Brother Sheldon Burke
My name is Br. Sheldon Burke CRS and I am a solemn professed religious brother in the Clerics Regular of Somasca, or more commonly known as the Somascan Fathers. I was born in Perth, Western Australia to Burmese parents, surrounded by the love and Catholic faith of my parents and two older brothers from young. Growing up in Australia as a Catholic was not always easy. I remembered going to Mass whilst most of my friends would still be playing out in the yard or being one of the very few young people who still went to Mass every Sunday. I always felt different to other kids because of my faith, but my parents showed me not by their words but by their actions the best way in following the Lord Jesus.
In high school, I was often bullied because of my faith and lacked self-confidence because of my many insecurities, and I remember being so frustrated in religious education because my desire to learn about our Catholic faith was never met. I was often ridiculed for wanting to know more, but the most beautiful thing was that instead of making me want to give up, it only made me desire Christ all the more. So I went to World Youth Day Sydney when I was 16 and it was a truly profound experience for me in growing in my love and knowledge of my faith. But when I was there, at the final night vigil, I asked God what He wanted of me. And He told me deep in my heart that He wanted me to be His priest. I freaked out. I was too young and priesthood (even though everyone kept persisting that it was my vocation!) was never what I thought of doing and so I never told anyone else. I left that in my heart and buried it out of fear.
Fast forward, after finishing High School, I went on to study Biomedical Science hoping to study medicine after. I quickly, like others my age, got swept away with the world. It was all about the parties, the clubs, the best brands of clothing, etc. I felt like I had one foot in Church and one foot in the world. I was almost living a double life. I had become so frustrated within myself and I knew that the life I was living was never pleasing to God. I quickly spiraled into a dark place in my life and I used to beg God to help me, whilst also finding too much comfort in the world.
So after a constant internal battle, I knew that I was trying to be so worldly in order to suppress my calling when I was 16. I was in a relationship and I tried almost everything to avoid my call. But I could feel the Lord Jesus persistently knocking at the door of my heart. At one stage, I couldn’t help it any longer and I knew I had to change my worldly ways. So I attended a life-changing inner healing retreat run by my parish priests where I made my biggest confession and I came out weeping in tears. I truly encountered Christ in a most profound and miraculous way. I was free from sin and my past. But I also wondered how I would live and sustain this new life. And the last talk was on Our Lady, and I knew instantly that the Rosary and Our Lady would guide me and keep me on the right path.
After this encounter, I felt inspired to be a high school teacher to teach religion to students and give them a passion to know Christ and our faith, but I also knew that Jesus had called me. So still trying to fight it, I got a spiritual director and after growing in my understanding of my faith and being strengthened by the new habit of attending daily Mass and going to frequent confession, I finally had the courage to begin discerning.
I began my discernment feeling very confused and very alone as Australia is such a secular country. But I always had a desire to work with young people and in education, so I met the Somascan Fathers in a parish not far from where I live and learnt all about the founder St. Jerome Emiliani and was very inspired. I got to know them more and felt the Lord gently leading me towards them. I finally took the courage to respond and begin my formation on the 8th of December, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception here in Perth but was later transferred for my Noviciate in Northern Italy and then to study Philosophy in Rome at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, where over the years I worked with orphans, drug addicts, patients with HIV/AIDS, the homeless, youth at risk and also the Pro Life movement in Rome. After that, I was originally meant to travel to India for mission but due to poor health, stayed in Australia teaching in schools and ministering to the young people. Just last year, I made my final yes to be consecrated to Our Lord forever and continue my studies towards the priesthood. Every single day, whether easy or difficult, is always beautiful working in the vineyard of the Lord and I’ve felt Our Lord with me every step of the way, gently guided by Our Heavenly Mother on my journey towards Holiness.