SHARING a house with a parish priest offered more than just simple accommodation for the Brisbane Oratory’s newest seminarian Tyson King.
For several months, the Western Australian-born young man lived with the parish priest of Glendalough, just north of Perth, who is also the founder of an order that promotes perpetual Adoration.
It was in adoration that Mr King considered joining the priesthood, but the idea turned to reality when a friend showed the 25-year-old the Brisbane Oratory’s website.
After spending a week living with the Brisbane Oratory community in February, and returning in May for a “more intense discernment”, Mr King was accepted into the Toronto Oratory Seminary for an August start.
He arrived in Toronto on August 22, joining fellow seminarian Shawn Murphy, of Melbourne, who began his priestly studies for the Brisbane Oratory last year.
Seminarians discerning for the Brisbane Oratory are required to study in Toronto in these early formation stages of the community.
Mr King will receive the Oratory habit in September before beginning his novitiate year.
He will return to Brisbane next May for the next Oratory fundraising dinner.
Brisbane Oratory member Fr Paul Chandler said he and the other Oratory priests were “delighted” to welcome Mr King into their community.
“There’s more than just us priests now,” Fr Chandler said.
“This is one among many confirmations that we are doing what God wants.”
Fr Chandler said he had been “surprised” at how effective the Oratory’s website had been at promoting the community and producing vocations.
“The website has been quite important for us,” he said.
“It did surprise me that both young men had not known us personally, but the seed was sown, so to speak, through social media, and also from somebody who could give them information and encouragement.”
