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By Fannie Dionne
Finding one’s vocation can sometimes seem like an idea planted in our minds and hearts by someone who understands us better than we understand ourselves.
The priestly vocation of Fr. Paul Robson, SJ, for example, is like a seed that sprouted in fertile soil, grew and now bears abundant fruit. Yet, nothing predestined him to become a Catholic priest — indeed, Catholicism is a religion he embraced as an adult. But by listening to others, to himself and to God, he found his calling in the community of Wiikwemkoong on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, within the Anishinaabe community.
According to Margaret (Tish) Manitowabi, a member of the community, Fr. Robson is never idle. “He’s a very busy young priest, and he ministers to the people most in need. There are many people who come to him for advice, and they consider him one of their own.”
A Gentle Voice that Whispers a Greater Calling
To find his vocation, Fr. Robson first had to go through a major transition. In his mid-20s, he accepted a friend’s invitation to visit St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Winnipeg. That simple visit turned into a journey of learning and deepened his understanding of Catholicism, ultimately leading him to be baptized.
He must have made a strong impression on the parish because that’s where the idea of the priesthood was first mentioned, explains Fr. Robson: “There was a woman who was part of the parish who said to me, ‘Paul, now that you’ve become a Catholic, you should think about becoming a priest.’ She just blurted it out. I didn’t immediately think, ‘Yes, yes, of course, this woman is right, this is my vocation.’ But it was as if she had planted a seed.”
This young Catholic did not immediately look into the criteria for becoming a priest, but the woman’s words stayed with him, strengthening his faith and spirituality. Paul began to get actively involved in his parish, where he came into contact with Jesuit priests. He also began the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in daily life, deepening his spiritual practice. And slowly, in the silence of prayer, the call to the priesthood returned to his mind, but with one difference: This time he had the desire to be a Jesuit priest.
And slowly, in the silence of prayer, the call to the priesthood returned to his mind, but with one difference: This time he had the desire to be a Jesuit priest.
After getting involved at Loyola High School in Montreal and in the pre-novitiate of the Jesuit Province of Darjeeling to get a sense of Ignatian life and work, Paul entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 28 and was ordained 10 years later.
A Jesuit Vocation Among First Nations
For all of us, our vocation is a path that continues to deepen. For Fr. Robson, his vocation was indeed to be a priest, but knowing that Jesuits are available to be sent on various missions — to prisons, retreat centres or schools — there was much to discern in terms of where he was called to exercise his ministry.
However, he did not have to look far: “Working with First Nations is part of my vocation as a Jesuit and has been since I first joined the Society of Jesus.” For several years now, he has been working as the parish priest at Holy Cross Mission in Wiikwemkoong, where he had already worked as a novice.
Founded in the 19th century, this Jesuit mission has a long history, with both light and dark moments. Over time, the Jesuits have stood alongside Indigenous peoples in defending their land rights, but they also founded a residential school in Spanish, Ontario. These complexities are not lost on Fr. Robson. “One of the challenges we face here is to reconcile ourselves with the more negative part of our history. I think being a jesuit today involves in some way or other to to be kind of out on the frontiers or or engaging with the challenging issues or or situations of the time.” This is what Fr. Robson is committed to on a daily basis.
“I think being a jesuit today involves in some way or other to to be kind of out on the frontiers or or engaging with the challenging issues or or situations of the time.” – Paul Robson, SJ
A Life of Relationship and Reconciliation
Fr. Robson is engaged in relationships both at church and in the community. “The greatest consolation is to be active, to be with people in whatever way I can. Sometimes that means being with people in a leadership role, if I’m presiding at Mass, for example, but it also means simply being in the company of people at community events or visiting them however and wherever I can.”
His integration takes place on many levels. He continues to learn Anishinaabemowin so that he can use it more in his daily life. He also incorporates the language and culture into the liturgy of the Mass, such as the ritual of purification by smoke, which carries prayers up to God as it rises. Ms. Manitowabi explains: “I think it’s good that when we go to church, we see reflections of our culture and our images. For example, the Stations of the Cross were created by a young member of the community.” For Fr. Robson, these elements are a part of the process of reconciliation to which the Jesuits of Canada are committed.
Much time has passed since Fr. Robson’s conversion and his encounter with the woman who planted the seed of his vocation. He took his final vows in the Society of Jesus on May 24, 2025, at the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre in Espanola. More committed than ever to his ministry and to others, he reaffirms every day what it means to him to be a priest and a Jesuit and to work for justice and reconciliation.
Growing and flourishing in our vocation requires attentiveness, silence and listening, as Fr. Robson’s journey shows. Are we attentive to the seeds planted in our hearts in our daily lives?
Discover Father Robson’s daily work in this video.
