When I arrived at St. Ignatius as a newly ordained priest, I was very green—full of enthusiasm but with little hands-on priestly experience. I had never baptized anyone, never presided at a funeral Mass, never celebrated a wedding, and never participated in an Alpha course. This year has been one of profound personal transformation, where each milestone not only marked a "first" but shaped my understanding of priesthood through real, heartfelt encounters.
My very first baptism was for a thirteen-year-old boy with autism. I was nervous beforehand, unsure how he would respond to the sensory elements—the cool water, the chrism oil, the unfamiliar surroundings. But when the moment came, his face lit up with pure joy. I checked in with him gently throughout the ceremony. After I poured the water over his head and pronounced the words of baptism, he looked up at me with the biggest smile and declared, “This is the best day of my life!” What an incredible gift for my first baptism. With infants, the beauty is profound yet silent; here was a teenager able to voice his delight in the moment. It filled me with awe at how God meets each person exactly where they are.
My first funeral was for a family that felt strikingly like my own. Walking with them through the sorrow was both an honour and a privilege. I stood beside them at the casket, listened to their stories, and shared prayers. They were so grateful, not for any eloquent words that I might have said, but for the compassion and steady presence. It drove home a simple truth that Fr. Mike has been teaching me: the most important thing in these difficult moments is simply showing up and being present with a heart open to their pain.
I’m deeply thankful to my community, the Companions of the Cross for sending me here, and to the St. Ignatius family for welcoming me. You’ve walked with me through every first, and God has transformed me in the process. What began as inexperience has become deep joy and gratitude. But he's not done yet! There’s still so much to learn and I look forward to continuing to learn from all of you here at St. Ignatius.