HAMISH Heads sees the end of 2023 shaping up as the “icing on the cake”.
He and his wife Karyn, childhood sweethearts married at 21, are expecting their fourth child – a Christmas gift from God.
They have joked with friends that they would “be able to supply baby Jesus” on the Feast of the Epiphany.
Traditionally on or around January 6, the family gather with other Catholics from the Toowoomba diocese to share the joy of the re-enactment of the arrival of the three Kings –although supplying an actual infant for the part of Jesus, wasn’t in their mindset a year ago.
“This baby was a welcome surprise,” Karyn says with warmth, two weeks before her due date, lovingly patting her baby bump.
Vayda Heads, 14, is excited for the addition, as are her brothers, Fletcher, 12, and Atticus, 9.
Karyn, who was educated in Warwick, has continued working part-time in a local Catholic school until the end of term four just past.
Pharmacist Hamish was raised on a cattle farm in the Northern Territory, moving to Warwick with his mum and brother following the death of his dad.
The Heads duo met in high school in Warwick, and now, their vista resembles the lifestyle of Hamish’s childhood – although with less land and fewer cattle.
“Our property is about 110 acres (44 hectares),” he said.
“Where I grew up, the properties were a million or so (acres) … (and) we only have about twenty cattle.”
Hamish said he gravitated to the Granite Belt because he was fond of his upbringing.
“The only time that Karyn and I have lived in the city was when we went to university,” he said.
“I was very glad to get out and like living in a small town, and living out of town, on land.
“I love to get up in the morning and go out and shift the cows.
“Working all day in the pharmacy, that (the land) is my headspace.”
The self-confessed “hobby farmer” said he always appreciated and supported the Catholic identity of his wife and children.
He had longed to take the next step to enter the Catholic Church before the birth of his fourth child and knew it needed investigation and deep prayer.
“Becoming a Catholic was a long-time coming,” Hamish said.
“I didn’t grow up with religion or had anything major in my life, in terms of decent formation.”
Constantly sharing questions and understanding, his wife of 14 years was “a major influence”.
“Through Karyn, I always wanted to know more about baptism and the Church,” he said.
Close friend Gerry Purcell was his sponsor and catechist in uncovering what the new Catholic described as “the truth”.
“I spent a lot of time reading, listening and learning (about religion),” Hamish said.
“I wanted to have a deep understanding that the step to become Catholic was right and so I knew what I was coming into.”
Hamish studied the bible and the catechism, also informed by the works of authors such as CS Lewis.
“I read about various religions,” he said.
“(And) if you read with an open mind, really seeking, then I think it’s obvious that there’s no deceit in the Catholic faith.”
When considering suffering in the world, as he does professionally, the father of four said, “In removing ignorance and misunderstanding about religion and when reading scripture, you realise that God isn’t punishing”.
“We try to live through things to find the good and allow God to triumph,” he said.
Gerry said Hamish’s journey was “transformational”.
“He and I spent many hours of teaching and in conversation,” Gerry said.
“This encouraged me to go back to the fundamentals of the faith and engage them in an important way.
“What I realised is that I was simply an instrument.
“It was wonderful to see the Holy Spirit working through and with Hamish. This exceeded my expectations.”
Hamish was baptised and confirmed on November 10, witnessed by his family, and a small group including his mum from Warwick.
“By the time the baptism came around, I had been very, very supported,” he said.
“It was a beautiful day and we had our marriage validated as well.”
Karyn described the liturgy, and her husband’s mindset, as “peaceful” while each of the Heads children expressed their awe in witnessing their dad’s official coming into the Church.
Joining a men’s spiritual retreat with Fr Tom Duncan in Marian Valley, Canungra, the following day, Hamish went on to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the first time.
Hamish said his “yes” to raising a child in the faith this time around would be “a deeper and more informed, ‘Yes’.”
“I always wanted our children to have Christian values,” he said.
“That was never a question.
“I always wanted them to be baptised and have the sacraments but now I realise the proper value of them and of our, ‘Yes’.”
Karyn said the family “feel more in unison” as they await the birth, saying, “God has brought our family closer”.
“All of us, having a shared faith, have strengthened our relationships,” she said.
“As parents, faith has helped in raising the kids as they are entering teenage years.
“Our marriage is also stronger as we are now on the same page.”
Prayer continues to permeate their daily lives.
Hamish says, “it’s something that was completely unfamiliar” and is a ritual he “loves”.
“The more I pray the more this means to me,” he said.
“My journey was about seeking the truth and that’s what I did.”
