Sunlight poured through the roof windows of St Joseph’s Takapuna as Auxillary Bishop Michael Gielen laid his hand on the head of Mark Napa,
who was being ordained priest on December 18, 2021.
It lent the atmosphere a sense of rightness amidst the prevailing pandemic. Auckland had just moved into the traffic light system (at red). Gatherings were socially-distanced and were limited to 100 people. Masks were given away to those present.
“The journey of priesthood does not have a map, a big salary, or a guarantee of comfort, even a guarantee of who your bishop will be. Quite the opposite, you are only promised that Jesus will be with you throughout,” Bishop Gielen told the new priest.
“It has not been easy for you,Mark, a new culture, a worldwide pandemic, two postponed ordinations, through it all you have been tested and found worthy.”
New ordinary
One the eve of Fr Napa’s ordination, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Stephen Lowe, formerly Bishop of Hamilton, as Bishop of Auckland.
“While we were practising the day before with Bishop Michael, on the part when he said ‘do you promise obedience and respect to your ordinary?’, he (Bishop Michael) smiled,” Fr Napa told NZ Catholic. “But I didn’t have any idea that there would be a new bishop on the day of my ordination.”
Fr Napa said that he knows that his promise of obedience is not limited to the current ordinary, but to future ones as well.
“Being under Bishop Pat’s care . . . he is really kind and has a listening heart to people, not only to his priests. And I think people would really miss Bishop Pat although he really needs to pay attention to his health,” he said.
Newly-ordained Fr Mark Napa blesses outgoing Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn.
‘Be a priest’
Fr Napa is considered a “late vocation”. He heard the call literally at age 28.
“Bishop Socrates Villegas, our bishop in Bataan (Philippines), was visiting our parish priest who was sick at the time,” he said.
Fr Napa said he knew that the bishop knew him professionally, as he was the branch manager of a micro-finance company at the time, and he would submit financial reports to Bishop Villegas every month.
Bishop Villegas approached him (Fr Napa) after the pastoral visit and had a little chat.
“At the end of our conversation, he told me, ‘Mark, magpari ka’ (Mark, go into priesthood),” Fr Napa said. “I was struck that I wasn’t able to
answer immediately. I wasn’t able to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”
A while later, as he was assisting his parish priest to a buffet table, they met the bishop again. The priest told the bishop, “I have a candidate
for you.”
“I think that was the time that I really felt God is calling me through the touch and gentle tap of Bishop Soc’s hand on my shoulder,” Fr Napa said.
Muslim boss
Fr Napa studied chemical engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology, the top IT school in the country. But not wanting to burden
his parents financially, he applied to be a loan officer for a micro-finance company.
“The name of the micro-finance company is Asa Philippines Foundation which started from Bangladesh. Our president was a Muslim. But they
tied up with Serviam Foundation to recruit church people to cater not only for Muslims, but also for Catholics and Christians,” he said.
The Serviam Foundation was founded by the late Manila Cardinal Jaime Sin and Assisi Development Foundation, which was run by the
daughter of the late Philippine President Corazon Aquino.
“The micro-finance caters for women in poor areas . . . mostly those in the depressed areas and slums. We gave them initial capital and taught
them how to save. It’s not only giving loans, but also assisting them in how to maximise their profit and how to save. Most of our Filipino men and
women . . . don’t usually save for our future. We inculcate the value of saving,” he said.
“I think that’s where I developed my people skills, and the encounter with the poor helped me encounter Christ.”
He quickly became branch manager and, eventually, human resources manager. When he resigned, he was told that he was up for another promotion.
“My heart was torn when I was asking him (the company president) to accept my resignation letter,” Fr Napa said.
“I was also inspired by my boss, his life of commitment to his faith in Islam, his prayer life, and how he values human dignity. He’s very caring.
He treats us like his own children, not only as employees. So, I really appreciated him.”
The president, Kamrul Tarafder, valued faith, and supported Fr Napa financially as he studied at the San Jose Seminary, a Jesuit seminary.
Because he had no background in philosophy, Fr Napa had to take two years of philosophy courses at Ateneo de Manila University, where
he had ups and downs and wondered about his vocational path. Painting was an important outlet for him at this time.
Comfort zone
Fr Napa said that God must be pushing him beyond his comfort zone because, after he finished at the Loyola School of Theology, Bishop Villegas once again tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he (Fr Napa) would want to go to New Zealand, particularly the diocese of Auckland.
Now being well-versed in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius de Loyola, Fr Napa spent eight days in retreat to discern, and his path became clear.
His parents were saddened by his decision, but he assured them that they would still be able to see him on holidays or they could visit him in New Zealand. He arrived in New Zealand in 2019 and the following year, Covid-19 struck.
“I haven’t been back home. That’s why my Mum’s, during my ordination, (her video) message was really emotional. Because they were really
looking forward to bringing me to the altar,” he said.
The ordination Mass was livestreamed in Fr Napa’s home parish at 6.30 am. and a celebration was held there after the event.
Goal
“My goal as a priest is just a simple one: to really journey with people in their life, whatever situation they are in,” he reflected.
Visiting the sick is his first passion in terms of ministry, and even the simple rite of blessing houses becomes an opportunity to know the
parishioners.
“I love listening to stories. I probably developed that skill when I was doing the credit investigations. I learned how to listen to their stories,” he said.
He also wants to inspire young people to follow the Lord.
“I also want, since I’m Jesuit-formed, to teach them the way of discernment. I learned from my formation in San Jose Seminary, how to listen to the voice of God,” he said.
An inspiring account of Father Napa’s journey to our Priesthood. May God bless you in your work for God and God’s people. What wonderful support you received on your time of discernment! God bless you, Father Mark , and all those who supported you!