4510(I)_If there is a will, there is a way…

Anthony Wale's vocation story

October 1, 2017

By Anthony Wale

Honiara, Solomon Islands, 30 September -- My name is Anthony Wale, from Solomon Islands. My first spark of interest of joining the Salesians of Don Bosco was way back in 2003. I was doing my first year Philosophy at the Holy Name of Mary Seminary in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The first Salesian Priest I came to know during that time was Fr. Ambrose Pereira, sdb because he was so active in facilitating media seminars for schools and institutions in the country. I really admired the work Salesiains of Don Bosco were doing for our unfortunate young people during this time all along.

I managed to complete my Philosophy and Theology as a Diocesan candidate in 2011, however, I was not able to proceed on with my vocation with the Diocesans.

The year after I had finished my seminary studies I went back to my home Parish and helped out in the parish youth pastoral programmes drawn up by Fr. Jeffery Puritau. The following year I was back in town Honiara – the Capital City of Solomon Islands - and was able to have a part time job with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development of Solomon Islands. (Curriculum review for Junior Secondary schools of the country)

During my 2 years with the MEHRD, my interest of joining the Salesians came to life again, so I started to follow up some leads and was able to make an appointment to meet with Fr. John Cabrido, sdb who was during that time the Spiritual Moderator at Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson, Solomon Islands.

My meeting with Fr. John was my first encounter and experience of Don Bosco’s LOVING KINDNESS toward the young.

I was given a chance to come and see by Fr. Dominic Kachira, sdb. So I stayed with the EPC of Henderson for a month and thus wrote my letter of interest to joining the pre-aspirant program as a Salesian candidate. I stayed for the whole year at the Salesian community of Henderson, Honiara.

Seeing the young people doing nothing after leaving school, or not going to school at all is very painful for me; thus I believe that joining the Salesians would be a right place for me to do something greater for the glory of God through the Charism of St. John Bosco.

If it is God’s WILL for us to do something greater for his glory, He will provide us with the WAY to do exactly that. I believe that, this is what God is doing for me right now. I’m still praying for His grace to strengthen me and the Holy Spirit to guide me during this time of discernment of my vocation so that more and more I will come closer to Christ our Lord by renouncing my own personal desires and embrace God’s will for me.