STORY - "New recruits to the presbyterate"
By Tracey Edstein.

By the time you are reading this, the diocese will have three new priests. While the ordination at Sacred Heart Cathedral on 4 December will be reported in the next edition, here we introduce Frs John, Timothy and Anthony. 

JOHN ALEXANDER: A LIFE LESS ORDINARY
The word “great” recurs often in John Alexander's story of his life so far, and is an accurate indicator of his positive and philosophical attitude to all that has been and all that will be.

Raised by Pat and Ron Alexander, the third of six sons, in Mayfield, John recalls a happy, uncomplicated childhood that in some ways set the template for his life. He was educated at St John's (now Christ the King) Mayfield and Sacred Heart, Hamilton, then Broadmeadow Boys High until Year 10.

A short stint at K-Mart Waratah gave way to enlistment in the Navy, but the notion of priesthood had already surfaced; “I had some great priest-mentors”. The Navy years were happy ones for John and there is a hint of ‘boys' own' adventures as he recounts a dramatic sea rescue in which he played a key role. However, he sensed that the Navy wasn't where he was meant to be forever.

“I used to go on the upper deck at night where it was just myself and God, billions of stars and miles of water. I prayed the rosary for guidance – God, what do you want to do with my life? I'd seen some of the best the world had to offer: the best sunsets, the best experiences, and still there was a yearning in my heart that I needed to fulfil.”

Leave was granted from the Navy and John returned to the diocese and took up residence at Edmund Gleeson House, Campbells Hill, with a view to ‘enlisting' in the diocesan priesthood. He pursued what he called “light courses” at Newcastle University : Latin, sociology and philosophy! At the same time a job as bouncer and wine steward at a club was perhaps good sacerdotal preparation!

A chance encounter with the Confraternity of Christ the Priest led to a 17-year association as a religious brother in this missionary order. “The brothers are trained in the building trades – plumbers, carpenters, architects – and they engage in an intensive apostolate, building churches, schools, presbyteries in urban areas, using their wages from commercial contracts to pay for materials.” John learned many new skills, from triple pinch pleat curtain making to cooking and farming.

Difficulties experienced by the Order led John to return home and enquire again about diocesan priesthood. He had to speak to Frs Paul O'Neill, vocation director, and Bill Burston, vicar general – each of whom he had spoken to 17 years earlier on the same subject! Preparation for priesthood ensued at the Good Shepherd Seminary at Homebush. Pastoral placements at Kotara, Wallsend, Waratah and most recently Muswellbrook balanced academic study.

John is full of enthusiasm for priesthood, even in the face of current difficulties. He sees even the loss of society's innate respect for priests as a plus: “There were artificial props and that kind of ideology can be dangerous because we can build a kingdom around ourselves.”

John looks forward to the next chapter of what promises to continue to be “a life less ordinary”.

TOUCHING THE VOID: TIM ELLICOTT
When Tim Ellicott, 36, was working as a carpenter in Sydney as a young man, he was building a satisfying career rather than a satisfying life. “I enjoyed building various things, but it wasn't nourishing my soul.” The road to identifying the void and filling it was not easy, but the steps taken on the journey have been both challenging and satisfying.

Tim was raised in Rutherford, attending Sacred Heart Campbells Hill, St Paul 's Rutherford and Marist Brothers Maitland. He is the middle child of seven. Catholicism was an integral part of his childhood experience, both in terms of his immediate and extended family. He remembers lively Christmas gatherings with particular affection.

Leaving home at 17 to do an apprenticeship provided opportunities for growth and learning. While he enjoyed the overall experience, this was a time where career was a priority, yet Tim was left with a nagging feeling of restlessness. Priesthood and religious life had always had some appeal, but it was not until Tim was a qualified tradesman that he dared to think seriously about either. This process took several years and included missionary work in the Philippines for three months. After this experience Tim made a greater effort to discern where God was in his life, and consequently, how he might serve God in one vocation or another.

A Franciscan retreat for young people led to a chance encounter with a Capuchin Franciscan friar, Fr Frank, who saw potential in Tim and invited him to an enquiry evening. After several meetings and continual contact with Fr Frank, Tim joined the Capuchins as a postulant, remaining for nine months. He then joined the Maitland-Newcastle diocese as a student for priesthood.

The key to any vocation, Tim believes, is 'discernment'. During the previous eight years, while seriously discerning a priestly vocation, Tim remembers the restlessness that was characteristic of this period and appreciates, at least in retrospect, the gentle pressure that was applied through the various people and experiences he encountered as a postulant and seminarian. Consequently, he feels he is able to spot this restlessness in others more readily, and possibly be in a position to help people who are discerning a vocation.

Tim has ministered at Forster-Tuncurry since February 2004, which has included his diaconate, and has found the experience affirming and satisfying. He is developing an understanding of the difficulties and challenges of priestly life but is not at all discouraged. Tim believes that where there is chaos or a crisis, there is also opportunity for growth and improvement. Tim also believes in the importance and necessity of collaborative ministry. “It is the way forward for the church, particularly due to the challenges that the church faces today”.

ANTHONY POTTS: AS GOOD AS IT GETS
The most noticeable characteristic of newly ordained Anthony Potts – or “Pottsy” as he is affectionately known, is his disarming honesty. He is uncomfortable with what is superficial or phony and cannot see the point of skating on the surface of issues and experiences.

Tony's road to priesthood has been varied and rewarding, although of course not without its difficulties. His father's work in local government led to many moves for the family so young Tony learned to adapt and adjust. He was born in Sydney, lived in Tumbarumba, Berrigan and Nyngan, and in 1983 the Potts moved to Maitland, beginning Tony's association with our diocese.

Teacher training followed the Higher School Certificate but the priesthood had been in Tony's thoughts since primary school, as he says, “in a way that was naïve, but genuine.” He was accepted as a seminary candidate and went to St Patrick's Manly at the age of 21. He spent two and a half years there and later, three years at St Paul 's National Seminary, Kensington, followed by further discernment in the parish of Kurri Kurri over the last two years.

Tony is disarmingly frank about the painfully discerned reason behind his protracted seminary experience. He found that the difficulties he experienced seemed greater than those of other students, and this was a cause of some distress. At around this time, the diocese set up the House of Formation and Tony is full of praise for this initiative. As he says, “The diocese was asking questions that the seminary system wasn't asking.”

Between Kensington and Kurri Kurri, Tony utilised his training in religion, history and English, teaching for seven years at St Clare's Taree. “Teaching was wonderful – I loved it but I would much rather talk to kids about what really matters in life. They seemed to pick up that I was someone they could talk to about important things.”

When the answer to the questions that were troubling Tony finally came, there was a feeling of relief. “I discovered that I suffered and still do from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) just like in the film As Good As It Gets . With help from a psychologist, I was enabled to integrate OCD into my personality rather than feeling split down the middle, which is a recipe for disaster.”

He was able to proceed with greater confidence towards ordination to priesthood, bringing with him the legacy of happy classroom experiences and a new understanding – perhaps greater than most of us have – of ‘what makes him tick'.

A perceptive psychologist said to Tony about his chequered path, “Haven't they heard the saying, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?”

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