 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,100 It gives you so much peace and comfort as well. 747 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:27,900 You know, so, struggles are always there. 748 00:43:28,700 --> 00:43:35,600 And temptations. Many ways, not as a faithful and 749 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:40,200 a parishioner, but the pride factor is always there. 750 00:43:43,900 --> 00:43:47,400 The, you know being right at all times. 751 00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:53,100 So we go through that. So now kind of moving to 2010. 752 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:59,300 You moved from Australia to America, we do so briefly 753 00:43:59,300 --> 00:44:02,300 explain that transition from Australia, to America, 754 00:44:02,300 --> 00:44:04,800 specifically, the Central Valley of California. 755 00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:08,000 And why 2009? He's Grace. 756 00:44:08,100 --> 00:44:09,900 Now he's holding his mother was ordained. 757 00:44:09,900 --> 00:44:15,300 A bishop, his first, the first Eucharistic service. 758 00:44:16,700 --> 00:44:20,500 He's Grace then murabba celebrated was the English, 759 00:44:20,500 --> 00:44:24,400 abaza in Sydney and Saint John's park hall. 760 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:27,200 It was a school hall. I was his first service 761 00:44:28,100 --> 00:44:29,900 apparently. I wasn't at that meeting 762 00:44:29,900 --> 00:44:36,700 apparently, his grace maragua. He's beatitude marvelous because 763 00:44:36,700 --> 00:44:41,300 his grace accompanied the late modern era for the consecration 764 00:44:41,300 --> 00:44:44,500 of Martinez to the ranking of Archbishop and the light. 765 00:44:44,500 --> 00:44:49,000 Marner say where Chilling out as I say, and marinara, say, 766 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:52,800 through this idea, you know, you should take passage in art and 767 00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:56,100 take him to the Central Valley because we had that issue with 768 00:44:56,100 --> 00:44:59,100 the church's back in 2006. I don't want to go into that 769 00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:03,400 and, you know, he's, he'll help you, you know, establish Youth 770 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:05,200 and, you know, you can be an assistant to you. 771 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:10,700 And, and so, madhava entertained, the idea and 772 00:45:10,700 --> 00:45:13,400 actually refer, you know, ask Mommy said ìyou. 773 00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:15,300 It is made this man's your right hand. 774 00:45:15,600 --> 00:45:17,800 Are you okay with that? Not a meal is thought about in 775 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:21,800 the role, until you know what? Yeah, I'll manage one year or 776 00:45:21,808 --> 00:45:24,000 maybe one and a half years. I'll manage. 777 00:45:24,300 --> 00:45:28,300 So that's when it started brand. I remember specifically he's 778 00:45:28,300 --> 00:45:31,100 holding us the light. Martha was sitting down and we 779 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:35,300 entered the room and we greeted him and receive blessings and 780 00:45:35,500 --> 00:45:38,200 Mara went first and then I was behind him out of Mark. 781 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:43,000 Martin has said element, if Li TT Le cashew they're already 782 00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:44,800 cooked and it was all ready to go. 783 00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:50,200 Is just had to be tasted So yeah, and you know, I remember 784 00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:54,900 marvelous said o, Mara was it, you need to ask Julia said, she 785 00:45:54,900 --> 00:45:57,700 let's find out. Why you let he's fine, he's been 786 00:45:57,700 --> 00:45:59,600 nothing. But it was, it was, it was, it 787 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:04,000 was meant to be for 12 to come and help the diocese, which was 788 00:46:04,200 --> 00:46:11,100 a little wounded back in 2010. So you're now in the beautiful 789 00:46:11,100 --> 00:46:14,700 Central Valley of California, what Ministry were you involved 790 00:46:14,700 --> 00:46:17,600 in? Well, the first thing obviously, 791 00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:22,400 my main concern was the youth. I was I was called to work and 792 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:24,600 to start, you know, assisting the youth. 793 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:32,400 So the first first move was to establish some committees. 794 00:46:33,300 --> 00:46:36,200 The first one was the diocese in your youth. 795 00:46:36,200 --> 00:46:41,200 Core Group in tailed youth members of All the parishes in 796 00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:45,000 the diocese including modern RC + Mario Super as well. 797 00:46:45,300 --> 00:46:48,100 I remember, I called all the youth presidents. 798 00:46:48,500 --> 00:46:56,800 Holla, Shasha ammo and schemata. Antoine was the eighth president 799 00:46:56,800 --> 00:47:00,100 here at Mater Dei just gathering information? 800 00:47:00,100 --> 00:47:02,500 Like what are you lacking? What would you like to see 801 00:47:02,500 --> 00:47:04,100 what's your issues? And what have you? 802 00:47:04,100 --> 00:47:08,000 So I went back to his grace and I remember his grace had a 803 00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:11,900 little retreat in His bedroom and had white board. 804 00:47:11,900 --> 00:47:15,500 I said Cassy to listen and I started writing, you know, I 805 00:47:15,500 --> 00:47:18,400 always like to write and I said I think we should organize this 806 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:25,400 dada dada and his grace was very positive and we as he actually 807 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:30,100 not myself, he approved the establishment of the diocese and 808 00:47:30,100 --> 00:47:33,700 youth cool. Cool Group, D, CR, G, really 809 00:47:33,700 --> 00:47:40,100 said, they always a master of the acronyms and Thank you. 810 00:47:40,900 --> 00:47:44,400 But a few years down the track few years down the track. 811 00:47:45,500 --> 00:47:49,100 You know, it was seen that it's difficult for the Bay Area to be 812 00:47:49,100 --> 00:47:51,200 involved and they would like to do their own thing. 813 00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:54,700 I think my brother Joshua Lawrence had requested that he 814 00:47:54,700 --> 00:47:58,000 would like to take care of the youth because you know you know 815 00:47:58,008 --> 00:48:02,600 it's the travel distance what have you and then we established 816 00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:10,300 the Central Valley youth Cole group, he's Group C, V YG but at 817 00:48:10,300 --> 00:48:15,100 that time, also, if you all recall the debt reduction and 818 00:48:15,300 --> 00:48:19,100 development campaign that idea I bought from Sydney because when 819 00:48:19,100 --> 00:48:22,200 I was when I did come to Australia to the United States, 820 00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:26,400 we had already kicked that off. We had done the same campaign 821 00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:29,900 there as well. And again when he's Grace saw 822 00:48:29,900 --> 00:48:32,400 the figures and my brother priests and said, you know, we 823 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:36,900 need we need to push this and so but but focusing mainly on the 824 00:48:36,900 --> 00:48:40,100 on the youth and established in the Central Valley youth called 825 00:48:40,100 --> 00:48:42,200 group, it's funny that you mentioned the Whiteboard because 826 00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:44,800 you still do that today you I'm literally looking at the 827 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:48,400 Whiteboard behind me. You love to do that but talk a 828 00:48:48,408 --> 00:48:50,500 little bit about the center of all youth group. 829 00:48:50,500 --> 00:48:56,100 You have been a huge advocate helper pain, father of pain. 830 00:48:56,800 --> 00:49:00,300 No, but you're someone very important to the center of all 831 00:49:00,300 --> 00:49:03,900 youth group. So talk about that a little bit. 832 00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:11,100 You know, my Ministry sings, you know, being involved in the 833 00:49:11,100 --> 00:49:15,600 youth in Sydney at the age of 19 you know, when I tell people I'm 834 00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:18,400 56. Oh ma sha Allah? 835 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:20,600 Yeah, exactly. You're knocking on wood, right? 836 00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:23,600 What are you do? I said nothing, I just work with 837 00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:30,300 the youth as as problematic as. I don't know how I got to be 838 00:49:30,300 --> 00:49:32,400 careful with the choice of my words added. 839 00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:36,400 As they are, I love the youth. II really? 840 00:49:36,900 --> 00:49:39,500 You know? And I'm glad, I'm still the old 841 00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:43,300 fashioned shamash again art. And when I see youth get 842 00:49:43,300 --> 00:49:46,100 involved in a few things, you know, my terminology is old. 843 00:49:46,100 --> 00:49:49,500 Now sometimes when I first came here, I was to use the Straight 844 00:49:49,500 --> 00:49:52,000 terminology and I want it. It's a cool dude. 845 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:55,000 Yea now he's the same. Terms are going, what's that? 846 00:49:55,100 --> 00:49:58,900 All right. I love the youth because I don't 847 00:49:58,900 --> 00:50:04,300 believe they are the future. I believe they are The past the 848 00:50:04,300 --> 00:50:07,200 present and the future of the nation a church. 849 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:11,900 And what have you? So, when I met the youth here 850 00:50:12,600 --> 00:50:17,700 and I saw that, unfortunately, due to many circumstances, they 851 00:50:17,700 --> 00:50:20,600 were deprived of so many things that we had in Sydney. 852 00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:25,100 And I spoke I was constantly Consulting with his graciousness 853 00:50:25,100 --> 00:50:27,900 that you would need to do this. And I'd like to establish this, 854 00:50:27,900 --> 00:50:33,200 you know, worship night, we established 12. 855 00:50:33,300 --> 00:50:38,200 No, I borrow ten years ago, his grace actually presented on the 856 00:50:38,200 --> 00:50:41,000 first one. If you remember, we did that in 857 00:50:41,000 --> 00:50:45,900 Sydney, we called it Friday evening preaching. 858 00:50:46,300 --> 00:50:50,600 And we had the Wednesday Bible studies evening where we would 859 00:50:50,600 --> 00:50:54,000 sit and discuss the Bible obviously, study the scriptures. 860 00:50:54,500 --> 00:50:58,500 So and I saw a lot of things that we would do in Sydney that 861 00:50:58,600 --> 00:51:02,000 the youth won't getting you know, involved in here. 862 00:51:02,700 --> 00:51:08,200 So, it was a it was a mission, but it was God's work. 863 00:51:09,300 --> 00:51:13,900 And today when I see people like yourself and not because you're 864 00:51:13,900 --> 00:51:20,000 interviewing me and people like Katrina my sister Katrina and 865 00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:22,800 many others who are now leading Bible studies. 866 00:51:23,300 --> 00:51:26,900 I mean quietly under the table I got yes that's what that's what 867 00:51:26,908 --> 00:51:29,300 it was all about. Praise Your Name Lord God you 868 00:51:29,300 --> 00:51:36,600 know, and we're we're not there, we have a long way to go but You 869 00:51:36,600 --> 00:51:39,800 know, Chris. And I believe that, you know, 870 00:51:40,200 --> 00:51:44,200 the, the, the events of the world today and the path that 871 00:51:44,200 --> 00:51:48,700 the world is taken. We need a church needs to 872 00:51:48,800 --> 00:51:53,000 exhaust, time, effort and finances. 873 00:51:53,400 --> 00:51:56,800 Not only for the Youth, but to begin from The Young, at the, at 874 00:51:56,800 --> 00:51:59,300 the young age, the the children. Exactly. 875 00:51:59,300 --> 00:52:00,800 Yeah. Just specific. 876 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:03,500 I guess, with your role within the youth, you touched on a lot 877 00:52:03,500 --> 00:52:05,200 of things. But out of all those, what do 878 00:52:05,208 --> 00:52:07,800 you love? Most Just about helping with the 879 00:52:07,800 --> 00:52:10,100 youth group. If you had one thing, you the 880 00:52:10,100 --> 00:52:12,000 fun, we have the fun. Oh yeah. 881 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:16,000 We have a lot of that, the multi shit in there is a going Ram, 882 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:17,200 right? Yes. 883 00:52:17,200 --> 00:52:21,000 And and what else do we have? What's number are you? 884 00:52:21,900 --> 00:52:23,200 By the way? What's number I you? 885 00:52:23,200 --> 00:52:28,500 Kristen 25. Okay, she got it, it's seeing 886 00:52:28,500 --> 00:52:30,100 them grow. You know. 887 00:52:30,100 --> 00:52:36,700 Again when I 2010 how old were you Kristen 15:15, you're a 888 00:52:36,700 --> 00:52:40,300 young girl, right? But now here you are. 889 00:52:40,500 --> 00:52:45,700 Interviewing that unworthy servant of God, who arrived in, 890 00:52:45,700 --> 00:52:52,100 he back in 2010 seeing those that are now married with 891 00:52:52,100 --> 00:52:54,900 Children like Maggie and and many others. 892 00:52:56,200 --> 00:53:01,900 It gives me so much joy in the spirit and to praise the Lord 893 00:53:01,900 --> 00:53:03,600 and say, Lord your work. So true. 894 00:53:03,700 --> 00:53:08,300 Truly amazing, truly amazing, you know, and the youth have 895 00:53:08,300 --> 00:53:13,600 played a very big role in my life, in many ways, the youth 896 00:53:13,600 --> 00:53:19,400 have disciplined me. Do you have taught me to see it 897 00:53:19,500 --> 00:53:21,900 in many ways? And not just my way. 898 00:53:22,300 --> 00:53:26,800 And I truly say this, the youth have taught me to be long 899 00:53:26,800 --> 00:53:33,500 bearing and to be patient and to just go along and continue to 900 00:53:33,500 --> 00:53:36,500 rely on God and not my own understanding. 901 00:53:37,700 --> 00:53:39,400 And today this is still happening. 902 00:53:39,400 --> 00:53:43,300 So thank you youth. So what are you two are as a 903 00:53:43,308 --> 00:53:47,400 Ramen but side would say you to mutti It is still say that 904 00:53:47,400 --> 00:53:50,600 today. What are your expectations and 905 00:53:50,600 --> 00:53:53,400 Visions for the Youth of the 21st Century? 906 00:53:55,800 --> 00:54:00,700 Oh, you know. I'd like to see the youth. 907 00:54:02,900 --> 00:54:08,900 Engage in more spirituality than what the world has to offer. 908 00:54:09,400 --> 00:54:12,600 I'd like to see the youth truly commit their lives to Jesus 909 00:54:12,600 --> 00:54:16,600 Christ. And I'd like to see the youth, 910 00:54:16,600 --> 00:54:21,300 give everything they have that have been blessed with from God, 911 00:54:21,400 --> 00:54:24,100 give it back to Christ. I'd like to see the youth. 912 00:54:24,100 --> 00:54:27,200 Take over the church with all respects. 913 00:54:27,200 --> 00:54:30,200 Now if it wasn't for our parents, we would not be here. 914 00:54:30,200 --> 00:54:34,400 You know, when I see old priests and people say oh the old 915 00:54:34,400 --> 00:54:37,300 priest, they never preached that you know, if it wasn't for them, 916 00:54:37,300 --> 00:54:40,700 I wouldn't be here. I actually kissed there and I 917 00:54:40,700 --> 00:54:43,100 thank them. I say thank you because it 918 00:54:43,100 --> 00:54:46,400 wasn't for you. I may not have been here today, 919 00:54:47,100 --> 00:54:51,500 but I'd like to see the youth getting involved in the church 920 00:54:51,800 --> 00:54:55,000 to run the church not only administrative and financials. 921 00:54:55,000 --> 00:54:59,300 Not only that, I'd like to see the youth in, you know, the the 922 00:54:59,300 --> 00:55:05,100 the young man 2222 cray for rankings to to take, you know, a 923 00:55:06,100 --> 00:55:11,500 different Church orders and and offices and and the my sister's 924 00:55:11,500 --> 00:55:13,900 to be involved in the church where they're teaching. 925 00:55:14,000 --> 00:55:17,700 The young, he's and becoming, you know, mentors and, and 926 00:55:17,700 --> 00:55:20,900 Sunday school. And, you know, the youth itself. 927 00:55:21,500 --> 00:55:24,600 It just it's got It's a chain reaction, you know, you're not 928 00:55:24,600 --> 00:55:27,200 you need to. Now Kristin you need to now 929 00:55:27,900 --> 00:55:33,200 people like yourself. Maggie your rosy Gabby Katrina. 930 00:55:33,700 --> 00:55:38,900 Adrena Steven Joey, you know I'm sorry I can't mention everyone 931 00:55:38,900 --> 00:55:42,800 would be if till tomorrow to now come back and give back to the 932 00:55:42,800 --> 00:55:46,600 church but the church has Them to be mentors, you know and you 933 00:55:46,608 --> 00:55:48,900 guys do that a lot and that's what I like to see. 934 00:55:48,900 --> 00:55:52,100 And I and II do witness that every now and then which is 935 00:55:52,100 --> 00:55:54,300 great. And we honestly have you are 936 00:55:54,300 --> 00:55:57,600 blessed to have you someone that helps us because it's something 937 00:55:57,600 --> 00:56:01,600 definitely difficult for us and we're trying to give back just 938 00:56:01,600 --> 00:56:04,400 as much as the church has given back to us but we can't do 939 00:56:04,400 --> 00:56:07,900 without you know your support but how much do I owe you guys? 940 00:56:07,900 --> 00:56:11,100 Come on. Yeah you know it's I think very 941 00:56:11,100 --> 00:56:13,900 very well. Adrene is calling a lot okay. 942 00:56:14,000 --> 00:56:15,400 See ya. Next time, you come and knock on 943 00:56:15,400 --> 00:56:18,700 my door. So now we're kind of to present 944 00:56:18,700 --> 00:56:21,300 day at this point. You've been a priest for almost 945 00:56:21,300 --> 00:56:23,800 20 years, you're a parish priest. 946 00:56:23,900 --> 00:56:26,200 You hold an executive position in the National Youth 947 00:56:26,200 --> 00:56:28,600 Association. You're the coordinator of the 948 00:56:28,600 --> 00:56:31,600 local youth ministry. You have a podcast Ministry, 949 00:56:31,800 --> 00:56:35,700 your husband, a father, and the best of all your grandfather. 950 00:56:35,900 --> 00:56:39,500 So you click. So you wear a lot of hats. 951 00:56:39,700 --> 00:56:41,800 What struggles do you endure today? 952 00:56:41,800 --> 00:56:45,200 And when I say that again, it's for It was prisoners were living 953 00:56:45,200 --> 00:56:47,400 in this Society. We go through many challenges, 954 00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:51,100 we feel that a lot of times, we're the only ones in during 955 00:56:51,100 --> 00:56:55,100 these difficulties Temptations loss of hope faith, really 956 00:56:55,100 --> 00:56:58,900 fighting to stay afloat. So what do you somebody had that 957 00:56:58,900 --> 00:57:04,800 has all those hats struggle with sometimes it's staying focused. 958 00:57:05,700 --> 00:57:12,000 And again and the greatest struggle is wanting things to go 959 00:57:12,000 --> 00:57:14,200 where I think is right. Right? 960 00:57:14,400 --> 00:57:18,200 How I think is correct. And the time that I think is, 961 00:57:18,500 --> 00:57:22,900 you know, appropriate and I get so many eggs on my faces because 962 00:57:22,900 --> 00:57:25,600 I come back. And I say, you know, I can hear 963 00:57:25,600 --> 00:57:28,300 it through my, again, the conscience and the scriptures, 964 00:57:28,300 --> 00:57:31,000 and my, even my sermons when it sometimes I'm preaching. 965 00:57:31,200 --> 00:57:33,600 And I always give this disclaimer, you know, when I 966 00:57:33,600 --> 00:57:35,200 preach, I'm preaching to myself first. 967 00:57:35,400 --> 00:57:39,700 It's like God saying, relax. Listen, this is not your church. 968 00:57:39,700 --> 00:57:44,000 You are an unworthy servant. Remember you used to smoke and I 969 00:57:44,100 --> 00:57:47,600 wanted to become a singer and he would go out and and, you know, 970 00:57:47,600 --> 00:57:50,800 with your friends to the public swimming pools and you would do 971 00:57:50,800 --> 00:57:52,600 the budget battle in the in the water. 972 00:57:52,600 --> 00:57:56,000 And all that's going back. That's going back stock. 973 00:57:56,000 --> 00:58:00,100 Remember remember you? You stole a textbook once and 974 00:58:00,100 --> 00:58:02,700 you almost got caught but you're so clever. 975 00:58:02,700 --> 00:58:04,700 You took it out of your bag. Show the bag. 976 00:58:04,700 --> 00:58:06,900 Put the bag down and put the book back again. 977 00:58:07,000 --> 00:58:10,700 So you were a thief, right? Remember used to cuss so much. 978 00:58:10,700 --> 00:58:15,200 So you are a blasphemer, right? Remember you used to hate? 979 00:58:15,200 --> 00:58:18,200 So you become a murderer because he who hates his brother is a 980 00:58:18,200 --> 00:58:21,200 murderer. Hey remember you are on that 981 00:58:21,400 --> 00:58:26,300 rubbish dump which you are so worthy of being there. 982 00:58:26,400 --> 00:58:30,000 Remember, I took you from there and I put you at the altar where 983 00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:33,200 you open your arms and you invoke the Holy Spirit to come 984 00:58:33,200 --> 00:58:36,500 down. It's not you so relax you know 985 00:58:36,500 --> 00:58:39,600 just as God said to Elijah get up. 986 00:58:39,600 --> 00:58:42,500 Stop whinging. You got more work to do relax. 987 00:58:42,500 --> 00:58:45,800 Its my church, it's Timing. It's my way. 988 00:58:46,200 --> 00:58:49,700 And it's the way I won because Jesus is the way the truth and 989 00:58:49,700 --> 00:58:52,100 the life. You know, that's my struggle. 990 00:58:52,400 --> 00:58:55,300 So and that's that's a prayer point for I asked for everyone 991 00:58:55,300 --> 00:58:58,600 to pray for me and I think that's evidence in long because 992 00:58:58,600 --> 00:59:00,700 we go through many of the similar struggles that you 993 00:59:00,700 --> 00:59:04,300 mentioned and just alone, you know, we always want our way our 994 00:59:04,300 --> 00:59:07,400 time, you know, when we pray for something and it might not 995 00:59:07,400 --> 00:59:09,900 happen, it can obviously be discouraging and you have that 996 00:59:09,900 --> 00:59:13,100 loss of Hope and Faith. I mean start questioning a lot 997 00:59:13,100 --> 00:59:16,500 so just to know No, just like you said, Relax and know that 998 00:59:16,900 --> 00:59:19,500 everybody is going through that and just to trust the process 999 00:59:19,500 --> 00:59:22,500 and trust. And what God has put before you 1000 00:59:22,500 --> 00:59:26,700 is the best thing for you. Let me tell you Crystal, I'm 1001 00:59:26,700 --> 00:59:31,000 sorry to cut you short. When I posted this post of Saint 1002 00:59:31,000 --> 00:59:35,700 John, chrysostom, I was going through that struggle back, then 1003 00:59:35,700 --> 00:59:42,500 this is only a few A few weeks ago Saint John chrysostom 1004 00:59:42,500 --> 00:59:44,500 rights. When your prayers I'm trying to 1005 00:59:44,500 --> 00:59:47,000 find a post. I can read it verbatim but along 1006 00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:54,500 lines when your prayers are not answered and or something along 1007 00:59:54,500 --> 00:59:58,300 those lines when you're present. Not answered. 1008 00:59:58,700 --> 01:00:02,000 Do not think that you are more wise than God. 1009 01:00:02,900 --> 01:00:06,600 Just wait. All right, that day I posted 1010 01:00:06,600 --> 01:00:09,600 that that was for me, but I want to share it with everyone 1011 01:00:09,900 --> 01:00:11,600 because I was struggling with something. 1012 01:00:12,500 --> 01:00:16,100 Why isn't it happening on? And then I pick up the church 1013 01:00:16,100 --> 01:00:21,200 fathers and I, I truly recommend strongly recommend for you, for 1014 01:00:21,200 --> 01:00:23,600 everyone, to read the writings of the church fathers are 1015 01:00:23,600 --> 01:00:26,300 amazing. And when I read that, I thought, 1016 01:00:26,300 --> 01:00:28,800 okay, that's another slap in the face or relax. 1017 01:00:28,800 --> 01:00:30,700 Hey, you know what? I'm going to post this for 1018 01:00:30,700 --> 01:00:34,400 myself so I can always Refer back to it and for others as 1019 01:00:34,400 --> 01:00:36,300 well. So when someone is feeling 1020 01:00:36,600 --> 01:00:39,500 similar to a lot of the examples that you mentioned, you know, 1021 01:00:39,500 --> 01:00:41,600 feeling down, whatever it may be. 1022 01:00:41,700 --> 01:00:44,700 What is your advice for them you touched on a little bit about it 1023 01:00:44,700 --> 01:00:49,400 to pick up, let me go back in life example, we were married We 1024 01:00:49,400 --> 01:00:54,800 are living in apartments. We had Melissa, we had 50 cents 1025 01:00:54,800 --> 01:01:01,100 in our bank account. And Juliet was crying and like, 1026 01:01:01,100 --> 01:01:04,700 what are we gonna do? And why am I why we like this. 1027 01:01:04,700 --> 01:01:08,400 Look at this person, look at that person, and we always say 1028 01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:11,300 that, I guess you could this person do that person, I 1029 01:01:11,300 --> 01:01:20,000 specifically remember she can recall, I said, hey, hey God, 1030 01:01:20,000 --> 01:01:22,400 doesn't love that person. More than he loves you and I 1031 01:01:22,400 --> 01:01:26,900 God, will provide and a few weeks down the track, all the 1032 01:01:26,900 --> 01:01:28,900 bills were paid. And Had more money in the bank 1033 01:01:28,900 --> 01:01:31,900 account, more than 50 Cent's. Anyway, trust the process. 1034 01:01:32,000 --> 01:01:36,100 Always God does not show partiality. 1035 01:01:36,400 --> 01:01:39,800 He has a perfect plan, perfect timing. 1036 01:01:40,000 --> 01:01:43,200 And it always happens. Kristen when it happens, we 1037 01:01:43,200 --> 01:01:48,000 always say, oh, thank God. Oh, look at when it happened or 1038 01:01:48,000 --> 01:01:50,900 it perfect timing. But a few months before that, we 1039 01:01:50,900 --> 01:01:53,600 whinging, almost wanted to throw in the town, right? 1040 01:01:53,900 --> 01:01:56,600 Wait for the Lord be still and know that I am. 1041 01:01:56,600 --> 01:02:00,800 Your God. You know, God came down to 1042 01:02:00,800 --> 01:02:04,500 conflation God incarnates. So that he could be born in a 1043 01:02:04,500 --> 01:02:07,400 stable of dung and it could be spared for you. 1044 01:02:07,400 --> 01:02:09,900 And I, how much more evidence do we want that? 1045 01:02:09,900 --> 01:02:13,200 God loves us. Just be patient and wait for the 1046 01:02:13,200 --> 01:02:16,000 Lord, even if we're struggling. You know, I always said, I take 1047 01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:21,100 a lot of hard from job job didn't denounce God, but he 1048 01:02:21,100 --> 01:02:23,800 cursed the day. He was born was like, why am I 1049 01:02:23,808 --> 01:02:25,200 doing? What am I doing here? 1050 01:02:25,500 --> 01:02:28,700 But he never denounced his Lord. He never rejected his Is God, 1051 01:02:29,000 --> 01:02:32,700 and I think it's verse 38. I was a 28 God says, okay, let's 1052 01:02:32,700 --> 01:02:36,800 talk now and he said two words and Joe basically zipped it and 1053 01:02:36,800 --> 01:02:39,200 said, no, no that's it. I you're done. 1054 01:02:39,200 --> 01:02:41,600 You know, I'm done and he said no, no no, let's keep talking. 1055 01:02:41,600 --> 01:02:44,900 Where were you when I created heavens and earth, you know, so 1056 01:02:45,600 --> 01:02:47,900 with all that being said, what is the best part of your 1057 01:02:47,900 --> 01:02:54,500 vocation best part is when I stand at the altar, And I extend 1058 01:02:54,500 --> 01:03:03,000 my most puny and weak arms unworthy and invoke the Holy 1059 01:03:03,000 --> 01:03:07,500 Spirit to ascend on the Bread and Wine and spiritually 1060 01:03:07,500 --> 01:03:10,600 mysteriously, they become the body and blood of blood of 1061 01:03:10,600 --> 01:03:14,900 Christ. When I announce that such a 1062 01:03:14,908 --> 01:03:18,600 person is baptized in the name of the father and of the son of 1063 01:03:18,600 --> 01:03:21,800 the Holy Spirit when I'm emerging them in the more water, 1064 01:03:21,900 --> 01:03:24,700 I'm putting them. Death to death with Christ in 1065 01:03:24,708 --> 01:03:27,900 baptism and I'm being in and giving them new life. 1066 01:03:27,900 --> 01:03:31,700 Not me through me, but only through Jesus Christ by Jesus 1067 01:03:31,700 --> 01:03:34,600 Christ. When I lay my hand on a person 1068 01:03:34,900 --> 01:03:39,100 and beseech the Lord to send his Holy Spirit and it happens when 1069 01:03:39,100 --> 01:03:43,100 I pray on people and I ask the Lord to heal and to forgive when 1070 01:03:43,100 --> 01:03:46,600 I give Absolution and please I know we're going to get these 1071 01:03:46,600 --> 01:03:50,800 men when I say I it's not the I factor, I'm not glorifying 1072 01:03:50,800 --> 01:03:52,800 myself. This is my personal Joy. 1073 01:03:53,400 --> 01:03:57,500 Is when I by the power vested in me through Jesus, Through The 1074 01:03:57,500 --> 01:04:01,400 Grace of Jesus Christ. Announced that a person is 1075 01:04:01,400 --> 01:04:05,900 Forgiven through Christ. I always step back and say my 1076 01:04:05,900 --> 01:04:11,700 God through me that child just received new life through me, 1077 01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:17,300 that couple is now one body through me and then I come back 1078 01:04:17,300 --> 01:04:21,900 and say, well Lord, I truly am not worthy, you know, the psalm 1079 01:04:21,900 --> 01:04:27,100 says to You glory only to you. Not to me to you, only Lord be 1080 01:04:27,100 --> 01:04:31,100 glory with all that you see happening in today's society. 1081 01:04:31,100 --> 01:04:33,600 What is the most difficult part of your vocation? 1082 01:04:34,900 --> 01:04:37,700 Let me be a politician and answer your question with a 1083 01:04:37,700 --> 01:04:40,900 question. What is the most difficult 1084 01:04:41,100 --> 01:04:44,000 struggle? Or you know, Temptation, 1085 01:04:44,000 --> 01:04:46,400 whatever you go through of being a faithful. 1086 01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:50,300 Christian. In this world, Always trusting. 1087 01:04:50,300 --> 01:04:53,000 I think that's one of the biggest struggles that I have is 1088 01:04:53,000 --> 01:04:58,000 always trusting in the process and trusting I have faith in God 1089 01:04:58,000 --> 01:05:01,300 and know that whatever he puts before me, as always for the 1090 01:05:01,300 --> 01:05:03,400 benefit of my life and those around me. 1091 01:05:03,400 --> 01:05:07,200 But sometimes in the moment, I think it becomes easier said 1092 01:05:07,200 --> 01:05:09,500 than done. And you kind of touched upon 1093 01:05:09,500 --> 01:05:13,900 earlier and you said, you know, we want things our way our time 1094 01:05:13,900 --> 01:05:16,600 and we feel like, you know, sometimes we know what's best 1095 01:05:16,600 --> 01:05:20,400 for us, which is not the case. So, When something does end up 1096 01:05:20,400 --> 01:05:24,100 going in a different way than we hope and pray for, we just need 1097 01:05:24,100 --> 01:05:29,800 to relax like you even said that earlier just to relax and trust 1098 01:05:29,800 --> 01:05:35,400 in the Lord and have faith that whatever way he takes us that he 1099 01:05:35,400 --> 01:05:40,300 will equipped us to be able to persevere and become stronger. 1100 01:05:40,300 --> 01:05:44,400 Even though we might not think in our human limited mindset 1101 01:05:44,400 --> 01:05:47,600 that that's what's going to come from it, you've just answered 1102 01:05:47,600 --> 01:05:50,700 your question on my Aha. That is the difficult part of 1103 01:05:50,700 --> 01:05:54,900 the vocation to emphasize and to bring people to that true 1104 01:05:55,000 --> 01:06:00,600 understanding and firm standing that everything will pass away. 1105 01:06:01,600 --> 01:06:07,200 Only Jesus Christ is the input most important factor. 1106 01:06:07,300 --> 01:06:12,100 Jesus Christ is of yesterday is of today, an eternity, praise be 1107 01:06:12,100 --> 01:06:14,500 to his name. You know, he says in Luke 1108 01:06:14,500 --> 01:06:18,100 chapter 21 verse verse 33, Heaven and Earth will pass away, 1109 01:06:18,100 --> 01:06:21,800 but my words shall not pass away. 1110 01:06:22,300 --> 01:06:26,100 So when we read Jesus words, I mean, yes, we have the 1111 01:06:26,100 --> 01:06:30,000 comforting words, we have the alarming words but those final 1112 01:06:30,000 --> 01:06:35,600 alarming words that De Kristen you and I and every person that 1113 01:06:35,600 --> 01:06:39,700 is on this Earth, the trillions. And gazillions of people that 1114 01:06:39,700 --> 01:06:43,700 have worked walked this Earth will stand before this, 1115 01:06:43,700 --> 01:06:46,300 righteous judgment and be judged. 1116 01:06:46,300 --> 01:06:50,800 According to their deeds, faith and deeds whether good or evil. 1117 01:06:51,800 --> 01:06:56,500 That is the most difficult part of the vocation to, you know, 1118 01:06:57,000 --> 01:07:00,600 stress to people. And emphasize that this is where 1119 01:07:00,600 --> 01:07:02,200 this world. Ed is heading. 1120 01:07:02,200 --> 01:07:04,600 So where are we? What are we doing? 1121 01:07:04,600 --> 01:07:07,900 You know, I'm not one of those if Jesus was to come tomorrow. 1122 01:07:07,900 --> 01:07:09,500 What would you say? Where would you go? 1123 01:07:09,500 --> 01:07:12,500 Where would you be? You know, I'm you know Jesus 1124 01:07:12,500 --> 01:07:16,100 says worry about today, tomorrow has its own problems, I'm one of 1125 01:07:16,100 --> 01:07:18,900 those who would say, where are we today? 1126 01:07:19,400 --> 01:07:22,100 Let's fix today and God willing tomorrow. 1127 01:07:22,300 --> 01:07:26,000 God will take care of and to add on to what you're saying about 1128 01:07:26,000 --> 01:07:29,200 wanting to fix today. I do worry for the new 1129 01:07:29,200 --> 01:07:34,400 generation we have A lot going on in society, a lot of things 1130 01:07:34,400 --> 01:07:36,800 that are against our Christian faith. 1131 01:07:36,800 --> 01:07:41,400 So trying to, you know, be somebody that is part of the 1132 01:07:41,400 --> 01:07:44,300 society. But as well continue to pursue 1133 01:07:44,300 --> 01:07:47,700 this Christian faith can be difficult and it can lead to a 1134 01:07:47,700 --> 01:07:50,000 lot of confusion. A lot of challenges, a lot of 1135 01:07:50,200 --> 01:07:54,400 difficulties, but when we are close to the church, it just 1136 01:07:54,400 --> 01:07:59,300 makes it a little bit easier in a sense that we have the support 1137 01:07:59,400 --> 01:08:01,200 of others that, you know, our life. 1138 01:08:01,300 --> 01:08:04,300 Like minded and pursuing that same path that we are so they 1139 01:08:04,300 --> 01:08:07,300 can support us God. So graciously granted us the 1140 01:08:07,300 --> 01:08:11,700 Free Will Kristin but it's what do we do with that free will 1141 01:08:11,700 --> 01:08:15,200 correct? You know I can I can place a 1142 01:08:15,200 --> 01:08:19,399 knife in a murderous hand and he will murder but I can place a 1143 01:08:19,399 --> 01:08:22,200 knife in a physician's hand and he will heal people. 1144 01:08:22,600 --> 01:08:26,700 Let's be the Physicians. Let's use our Free Will for the 1145 01:08:26,700 --> 01:08:31,100 glory of God, first and foremost for ourselves for the Salvation 1146 01:08:31,100 --> 01:08:35,700 of Of Souls. And for our Salvation, you know, 1147 01:08:35,700 --> 01:08:40,500 we I think we tend to use this Free Will weave weave so taken 1148 01:08:40,500 --> 01:08:44,800 it out of context and so liquefied it, you know, I'm free 1149 01:08:44,800 --> 01:08:47,700 to do what I want. Well, well, yes, you are, but 1150 01:08:47,700 --> 01:08:49,899 there are consequences. You know, I remember asking my 1151 01:08:49,899 --> 01:08:55,300 brother-in-law, once we were driving, I said, John I can 1152 01:08:55,300 --> 01:08:57,700 kill, but I can murder people because know I was a Shadow. 1153 01:08:57,700 --> 01:08:59,800 Magic is no. No, you can't. 1154 01:08:59,800 --> 01:09:04,500 I said why? You know, it's like he's to go, 1155 01:09:04,700 --> 01:09:07,000 huh? I see how I can I can go out 1156 01:09:07,000 --> 01:09:11,200 there and and buy a weapon. Obtain, a weapon and just many 1157 01:09:11,200 --> 01:09:15,800 people I can do that. I said, but should I because no, 1158 01:09:15,800 --> 01:09:16,899 you shouldn't. I said why? 1159 01:09:16,899 --> 01:09:19,700 Because, well, that's murder. I said, but you see I have the 1160 01:09:19,700 --> 01:09:21,100 free will. I can do that. 1161 01:09:21,200 --> 01:09:22,899 But I will choose not to do that. 1162 01:09:22,899 --> 01:09:28,100 I will choose to do to heal people, rather than you no harm. 1163 01:09:28,100 --> 01:09:30,399 People heal people, not harm people. 1164 01:09:30,700 --> 01:09:34,200 There's a lack Excellent, let's all Hill people and not harm 1165 01:09:34,200 --> 01:09:36,300 people. How's that Audrina? 1166 01:09:36,800 --> 01:09:40,600 There you go. All right race and and I'll be, 1167 01:09:40,600 --> 01:09:44,600 we have reached the tail end of our episode and I only have like 1168 01:09:44,600 --> 01:09:46,600 15 more questions. Now, I'm just kidding. 1169 01:09:47,100 --> 01:09:49,000 Just a few more comedy and I know, right? 1170 01:09:49,000 --> 01:09:52,800 So Johnson know. So one of my questions for you 1171 01:09:53,100 --> 01:09:56,700 for the clothes off is who has been the most influential person 1172 01:09:56,700 --> 01:10:02,200 in your life. Who has been first and foremost 1173 01:10:02,200 --> 01:10:04,500 praise and glory be to his name out loud now Savior. 1174 01:10:04,500 --> 01:10:07,700 Jesus Christ on this Earth, I mean it you know it goes without 1175 01:10:07,700 --> 01:10:13,400 saying but I'd really like to make mention of one beloved 1176 01:10:13,400 --> 01:10:20,500 brother who was the cause of the turning point of my 1177 01:10:20,500 --> 01:10:25,500 understanding of being a deacon being in the church, he's name 1178 01:10:25,500 --> 01:10:33,200 is Annie knows her Runa. I remember when we began the 1179 01:10:33,300 --> 01:10:40,500 English Ministries in Australia, the first meeting, we had Nino's 1180 01:10:40,500 --> 01:10:43,300 Haroon was a brother, who would I'd seen the church? 1181 01:10:43,300 --> 01:10:44,600 He's dead. The late. 1182 01:10:44,600 --> 01:10:47,900 Gosh, I give it has a hard-on. He would be in church every 1183 01:10:47,900 --> 01:10:50,400 Sunday but I wouldn't see him at all. 1184 01:10:50,400 --> 01:10:53,300 They would attend other churches for Bible studies because there 1185 01:10:53,300 --> 01:10:55,800 was no Bible studies. Effective Bible studies back 1186 01:10:55,800 --> 01:10:59,200 then and I was one of the cause of that, not Affected Bible 1187 01:10:59,200 --> 01:11:02,100 studies. I remember that first meeting we 1188 01:11:02,100 --> 01:11:06,000 had when he when he entered the hall and a few other people with 1189 01:11:06,000 --> 01:11:11,300 him, I thought he knows his back and when I was a shamash oven 1190 01:11:11,300 --> 01:11:13,600 and when he left he shook, my hand goes from Asia. 1191 01:11:13,600 --> 01:11:19,400 We're gonna make this work. And today eight, this beloved, 1192 01:11:19,400 --> 01:11:22,500 brother of mine has been an amazing support. 1193 01:11:24,200 --> 01:11:28,400 I yearn for his love for his church and his name. 1194 01:11:28,600 --> 01:11:31,600 Ian, he's biblical. Knowledge is scriptural 1195 01:11:31,600 --> 01:11:33,500 knowledge. His capability. 1196 01:11:33,500 --> 01:11:37,400 He is gift of the gab sometimes it took so much. 1197 01:11:37,400 --> 01:11:39,300 He won't let you talk, but we love him. 1198 01:11:39,900 --> 01:11:42,700 And, you know, the six of his ear, he knows what I'm talking 1199 01:11:42,700 --> 01:11:47,400 about. He has been very, very info 1200 01:11:47,600 --> 01:11:52,300 influential from the beginning of my Priestly Ministry in 1201 01:11:52,300 --> 01:11:55,200 Sydney for the Saints Peter and Paul Parish. 1202 01:11:55,300 --> 01:11:58,000 Well, that's amazing to have somebody that has such a has had 1203 01:11:58,000 --> 01:12:01,200 such Influence on you and really helped you continue this 1204 01:12:01,500 --> 01:12:04,200 endeavor through helping in the church. 1205 01:12:04,800 --> 01:12:07,000 My other question is what? Hobbies do you love? 1206 01:12:07,000 --> 01:12:08,600 I know you always mention soccer. 1207 01:12:09,000 --> 01:12:13,600 But other than that Sokka fishing, I'm done that for 20 1208 01:12:13,600 --> 01:12:17,700 years and every time, yeah, I meet people like give 0 and my 1209 01:12:17,700 --> 01:12:20,500 cousin Hormuz and Robbie just name the date. 1210 01:12:20,500 --> 01:12:24,000 Yeah, yeah, we'll go out and, you know, seven months later 1211 01:12:24,000 --> 01:12:25,200 Robbie, we're still waiting for you. 1212 01:12:25,400 --> 01:12:28,300 I love fishing and I love. I love to play soccer. 1213 01:12:28,500 --> 01:12:34,500 Ow, ping-pong. Hell yeah and that's about it. 1214 01:12:34,500 --> 01:12:37,300 I think and then luring life left. 1215 01:12:38,700 --> 01:12:41,600 My last question is what is your favorite Church him? 1216 01:12:43,800 --> 01:12:48,700 My favorite Church him. Now do we want the liturgical or 1217 01:12:48,700 --> 01:12:51,700 any church hymn that to you whatever you like to do? 1218 01:12:51,800 --> 01:12:56,200 There's no rules favorite Church Amy's. 1219 01:12:56,500 --> 01:13:01,600 Father of righteousness our to push data simply because there 1220 01:13:01,600 --> 01:13:10,000 is a verse that says because I have sinned Your son received. 1221 01:13:11,100 --> 01:13:17,000 His motto. It's probably Lee was motto. 1222 01:13:17,000 --> 01:13:23,600 Don't have a global are happy with because I have sinned, your 1223 01:13:23,600 --> 01:13:27,400 beloved meaning. Jesus Christ received the spear 1224 01:13:27,400 --> 01:13:31,600 and the nails on my behalf. Now as for those that love to 1225 01:13:31,600 --> 01:13:34,400 hear it, I'll be singing. And I also like this is a, this 1226 01:13:34,400 --> 01:13:39,200 is a this one's for cash. You got to use the restroom in 1227 01:13:39,200 --> 01:13:46,600 the morning. When I rise in the morning, when 1228 01:13:46,600 --> 01:13:58,800 I rise in the morning, when I Rise, Give Me Jesus, Jesus, 1229 01:13:59,100 --> 01:14:01,500 that's going to be flight for my funeral and I was telling you 1230 01:14:01,500 --> 01:14:05,000 guys about that's going to be the new intro for the podcast. 1231 01:14:05,000 --> 01:14:09,300 But okay, we can do that too. So father, thank you for sharing 1232 01:14:09,300 --> 01:14:12,300 your testimony. You Select on how God's path for 1233 01:14:12,300 --> 01:14:14,400 your life. Thus far, has had many 1234 01:14:14,400 --> 01:14:18,400 unexpected or unplanned. Turns each turn has brought with 1235 01:14:18,400 --> 01:14:21,100 it. Challenges, happiness, sadness, 1236 01:14:21,100 --> 01:14:24,500 confusion growth. And many Lessons Learned. 1237 01:14:24,900 --> 01:14:27,300 I'd like to close off by asking you one. 1238 01:14:27,300 --> 01:14:30,700 Last question, what is one thing from your testimony? 1239 01:14:30,700 --> 01:14:33,000 You hope the listeners take away with them? 1240 01:14:35,400 --> 01:14:37,900 Be still and know that God is in control. 1241 01:14:38,800 --> 01:14:42,400 Wait on the Lord. Beautiful. 1242 01:14:42,800 --> 01:14:44,500 Thank you Robbie. Thank you. 1243 01:14:41,700 --> 01:14:43,600 Beautiful. Thank you Robbie. 1244 01:14:44,000 --> 01:14:44,500 Thank you.