By Fr. Lazarus Langbiir, C.S.Sp.

This brief account is a reflection on my vocation as a Spiritan. I made my first vows as a Spiritan on September 8, 2003 at Ejisu, Ghana and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on July 23, 2011.

Growing up, I had dreams. Dreams of becoming a lawyer, a successful business man, a priest or a doctor. I was inspired by my parents, teachers and some great men and women in my community.

Although I was born into a Catholic family, I did not know the Spiritans until I went to College. My encounter with two Spiritans, Fr. Richard Awange and Fr. Augustine Bayoh, who ministered to the Catholic community at my college, would turn out to be the beginning of my journey to the Spiritan way of life.

A life inspired by two great founders, Frs. des Places and Libermann, who sacrificed their comfort and luxury to follow Christ. I was drawn to the Spiritan way of life by their simple way of life and the dedication they attached to their work.

As I look back and appreciate what Frs. Awange and Bayoh did for the Catholic students, I realize more and more how much they sacrificed their own comfort to journey with us in the faith and to help us become responsible adults.

My college was not a Catholic school and these priests did not receive any stipends or any form of financial assistance from us. Yet they were there for us all the time.

One day, Fr. Bayoh was on his way to give us a talk when his old car broke down. Instead of canceling the talk in order to attend to his car, he called our leader to go and get him with a campus taxi.

He arrived with a smile on his face and gave us one of the most memorable talks on Christian discipleship that I have ever heard.

In moments when I experience difficulties or challenges on this journey, I always draw from the memory of this encounter and I am constantly assured that the Lord God is the leader of this journey.

[Originally published in the Fall 2019 One Heart, One Spirit Newsletter.]