REFLECTION:

Five years ago, as I prepared for ordination to the priesthood, there was a phrase that stayed with me and continues to stay with me today: “Grace builds on nature.” Looking back now on these five years of priesthood, I realize more and more how true those words are.

This phrase comes from the theological tradition of the Church, especially from St. Thomas Aquinas, who taught that “grace does not destroy nature, but perfects it” (gratia non tollit naturam, sed perficit). In other words, God does not erase who we are in order to work through us. Rather, He takes our humanity, our upbringing, our culture, our personality, our gifts, and even our wounds, and transforms them for His purpose. Grace builds upon the foundation already present in a person’s life.

As I reflect on my vocation, I often return to my cultural roots — to being a Samoan boy raised with certain values and ways of life. Even in seminary formation, grace was building upon the nature that was already there. Seminary did not take away my identity or culture. Instead, God used those experiences to prepare me for priesthood.

One of the strongest values rooted deeply in Samoan culture is community. Life is never simply about the individual. Things are done together — as a family, a village, a church community. There is a deep understanding that we belong to one another.

When I hear Jesus pray in The Gospel of John 17:20–26, “that they may all be one,” I cannot help but connect it to that sense of unity I experienced growing up. Jesus’ prayer is not simply about people getting along. It is about communion. It is about recognizing that faith is lived together. In my culture, you know when someone distances themselves because community notices absence. Sometimes that can feel difficult because everyone knows when something is wrong. Yet there is also something beautiful in that — healing also happens together. Joy is shared together. Suffering is carried together. No one walks alone.

That is why this sense of community is so important to me. The mentality of “stay in your lane” has never fully resonated with me, because it can sometimes become an excuse to say, “Well, I can’t help you because that’s not my lane.” Where I come from, if one person struggles, the community steps in. We help because we belong to one another. Ministry, leadership, and even healing are not meant to be carried alone. We may each have different roles, but we are still responsible for one another as one family, one Church, one Body in Christ.

As a priest these past five years, I have come to appreciate even more how much ministry is about building communion and walking with people through both celebration and pain. The Church is strongest when we remember that we are one Body in Christ. Jesus prayed for unity because He knew division would always be a temptation. We see that division clearly in today's reading from Acts, where Paul stands before divided groups who cannot even agree among themselves. Yet in the midst of that tension and conflict, the Lord tells Paul, “Take courage.”

That word — courage — brings me to another lesson that grace built upon in my life. Growing up, my father would always tell me: “Don’t be afraid of anyone. They are human just like you. The only person to fear is God Himself.” Those words stayed with me from childhood, through seminary, and even now in priesthood. They formed something within me long before I was ordained.

Because of that, I have never been afraid to speak the truth, even when people may not like hearing it. Truth has a way of revealing things people would rather hide or ignore. There have been many moments these past five years when speaking honestly brought criticism, tension, or misunderstanding. Some of my closest friends joke and say, “Do you even care?” The reality is this: it is not about winning arguments or proving points. It is about the common good and the pursuit of truth. A priest cannot simply say what is comfortable; he must strive to say what is true, with love and courage.

Paul understood this in Acts. He stood firm because he knew whom he served. Jesus understood this too. Even as He prayed for unity, He knew the truth would lead Him to the Cross. Real unity is not built on pretending everything is fine. It is built on truth, reconciliation, courage, and love.

As I celebrate five years of priesthood, I thank God for the grace He continues to pour into my life. But I also thank Him for the “nature” He chose to build upon — my family, my culture, my upbringing, my experiences, my community, and even the lessons learned through struggles and challenges. Grace did not replace these things; it transformed them and continues to transform them for His service.

And after five years, I realize priesthood is still not about me. It is about Christ. It is about serving His people, building unity, proclaiming truth, and having the courage to continue the mission no matter what comes. Like St. Paul, the Lord continues to say: “Take courage.” And like Jesus prayed, may we all continue striving to be one in Him.