Volume 35 No. 3 | Spring 2025 4 Society Matters God is Full of Surprises: My Vocational Journey Fr Kasmir Nema, SVD Introduction: A Journey Led by Grace and Surprise Life rarely unfolds as we expect. Mine is a story shaped by unexpected turns, gentle nudges from God, and moments of grace that redirected my path when I least anticipated it. From a small village in Flores Island to various corners of the world, each step in my vocational journey has been marked by one recurring truth: God is full of surprises. Where Were You Born and Raised? I was born into a large, loving family in Kakor, a small village in West Manggarai, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. As the second youngest of six children, I grew up surrounded by affection, sibling banter, and the enduring presence of faith in our home. Sunday liturgies/Masses, family rosaries, and daily acts of kindness slowly nurtured the seeds of faith that would later define my life’s direction. When Did You First Feel Called to a Priestly/Missionary Vocation? After primary school, my journey took an unexpected turn—what I now recognise as God’s first major surprise. I enrolled at St Francis of Assisi Junior High School in Tentang, Ndoso, 10km from home. Before that, I had taken a two-year break after elementary school—a decision that left many doubting my academic future. To my astonishment, I was one of two students selected to sit for the entrance exam at the Minor Seminary of John Paul II in Labuan Bajo, West Flores. At the same time, I was also accepted into a nursing school, which seemed the safer and more stable option. My parents leaned toward nursing. It promised financial security. But something stirred deep within me. After much prayer and inner wrestling, I chose the seminary—a decision that marked the first defining “yes” in my vocational path. When and Where Did You Enter the SVD and Undertake Your Formation? In 2002, I entered the Novitiate of St Joseph in Nenuk, Atambua, Timor Island, marking the formal beginning of my life within the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and after two years, I professed my first vows on August 15, 2004. Following the novitiate, I entered the next phase of formation: Philosophy studies. I completed two years before being sent to Australia in 2007 for ongoing SVD formation.
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