| Fr. Simon Zhujie’s Mysterious Journey to the Priesthood |
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| Written by Joy Sosoban |
| Tuesday, 03 November 2009 11:27 |
The Voice Born on December 22, 1981 in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia , Fr. Simon said that from his earliest memory he could recall only wishing and dreaming of one thing — to become a priest. “Maybe I am like Jeremiah (Jer 1:5), I always tell people that when I share about my vocation. That even before I was born, I was chosen,” he shared.It might also be because of his family, he added, since they give priority to the spiritual life and promote spirituality. He is in fact the 12th generation Catholic in his family’s line. Then there is also what he calls “the Voice.” “It is a voice from the heart. It is present at every decision-making point for me. So I act with certainty and with no doubt,” Fr. Simon explained. “If I enjoy life without a need for God, the voice speaks. I feel peaceful when I follow the voice. It brings to my life balance,” Fr. Simon added, sharing that for him the voice comes from God. His most vivid experience with the voice was at 10 years old. A criminal quarreled with a teacher in their school and went mad. Everyone fled the canteen except Fr. Simon who bore the brunt of his uncontrolled anger, since he was the class president. The man grabbed him and put his neck on a chopping board and was going to start slicing his neck with a knife when the Voice urgently told Fr. Simon to pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary. He did and prayed very slowly and wholeheartedly when out of nowhere Fr. Simon’s father appeared and was able to stop the man. Afterwards, Fr. Simon learned that his father felt compelled to visit his sister who lived just after the school. On his way, he decided to pass by his son — and so stopped the crime. “Saving My Vocation” High school years found Fr. Simon on what he said was an intellectual journey. “There were 800 students in my school and there were only 20 Catholics there,” he said. “The faith was attacked in textbooks. I felt embarrassed to share and to show my religious side,” he added. This led Fr. Simon to search for God through books. During this time also, at around 15 years old, Fr. Simon fell in love with a girl. “But the voice always disturbed me,” he shared. “What are you doing now? You are to be a seminarian.” After one and a half year in the relationship, he asked his great-grand uncle, the city’s bishop, to let him enter minor seminary instead of going to college. “I wanted to save my vocation by entering the seminary, even though I was sponsored already to study in a good school.” he said. Lucky to Have Concluded  The minor seminary at Chifeng was totally different from outside school. “I felt that my wish and dream was being fulfilled,” Fr. Simon revealed. Even as he continued his search for God, it was a happy time for him because of his rector. “He was openminded, value-oriented, freedom-focused, etc. He is my idol,” Fr. Simon said. His rector inspired him to learn how to become a caring pastor and an inspiring preacher.Fr. Simon’s research led him to books on Geometry, Physics and other subjects so he could find answers to the many questions in his mind. At the end of that period, Fr. Simon said, “I am lucky I concluded God exists through my own intellectual effort, because not all are intellectually led to the existence of God. I now have confidence to say God exists. My faith was strengthened.” Trials of Faith Fr. Simon then went to the National Seminary in Beijing, the largest seminary in China, in 1999. Then came the tests. First was his German professor, whom he considered his best friend, who discovered that he had cancer. Fr. Simon was shocked. “How come? How come such an excellent priest professor has cancer, provided that he was the only long-term visiting professor then?” he asked. He also saw the dark side of the Hierarchy of the Church in China with its many scandals, including a his cousin priest who was very so successful at the beginning, and who got married unexpectedly. “It was hard to accept that reality. Within me, there was fear. What if I will be one of them — a scandal maker?” Fr. Simon thought. In response, he tried to see the good qualities in these persons so he could develop them in himself. “I had to sift through it so I could be my best, I thank God for the gift that I can convert the destructive into the constructive.” he shared. Feeling at Home Always a dean’s lister, Fr. Simon’s German professor had taken initiative to sponsor his further studies in Rome. So it was a major disappointment when his teacher had to go back to Germany because of his cancer (he did not trust Chinese doctors). Another crucial moment arrived for him because at this point, he had fallen in love with another girl. But the girl said “it is really better for you to be a priest” and, of course, the Voice said the same, so Fr. Simon really had no choice. He decided to pursue his vocation faithfully and fruitfully. The following day, one big surprise, mysterious and providential, came to him. It was then that Fr. Simon received a letter from his uncle, Msgr Charles Tchou, who had come to the Philippines before the Communists had taken over China and had stayed on in the Philippines as a missionary priest. He was invited to do further studies here. And so it came to pass that a week later, he arrived at the Philippines. Fr. Simon felt at home right away as he saw crosses when he landed on the airport. He was eventually ordained here though he said, “I was so surprised. I never thought of my ordination outside of China.” He had his seminary formation at the Lorenzo Mission Institute (LMI) which he said is very homey and nice. “I owe my maturity and psychological wholeness to the Lorenzo Mission Institute and the formators,” he shared. His ordination on November 7, 2007 was the greatest gift from God, even greater than his long-awaited-but-eventually-collapsed Rome Dream. The “honeymoon” lasted for three days for him because afterwards, he was assigned to become assistant parish priest to a strict and demanding priest. “I learned humility before people, zeal for homily preparation, a heart for people, using smile as a language and a heart for friendship,” Fr. Simon shared of his stay in his first parish. While exercising his ministry at the parish, he was still waiting for the alternative studies arrangement from the Nuncio in Hong Kong. When the Nuncio told him that he can go to the States, instead of Rome, for his advanced studies, Fr. Simon decided to stay here in the Philippines for his STL Studies. He now studies at the Loyola School of Theology most days, serving as the chaplain to the Assisi Development Foundation, and teaching at the Confucius Institute. After almost two years as a priest, Fr. Simon reflects, “Prudence and wisdom are needed to be joined in ministry.” He feels very inspired in Confession and during Holy Eucharist. “God trusts me so much and He uses me to be His instrument even though I have my weaknesses,” he said. Fr. Simon hopes to go back to his home country after another two years of study here. “The Philippines is a kingdom for priests but I am more needed in my own country, I have a lot of dream for my future ministry, the plans and dreams just keep flooding in. I hope that I can bring fire to my people in Inner Mongolia. I pray that I can renovate the life of the Catholics with the most updated theology and spirituality. I feel so inspired once I think about my future ministry for my dear people. And I take this as a calling from the Lord. He has loved me, the Filipinos have loved me, and I want to share this same love with my people,” he stated. A young priest with a big heart, as he himself said, Fr. Simon has a long way to go. But not too mysterious with the Voice to guide him along the way. |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 November 2009 14:21 |