That is the mantra that has led Monsignor John Harrison (75) through 50 years of priesthood.
Mgr Harrison is the assistant priest at St Joseph’s Cathedral parish and the chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin.
He was the parish priest at the cathedral from 2006 to last year.
Mgr Harrison said he had originally planned to head straight out of high school into the workforce, but after getting a job at the Bank of New Zealand he could not deny a sense of calling to serve God.
After a year of work that feeling ‘‘started to stir’’ in Mgr Harrison and the inclination to become a priest kept ‘‘nagging’’ him.
He tried to put the feeling away but it kept coming back, which made him feel uneasy.
In 1966 he could ignore it no more and headed to the Holy Name Seminary to study alongside his younger brother.
He then moved to Holy Cross College in Mosgiel and was ordained in 1971.
Earlier this year he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his priesthood.
He had served the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin from all over the South Island and across the world, including several month-long trips to the Antarctic.
As a chaplain he had worked in prisons, schools, hospitals, the police and many other settings.
He had served as chancellor of the diocese for over 20 years, which he continued today.
His two years in banking had been valuable to him, as there was plenty of administrative work that came along with the job, he said.
Mgr Harrison found it hard to put into words how much the priesthood meant to him, but said he still felt a sense of calling.
He enjoyed getting to make a difference and experience the journeys people went through, seeing their highs and their lows, including weddings and funerals.
While his work was important, it was not all-consuming.
Mgr Harrison had an interest in aircraft and liked to collect and work with plastic model planes.
He also spent time with his family, who have been a valuable support system for him over the years, he said.
His sisters lived close by and had children and grandchildren he spent time with regularly.
Taking time to enjoy life outside the church was ‘‘so important’’ as it helped him stay grounded in life and his spirituality.
He enjoyed his work and planned to continue however he could in the future.
