Vocation story of Aspirant Joshua Tarare

By Asp. Joshua Tarere

Port Moresby, PNG, 1 December 2017 -- My name is Joshua Tarere (25). I was born on 27th January, 1993 and am from East New Britain. I am the eldest boy in a family of two brothers and three sisters. I have just completed my Bachelor degree in Technical Education in Computers.

In my younger days, I followed my father everywhere he went, especially when he went to visit his many priests and brother friends. I loved to stay with the diocesans seminarians as the Rector was a close friend of my father. Some would tell me that I must become a priest. Every weekend, since grade 4, I would spend my weekend with the seminarians. I admired the way they played music and sang. Most of all I was attracted to the white cassock they wore. This stirred in me the interest to become one like them.

My interest to join the Aspirantate grew as I witnessed the ordination of the first salesian of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Fr. Isidor Maramun. It was the first time for me to participate in such an occasion. The mass was beautiful and alive and the students of Vunabosco led the choir. The students sang very well and made the day a memorable one. This boosted my interest to become a salesian of Don Bosco one day.

Without knowing the system and the style of this great saint Fr. Bosco, I showed great interest by writing to Fr. Roger Miranda sdb, the Rector of Vunabosco. During my short stay, I was moved by his simple lifestyle. He was so gentle, full of fun, loving, easy-going, yet hardworking and always concerned about me and the other boys. I felt that he was not only a priest but truly a father that cares for children as parents in a family would do.

After my short staying at Vunabosco, I was then sent to Savio Haus Aspirantate and took up courses at DBTI, Boroko. Life now began to change from my ordinary way of living. I have a fixed schedule and have ample time for everything, i.e. a time to play, to pray, to study and to meet with the youths during the Sunday’s oratory. I considered being with the Salesians like being together in a big happy family. There is life and joy among every one.

I have learnt a lot from the life of the Salesians. One thing that I always treasure is that; no matter how busy or important a position of office they hold; they always have time to spend with young people.

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