Page 75 - Fr. Charles Murphy and Hong Kong

ISSUE : Issue 62

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1993/1/1

Catholic priests In China on a retreat, September 1939. Fr. Murphy is in the back row, fifth from the left. When I was first ordained, I was 21--and wanted to go to China. And Msgr. Fraser and the council, particularly the one very good friend of mine. Fr. Chafe--he was one of our first missionaries in China during my time. And he said, "I think Charlie needs to be tested a little more." I was mad at him--not really mad, but I thought that he was treating me very infantilish-- childish. And I went to my director, my spiritual director.... I said. "Fr. Lar? ry" --his name was Larry Beale. I said, "What does one do when you don't get a call for the priesthood?" He said, "You will get one." I said, "And what do they mean by keeping me waiting? I want it." He said, "Don't you worry, Charlie." he said, "you'll get it." My brother. Fr. Lou, he had been a Chris? tian brother. We were poor; we didn't have any money to send him to college. So the brothers came looking for vocations. And they went to Fr. Dan Doyle--he was in Syd? ney at the time. And he took a liking to my brother. They were always very good friends. Nobody wanted me, it seemed. (That's the way you felt.) That's the way I felt. Looking back, I know it was wrong. However, I was just so young and inexperi? enced that I couldn't realize that they had other thoughts than mine.... And my aunt and uncle had looked after me all my life. They were very, very good to me. They built a home in Glace Bay. That was for me. although they didn't tell me that it was for me. But I felt that they had done all these things because of me. So, Ida. my Aunt Ida. was my mother's old? er sister. And they were not blessed with children. And when I was about 5 or 6, my mother was expecting my baby sister Patri? cia. And I guess they had their eye on me. Year 'Round Christmas Shop Le .Brignolet k 4' FINE GIFTS j Maritime and Canadian Handcrafts and Souvenirs Folk Art and Country Gifts Quality Brass and Imported Gifts Kitchen and Bath Shop 15 PRINCE STREET SYDNEY BIP 5J4 539-7338 Dagmar's Health & Specialty Foods Offering a Good Selection of: • Spices • Herbs • Baldng Supplies • Seeds, Flours & Grains • A Complete Line of Food Supplements Located In The Walkway 539-2213 Cape Breton Shopping Plaza • Sydney River ' JONEUIM GENERAL CONSTRUCTION TILT-UP CONCRETE BUILDINGS CONCRETE STRUCTURES PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDINGS TURN-KEY PROJECTS DESIGN BUILD Riverview Drive, Sydney Fax. 539-0104 539-2222

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