In his homily the Bishop encouraged Br Sayyane to model his ministry on what Jesus wants of him and not relying on the opinions he may encounter in the future.
As this celebration was bringing to conclusion Br Sayyane’s training to the priesthood here in Australia he is preparing to return to his homeland in Laos, where hopefully soon, he will be ordained a priest. There is no doubt that there is a big demand on priests in the poor diocese where he will be working but the real demand is for holy priests. It is a providential moment for Br Sayyane as very soon a group of the Oblates who were martyred some time ago in his homeland is going to be beatified. They have left big shoes for him to fill but they will also intercede for him as he is about to undertake the ministry among the people they loved so much that they chose to die rather than abandon them.