Hi, Rafael! Could you please introduce yourself…
My name is Rafael Gašpar, I am a Croatian Salesian and I have just finished my first year of practical training in the oratory at Jarun, in Zagreb. Although from a young age I had the feeling that God called me to become a priest, I managed to avoid this possible call. I studied law in Croatia and then management in the UK. I grew up in a family of faithful Catholics, but it was in the United Kingdom that I discovered the faith on a deeper level, because I was involved in a youth group called "Pure in Heart".
At that time in my life, I experienced that Jesus had called me to become his priest. Following my father's advice, I decided to finish my studies and look for a job, before finding my vocation. On the one hand I strongly felt the vocation to become a priest, but on the other I had a deep desire to be a father and to have my own family. These two desires of my heart seemed contradictory to me and I could not give either of them up.
But when I met the Salesians in Croatia, I saw that I could be a priest and have a family with more children than I could imagine. So I decided to become a Salesian.
What inspired you to choose to become a missionary?
There were two crucial moments when I felt inspired. The first took place during the novitiate, when we did the spiritual exercises led by Fr Silvio Roggia, a Salesian missionary. Fr Silvio shared his testimony with us and his stories about missionary life in Africa. One day, during the retreat, after receiving the Eucharist I felt that my heart was burning for the missions and that Jesus was calling me to become a missionary. The fire of missionary zeal that burned in my heart during the novitiate slowly died out in the postnovitiate, when I encountered some difficulties.
The second moment of inspiration took place during my practical training in the oratory at Jarun, in Zagreb. That year I concluded the Ignatian spiritual exercises in daily life that I had started and resumed in the postnovitiate. Through the meditations of the Ignatian exercises and inspired by the Fr Àngel's Strenna ("The dream that makes you dream"), I resumed my forgotten missionary dream.
Are you happy with where you are going? Do you have any fears or concerns about the new place, culture and people?
I am very happy to go to Brazil. When I wrote the letter to the Rector Major, I expressed my willingness to be sent anywhere in the world, but deep inside I hoped to be sent to South America. Of course, there is always a little fear because I go to a culture and a context unknown to me, but love and trust in God overcome fear.
How did your family members, friends and confreres react when you told them about your missionary vocation?
The Salesian confreres were happy for me because they saw me happy, although some of them told me that they admire but cannot understand the choice I made. On the other hand, my family members were shocked at first and needed some time to understand and accept it. I believe that our family members, especially our parents, participate closely in our religious and missionary vocation and, therefore, also in the cross of the missionary life that we are called to carry.
What are your plans and dreams for your missionary life?
I have no plans, but dreams do. I hope to come to the end of my life as a good and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus. A servant who did not hide any of his talents out of fear, but instead gave all of himself to the people to whom he had been sent.
Do you have some great missionary role models in mind whose lifestyle you want to follow?
My model is the Venerable Francesco Convertini because he lived his life with missionary ardour and zeal. He served the people to the end and was consumed for the mission as Don Bosco did.
What is your message to young people about missionary choice and vocation?
The deepest dream that you carry in your heart is the same that God has for you. It is the dream that he dreamed from the moment he created us. So, dare to follow him and dare to be happy."
