PATRICK: "Open your heart and listen to the silent whisper of God within"

My name is Patrick Fornah, 31 Years old. I am from Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone, West Africa. I am Xaverian Missionary.

I was born in a Christian family, and I am the second child of six siblings. I studied at Saint Francis Junior and Senior Secondary Schools. Before joining the Xaverian Missionaries, I had a desire to enter college and pursue one of my childhood dreams of becoming a medical doctor.

But later the examples of so many missionaries who cared for humanity and had passion to spread the Good News to all people invited me to reflect another path. So Just before finishing Junior high school in 2004, I came in contact with two Xaverian Missionary Priests (Frs. Dominic Nicoliello sx and Victor Bongiovani sx), in my parish and school communities.

And their missionary zeal for all humanity and love for non- Christians implanted in me the first seed and the invitation to the call of sharing the Good news to all people especially to non-Christians. At first, these missionaries invited and encouraged me to join the Xaverian vocation group in my diocese. From 2004-2008, they accompany me to understand and discern the meaning of my life and vocation. I am grateful to those first four years of initial accompaniment that first led me to grow from external admirations to an inner understanding of my life and God’s project.

Today I am studying theology in the Xaverian International community of Manila, Philippines. And I have immensely understood that the first seed planted 15 years ago is for the project of sharing the good news to non- Christians through the Xaverian family.

Therefore, my dear young people my invitation is do not be afraid to offer your life to God. I encourage you to respond to the invitation of the Lord. If you feel that you are called to this kind of life embrace it as a gift that the Lord gives you. Do not be frightened by the initial discouraging reactions from family, friends and relatives.

At the initial stage of my journey I received both Positive and Negative reactions. Some welcomed my intention, other discouraged it. God always holds the true project for us. Open your heart and listen to the silent whisper of God within. In the silence of your heart He speaks you to “go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all the nations” (Mk. 16:15).