在 2014 年 3月，我與多倫多總教區的聖召主任會面，討論我的興趣和內心渴望更多地了解牧職生活。之後，我和朋友參加了 2015 年初在聖奧斯定神學院舉辦的 “週末來” 聖召工作坊。這是一次非常愉快的經歷，讓我注意到宗教生活和教區生活之間的巨大差異。週末之後，聖召主任邀請我和我的朋友參加聖召工作坊，在這個計劃中，那些對神職有敏銳洞察力的男性每月聚集一到兩次，在 Serra House 進行彌撒，靈修閱讀(Lectio Divina)，與修生分享，和神師分享他們的職業故事。我決定加入聖召工作坊，並一直參加 2015 年 2月至 2016 年 6月的聖召會議，我認為我發現我的聖召是可成為一位教區神父。在辨別牧職時，我有很多恐懼和障礙，但自 2016 年初以來，我已經克服了大部分恐懼。其中一些恐懼是我的成熟年齡，我是否可以在離開學校很長時間後重新學習，可能會在我的編隊中遇到我的靈魂伴侶等等。話雖如此，在2016 年4月當我發現其他對聖職有洞察力的同學被授予神學院申請表，但我沒有，我很失望，因為我以為我可以在同年九月進入神學院。神學主管讓我再等一年，因為時間有點趕，他沒有足夠的時間在這一年定期與我見面。
2015 年 3月的一天，我的朋友邀請我參加在萬錦市聖賈斯汀烈士教堂舉行的四旬齋靜修會。在避靜期間，有一個完全陌生的人在後排祈禱，她看到了我和我朋友穿著白色長袍的幻象。她後來問了我們倆人，發現我們對聖職有洞察力。這種非凡的經歷和異象使我和我的朋友更加確實相信主在呼召我們成為牧職人員。從那天起，這位信仰超群的女仕也是我們在辨別過程中最親密的朋友。
因為在我可以嘗試重新申請多倫多的神學院之前，我還有一年的時間，我想我可以在此期間嘗試探索其他宗教秩序。有一天我的一個朋友告訴我，我會說中文，我可以參加中文彌撒。為什麼不嘗試探索一些中國的宗教秩序？
隨著我繼續洞察宗教生活，我也積極參與並一直樂於參加不同的宗教活動、聚會、事工、研討會和在教堂內外舉行的工作坊。例如，我參加了ECCCLC（針對年輕人的4天3夜加東生活營）已經好幾年了。我還在 EDGE 青年組幫助了 5 年的確認班，帶領年輕人過夜靜修。 2016 年 12月，我還幫助了多倫多中華殉道聖人堂委員會。除了在辦公室工作之外，我幾乎所有的時間都花在教會活動和教會的志願者工作上。
In March of 2014, I met with the Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Toronto to discuss my interest and inner desire to inquire more about priesthood. Afterwards, my friend and I participated in the “Come and See weekend” in early 2015 at St Augustine Seminary. It was a very enjoyable experience and I noticed the drastic differences between religions and the diocesan life. After the weekend, the Vocation Director invited me and my friend to join the Associates program where men who are discerning for priesthood gather at Serra House (1st year seminarian formation house) once or twice a month for Holy Mass, Lectio Divina (spiritual reading), sharing with seminarians, and priests sharing their vocation stories. I decided to join the Associates program and had consistently attended sessions from February 2015 to June 2016 where I had thought that I’ve found my vocation to be called as a diocesan priest. I had so many fears and obstacles while discerning for priesthood but since early 2016 I have had conquered most of my fears. Some of these fears were my mature age, whether or not I can go through studies again after leaving school for a long time, potentially meeting my soul mate during my formations, etc. Having said that, in April 2016 when I found out other men who were discerning for priesthood were given the seminary application forms but I was not, I was quite disappointed since I thought that I could have entered the seminary in September of the same year. The vocation director asked me to wait for 1 more year since it was a bit rush because he didn’t have sufficient time to meet with me regularly during the year.
One day in March of 2015, I was invited to a Lent retreat at St Justin Martyr Church in Markham by my friend who had been going to the Associates program with me. During the retreat, when this total stranger at the back row was praying, she saw visions of my friend and I in white albs. She later asked both of us and found out we were discerning for priesthood. This extraordinary experience and vision reinforced my friend and me that the Lord was indeed calling us to be a Priest. This woman of superb faith has also been our closest friends in the course of our discernment since that day.
Since I had this one extra year before I can attempt to re-apply to the seminary in Toronto, I figured I could try to explore other religious orders in the meantime. One day a friend of mine told me l am able to speak Chinese and I can attend Chinese mass. Why not try to explore some Chinese religious order?
As I continued to discern for religious life, I was also heavily involved and have always enjoyed participating with different religious activities, gatherings, ministries, seminars and workshops that are held at or outside church. For example, I attended the ECCCLC (4 days and 3 nights camp for young people) for quite a few years. I also helped out with Confirmation Class for 5 years with the EDGE Youth Ministry, leading youths to overnight retreats. In Dec 2016, I also helped out with the Parish Council. Almost all my time other than working in the office was spent in church activities and volunteer work at church.