A once young boy who aspired to play for the Socceroos and become a scientist has now grown up to become a Catholic priest.

“I wanted to save the planet and be a researcher for renewable energies or in biofortification,” Fr Gerard Lai said.

It was “interesting how God was calling me to help save the planet, but in a different way”, he said.

“Looking back, I can honestly say it has been the greatest adventure of my life.”

Fr Lai was raised in a Malaysian-Chinese family, where faith, food and hospitality were all important parts of his life growing up.

After graduating high school, Fr Gerard decided to study Biology at the Queensland University of Technology but during the final years of his degree, Fr Lai felt a call from God to discern the priesthood.

“Priesthood was something I had never seriously considered before,” he said.

“I always thought is was for the people who were more holy, prayerful and service-oriented than I was”.

He completed his degree, “took a leap of faith” and joined the seminary in 2017.

 

 

Fr Lai said the thing he loves most about being a priest is that each day brings something new.

“One day I might be celebrating a baptism, the next visiting someone in hospital, teaching in a classroom, blessing a home, celebrating Mass or sharing a coffee with a parishioner,” he said.

“Priesthood places you right in the middle of people’s lives.

“It is a privilege I never take for granted.”

There is a simple desire “at the heart of everything I do”, he said, “helping people encounter Jesus”.

 

 

When he’s not in a church, office or school, Fr Lai can be found near the ocean “with a fishing rod in hand”.

“Fishing has taught me many important spiritual lessons”, he said, “including patience, perseverance and more often than I’d like to admit, humility, when the fish are smarter than I am”.

Fr Lai thrives on staying active and completed his first half-triathlon last year.

“I enjoy a challenge” and “looking for new ways to push myself physically and mentally,” he said.

Aside from loving the “great outdoors”, Fr Lai said he is also a “science enthusiast”.

“I have always been fascinated by how the world works and how the wonders of creation reveal something of the wisdom and creativity of God.

“Faith and science are not enemies; they simply answer different questions about the world.

“The more I learn about the universe, the more I find myself in awe of its Creator.”

Fr Lai has just begun his appointment as new Associate Pastor for Maroochydore Parish this week after three years of service at Caloundra Parish.

“Out of all the 94 parishes in the Brisbane Archdiocese, I was blessed enough to be sent right next door,” he said.

“I am looking forward to this next chapter and becoming part of the Maroochydore family.”