When you meet Jackson Saunders for the first time, it is clear you are in the presence of someone really unique. He is very tall, with a wonderful smile and the kindest eyes, very hospitable and engaging. I am at his family home to interview Jackson about the journey he has been on for the past 6 years, although it’s a little like he is the one interviewing me. He is genuinely interested in my story; about my family and where I am originally from. He is making the process of breaking the ice prior to the interview so effortless, which is refreshing as I must admit I was slightly nervous before I walked through the door this morning.
Jackson’s journey is taking him to the respectable path of becoming a Priest, and with about 12 months left of study, I will soon refer to him as Father Jackson, (although he insists a simple ‘Jackson’ will be more than acceptable as well.)
Jackson was born in Bendigo just 29 years ago and is the elder to his sister Alyce with whom he shares a strong relationship. He attended Saint Monica’s Primary School at Kangaroo Flat before going on to attend Catholic College Bendigo. A very capable and happy student, Jackson was always eager to learn with a particular interest in English and Sports. While not entirely sure what career path he would follow as a teenager, he toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher, journalist or sports commentator and looked as though he would likely go with the latter following a cadetship with the Bendigo Advertiser at one point.
“I really enjoyed that, as I have always loved writing. I also did a bit of radio for a while and thoroughly enjoyed that as well. I have always had a very strong faith too and so I have been drawn to that more and more over the years.”
Jackson says that having such encouraging and supportive parents has meant that he knew whichever career he chose that he would have their blessing, so when he became involved in Youth Ministry for the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst in 2012 three years before entering the seminary, he was aware that all his parents wanted was for their son to be happy.
I asked Jackson where his influences have come from regarding his faith.
Certainly, my Dad and my grandparents have been my biggest influences. We had always attended Mass on Sundays but that was about as far as it went. Over the years, certainly with the wonderful teachers I was fortunate to have at school and people such as; Father Brian Boyle from Bendigo, Monsignor Frank Marriott also of Bendigo, Fr Mike Pullar from Wangaratta and Monsignor Peter Jeffrey from Mooroopna, among others. I was also heavily influenced by Kevin Sheedy as a kid, especially being a mad Essendon supporter!” Jackson laughs.
“Kevin Sheedy has a simple saying that I always think of which was to ‘keep smiling.’ It’s a great saying. I have also been influenced by many friends, young and old. Just ordinary everyday people who can make such a difference in your life.”
When Jackson took on the role as Youth Ministry Worker, he says he “felt called” and with his faith now becoming clearer and more intense, his path was taking him to many places that was drawing him to a need to work with young people. Working with secondary schools and parishes, a major part of his role was to help establish youth groups, run Retreats and pilgrimages and manage them.
“I guess you could say I was the co-ordinator or promoter,” he says.
Jackson is so matter of fact when he gives me a brief run down of the projects in which he has been involved:
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival with 100 participants from the Diocese.
World Youth Day in Rio De Janeiro with a group of 30 young people from their diocese (amongst approximately 3.7 million other students at the final Mass.)
To say Jackson has solid understanding of gratitude is an understatement. He is aware that not everyone has the opportunities he has been given but is quite sure he knows the reasons why they have come to him.
“I have felt that it is God who is leading me. My motivation to strive to do my best is always my love of God and wanting to share that love with others. Each day in prayer and reflection, I seek to recognise God’s presence through encounters with people, the Bible and also the Sacraments in the Church. I am drawn to the joy and kindness of priests and fell in love with the diocese. For me it has been very natural to go down this path.”
A priest in training, how does this work?
“Well, you have to be at least 18 to join the priesthood and it is 7 years of study. At the beginning of 2015 I joined the seminary at Corpus Christi College in Carlton. There were 50 of us there training from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory. There is only one day of rest which is Saturday but there is always work to be done. In 2019 I was fortunate to be asked to go to Italy to study for 8 months. I was living in Rome at the North American College where there were 200 students training for priesthood. It was a great experience.”
What did a ‘typical’ study day entail?
“I’d be up at 5.30am, attend prayer and Mass at 6.15am, breakfast at 7am, then I’d walk 30 minutes to Uni. Our theology classes usually began at 8.30am and went until 12pm. All of the morning classes were in Italian, which was a bit of a challenge, but thankfully the text books were in English which helped! Then we’d break for lunch which was always pasta. There would be an afternoon prayer following that, private study, Italian tutorials, exercise, evening prayer at 6.45pm, dinner, often more classes at 8pm and finally bed at 9.30pm.”
It sounds like a huge commitment, was there ever a time that you questioned continuing with your studies?
“Yes, however, I have always felt a sense that God was calling me to the priesthood and wanted me to study for the priesthood.”
Jackson’s parents moved to Barham in 2016 and he has been staying with them recently for a well-earned break from study. He says that a large portion of his studies last year were, like for many students, completed online due to the pandemic. He is looking forward to getting back to the classroom when the time is right, but in typical Jackson Saunders form, his resilience means he will get the job done by whichever means necessary. In less than a year he will likely qualify as a priest and the next task for him will be to work in a parish.
What will happen over these coming months?
“This year I will continue my masters in theology in Melbourne which I expect will be a combination of remote learning as well as face-to-face. Once my studies are completed it will be up to the Bishop to make the final decision on the date I will be ordained, which will take place at the Cathedral in Bendigo. Then I will become a Priest.”
What do you believe you will be able to offer when you are a priest and can you tell me what some of your goals will be?
“Thank you for asking, Ali. I am most looking forward to talking to a variety of people and to teaching them more about faith. As I said before, I feel that priests have such a joyful and kind nature and I really want to be able to portray that as a gentle Christian witness. My love for radio and media is still there. I see a great opportunity as a priest in radio with sport and late-night talk back radio. I’d like to be able to counsel lonely people who I wouldn’t usually see in church. Perhaps the radio would be easier for them to reach out. I want to be the bearer of good news, something as simple but significant as a wedding anniversary or a project someone has completed. I want to have that connection and to be approachable for those looking for guidance. I think I am relatable to people from all walks of life, both young and old. Everybody has a story to tell.”
I leave Jackson’s home today feeling lighter somehow. It has been an absolute pleasure to talk to him today, and call it intuition or whatever it is, but I just know that there is a special place for people such as Jackson Saunders in this world and we should be very grateful that he is on this beautiful journey.
