Xaverian Ken Cannon, 40 years old originally from Millis, MA, came from the business world. On June 1, 1997, he took his final religious profession, and on June 8, he was ordained a priest for the Xaverian Missionaries. Here are his enlightening thoughts on his vocation story and missionary commitment.
ow
that I am finished with school, I have begun to reflect more seriously on my
final vows and ordination to the priesthood.
This is the culmination of a journey which began officially about six
years ago, but in reality it has been a process which has been going on all my
life.
Throughout my life I am aware of many people and events, which have influenced me. Behind it all has been the presence of a loving and merciful God who wants the best for me and for all humanity. My recognition of this fills me with a great sense of peace and thankfulness for all God has done for me.
It was not easy to leave the business world but I felt the strong and ever present call of God which I could not ignore. I realized I had to at least try and respond to it, otherwise I would always wonder if I had missed something special. Half hoping and expecting my call to be false, I decided to join the Xaverian Missionaries.
My first taste of community began in Franklin, WI. The community did a good job helping me to adjust to religious life. I took each day as it came and little by little I learned this new way of life.
After one year, I began studying theology in Chicago at Catholic Theological Union. Once again, the community was supportive. They along with my studies, prepared me for Novitiate in Italy. It was there that I really deepened my understanding and love for the Xaverian charism, which is to make the whole world into one family in Christ.
Our Founder, Blessed Guido Maria Conforti, had a great vision. He, like many of his time, felt the need to evangelize the non-Christians, those who had not heard of Christ. He saw his missionaries as evangelizing communities. The community itself was to become the instrument of evangelization by truly becoming a family, which was one in Christ.
Our Founder’s vision and legacy of a family committed to mission transcends time and space: it is a vision just as relevant for us today as it was in his own day.
After Ordination, I have been assigned to the Philippines. I look forward to the opportunity of ministering to the people and joining the Xaverians already present there. It is my hope that we can build the kind of community our Founder envisioned, a community of brothers and sisters, which can offer the people a true and personal experience of our faith.
In this way we continue the work our Blessed Guido M. Conforti began building: one world, one family.
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)