Perth has a new priest from Slovakia that has a special connection with the youth of the Archdiocese, and is drawing them into a deeper relationship with Christ in extraordinary ways.

Having only moved to Perth to complete his seminary studies in 2003, Father Pavol Herda, 29, is a self-confessed sports nut.

He’s played soccer since he was nine, loves ice hockey and rollerblading and still plays for a local suburban soccer team.

Last month he started up a soccer tournament at Sacred Heart parish in Thornlie, where he was on parish placement as a deacon.

Through this social interaction, he gets to know the youth in his parish and has roped many into Bible study and a Holy Hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Taize praise and worship.

On June 6, he was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Perth by Archbishop Barry Hickey at St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco, a few drop-punts away from Subiaco Oval, the home of Perth’s two Australian Football League clubs West Coat Eagles and Fremantle.

The ordination would’ve taken place at St Mary’s Cathedral in the heart of the city but it’s undergoing extensive renovations to be completed by Easter 2009.

“Once you ‘catch’ them by playing sport with them, and they start to admire you, you can talk to them about almost anything in life, even faith,” newly ordained Priest, Fr. Pavol says.

“I love working with youth; seeing something special growing in them.”

These means of evangelisation, and straight-talking demeanor, seems to be working.

Just before giving the final blessing at Father Pavol’s ordination Mass, Archbishop Hickey said that as he stepped off the train arriving at the church for the ordination Mass, he was presented with a petition from Thornlie parishioners asking for Pavol to be placed at their parish as a priest.

“The oil [from the ordination ceremony] hasn’t even dried on his hands and he already has a legion of fans,” the Archbishop quipped.

Father Pavol’s parents - Pavol Snr and Maria – travelled from their village of Cierne Klacany, Slovakia, for their son’s ordination, and were reduced to tears as they approached him after the fanfare had died down to offer words of love and advice.

“I dedicate you to the protection of Holy Mary,” said his father.

“Be a faithful priest and maintain at all times a relationship of love among your fellow priests,” his mother said, loosely translated from Slovakian.

He leaves this week for holidays back in his home village, where Archbishop Hickey will join him in celebrating a Mass of thanksgiving for Father Pavol’s ordination.

But it was not always all easy. Father Pavol said he fought inner demons almost daily, often wanting to leave the seminary.

Why did he stay? The only explanation he could proffer was that God wouldn’t let him leave.

“I believe the vocation to the priesthood is a gift from God,” he said. “Many young men have received this vocation but just say no.

“Many times I tried to say no. There was lots of fighting going on within myself, and many temptations. But it’s like falling in love – it’s a subtle thing that grows within you, and it takes courage to say yes when Christ says, ‘come follow me’.”

Father Pavol came from a strong Catholic family, but he says that has little to do with him discerning his vocation.

“Many men have become fine priests with no faith formation at all from their families,” he says.

“You need to be sensitive enough to recognise the call. I felt it even in my teenage years, but it is not something we can often recognise clearly in the world today.

“Even now, I am still discerning my vocation, learning more about it.”

Anthony Barich is a reporter for The Record, the Catholic newspaper of Western Australia. 

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