Here is an interview with author Father Ray Devlin who wrote a book about his brother, CHA: A Biography of
Father "Joe" Devlin, S. J., which was published by Nenagh
Books.
Q. How and why did you become a priest?
A. My
brother was a great priest and I was imitating him. I recognized what he
was doing. The key of vocations is others follow Christ and you follow
them.
Q. Can you give us an example?
A. I don't have one
example. It was his whole life. You don't do anything for one example.
You do it for a life that's truly dedicated. You saw that he was a happy
person. That's the key. People have vocations when they see young
Jesuits and older Jesuits who are happy warriors. My brother said always
be a happy warrior.
Q. What was your toughest experience in the priesthood?
A.
That you serve God, save your soul, and help others. A priest didn't
join to become a star golf player or a great coach. He comes to help
people save their souls. To help people go to God.
Q. Can you tell us anything that was particularly difficult for you?
A.
Everything is difficult! It was never easy -- ever. That's the proof of
your vocation. It's never easy whether you're in studies, teaching or
coaching. It's always hard. That's why Christ says take up your cross
daily. To be a priest is to choice a difficult life. You're not choosing
something easy. That's why you choose it, because it's difficult.
Q. You were born in San Francisco in1924. Can you tell us about growing up in the city?
A.
There's nothing to tell. I went to the same schools that Joe went to --
St. Paul's and St. Ignatius. San Francisco was a normal city in those
times. People didn't lock their doors. I was ordained in 1955 and
coached at St. Ignatius in Utah. Then, I went to Bellermine [in 1965]
where I enjoyed coaching football, basketball, cross-country and track.
But, the big inspiration was going overseas and helping my brother.
Q. Tell us about Father Joe and the book?
A.
Father Joe, at the age of fifty-three, was looking for a more difficult
life where he could directly help the poor because that is where he
found his greatest consolation. He searched around the world to find
where he could help the people who were truly poor.
A government
official named Mr. Dan in Vietnam wrote an invitation to him. They said
come here and see what we have. We have war. We have Communism trying
to take over. We have the sick, the dying and the refugees. So, in Utah,
he got the invitation and permission to go. The Jesuits told him you
pay your own way. People contributed to him from this country.
He
became a tremendous success with the refugees. In doing it he suffered a
lot. If he had realized how bad it was over there he probably would
never have gone. But, once he realized how bad it was, he couldn't
leave.
Finally, he did escape from Vietnam -- the day the
Communists took over. [They] tried to kill him a few times, but they
were resisted by Vietnamese soldiers. Some of them died defending him.
When you read the book you'll get the inspiration. You'll see why I'm
not saying too much.
Click here for Credit Card and Amazon Order of Fred Martinez's book "Hidden Axis":
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1410746186/qid=1099936755/sr=11-1/ref
Pray an Our Father now for the restoration of the Mass and the Church as well as for the Triumph of the Kingdom of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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