Paco, a young Spanish Neocat seminarian at St Vincent’s over a year ago, was befriended by several members of the community. They took the time to explain what we were about and why we were so opposed to the Neocatechumenate, and gave him books, like Albert Nolan’s Jesus Before Christianity, to read. Imagine our joy when Paco’s letter, reproduced below, arrived early in March.
Dear Sr Dom
How are you? It has been a long time without having news from me. Time flies, and does it very quickly so that I have already been in Spain for a whole year.
I hope you may accept my apologies for not having written you sooner. However, it comes as a consequence of my return. Many people diverged from my decision of staying in Spain. Many other people wanted to know the reasons for me to change seminary. Thus, I opted to keep silence, disappear and, leave time to run its course. In the end, my decision has turn to be very good. I begin to see a new beautiful horizon. On the other hand, I do not think that I have wasted my time in Australia, totally the contrary. It was a time in which I met the Lord, and it made my vocation to mature.
So, my training as a diocesan priest continues and for this reason I send you an invitation for my initiation as an acolyte. Could you come? Please pray for me. Please accept my apologies again and please, give my regards to the Redfern community.
Yours in Christ
Paco
Email from Paco to Rhonda, 7 May 2005
Dear Rhonda
It was good to hear from you. How are you?
It has been a long time without having news from both of us. Time flies does it very quickly, so that I have already been in Spain for more than a year.
My return to Spain together with my decision of joining the local diocesan seminary was not very well accepted by some people there in Australia and here in Spain. In other words, many people diverged from my decision for remaining in Spain and becoming a priest in my diocese. It was not an easy time for me. I left the Neocats since they behaved like a sect.
Nevertheless, in the end, my decision has turned to be very good. I begin to see a new beautiful horizon. On the other hand, I do not think I have wasted my time in Australia, totally the contrary. It was a time in which I met the Lord, and it made my vocation mature. Moreover, I have very close in my heart the two month I spent with all of you in Redfern.
So my training as a diocesan priest continues. I have become an acolyte and the way towards the priesthood continues.
Love Paco.