Amid their busy lives, Sandhurst’s youngest generation of clergy made space to reflect, connect, and renew their sense of calling. Fr DJ Suguitan, Fr Adi Indra, Fr Jackson Saunders and Fr Addin Doe, gathered with counterparts from the Diocese of Ballarat at an in-service tailored specifically to the needs of recently ordained priests. Together, they found strength in shared challenges and quiet confidence in their unique gifts and paths forward.
At the gathering, Bishop Shane Mackinlay spoke about the significance of Synodality; Bishop Paul Bird CSsR, Bishop of Ballarat, shared insights on the art of preaching; and Fr Jake Mudge, Director of Clergy Life and Ministry and Fr Justin Driscoll, Clergy Life and Ministry Coordinator at the Diocese of Ballarat, explored the Jubilee Year theme, "Pilgrims of Hope," encouraging the group to reflect on what it means to walk with others in faith and bring hope to the communities they serve.
The in-service was a reminder that the work of a priest is not just about tending to the spiritual needs of others – it is also about nurturing one’s own spiritual growth. Fr DJ Suguitan, the self-proclaimed “old guy” of the group, because he was the first to be ordained, said that, for him, the in-service was about learning to be comfortable in yourself as a priest and in your ministry style. "The beauty of the in-service was that we returned to our parishes affirmed in our ministry,” he said.
“There’s no one way to be a priest; there are as many ways to live out this vocation as there are priests in the world. Thinking about our ‘brand’ as a priest goes beyond developing a personal style of ministry, it’s about understanding how each of us, as priests, can contribute our unique gifts to the broader mission.”
“As priests, we have to keep an open heart, be flexible in our thinking and appreciate our own ways of ministry,” said Fr DJ.
The priests who attended the in-service come from different backgrounds, parishes and perspectives, yet all share the same calling. Fr DJ elaborated, “We were given the space to understand more deeply that our individual stories and challenges are not isolated, but part of something much bigger."
Indeed, the experience was refreshing and affirming for many. In a sharing session facilitated by Audrey Brown, the six young priests were invited to speak openly amongst themselves about the joys and challenges of serving in parishes as assistant priests. This safe space was an intimate moment of vulnerability and shared solidarity, where no one felt alone in their experiences.
Fr Adi Indra found this session to be particularly enriching. “I felt very encouraged and supported,” he said. "Audrey is a very skilled facilitator. She didn’t just let us talk – she drew us out of ourselves, helping us to find the language to articulate our experiences positively and constructively. It was affirming to know that many of my thoughts and feelings were shared by my fellow priests, and not just particular to me.” Fr Adi’s sentiment resonated with the rest of the group. Facilitator, Audrey Brown said, “It was a privilege to be shoulder to shoulder with these young priests in supporting their ministry; they are so important to our Church now and into the future.”
These recently ordained priests have returned to their parishes, with a new sense of purpose and deeper connection to each other and their calling; ready to walk the path ahead with hope and humility.
