I believe my background as a performer, as a musician, and as an educator proves beneficial as a priest. These roles rely heavily on communication, which is a vital aspect of priestly service.

Our Sunday Visitor: You commenced your path to the priesthood at the diocesan seminary in New South Wales, yet you were ordained as a Benedictine in Western Australia on the other side of the country. What led to that transition?

Father Nixon: A seminary operates somewhat similarly to a monastery. I found that appealing. I was attracted to a form of spirituality that was relatively strict compared to diocesan priest norms. The monastic life, with its routine and focus on contemplation and meditation, greatly appealed to me. I went to a monastery for a retreat and truly enjoyed the experience.

I sensed a strong urge to join immediately, yet I experienced inner turmoil due to my immense loyalty to my home diocese. They hadn’t celebrated an ordination there in nearly 20 years. In the end, I discussed this with my bishop and realized that this was truly what God was directing me towards.

Our Sunday Visitor: You mentioned something significant, which is that Australia is experiencing a decrease in ordinations. Is there potential for growth? Two decades is quite a lengthy period for a diocese to anticipate a new priest.

Father Nixon: Indeed. Indeed. Predicting the future concerning vocations is quite challenging. I remain optimistic and trust that God will act, leading to a resurgence in vocations. However, I believe it is contingent on numerous factors — leadership, culture, and so forth. The Church is continuously evolving, striving to become more fully what Christ imagines her to be.

Our Sunday Visitor: When you became a part of the Benedictine order, what concerning monastic life surprised you?

Father Nixon: One of the aspects that amazed me about monastic existence is the quantity of individuals that we truly serve. Monastic life is conventionally viewed as being isolated and distanced from society. However, we have a constant influx of guests arriving here. The pastoral element [of the priesthood], which attracted me, is also found within monastic living. Simultaneously, we experience the advantages of the contemplative life.

Our Sunday Visitor: As a member of the Benedictine community, you commit to three promises — stability, faithfulness to monastic living (or transformation of life), and obedience. Could you share a bit about how you practice these vows in your daily existence?

Father Nixon: Stability signifies that you are making a lifelong pledge to the specific community you become a part of. Therefore, in contrast to the Franciscans and Jesuits, we cannot be relocated to other regions of the globe. We anticipate remaining precisely where we are. This is crucial because it implies you learn to coexist with the community you belong to, and you’re not merely biding your time until you receive your next transfer or others move away.

The second aspect, fidelity and transformation of life, encompasses poverty, chastity, and obedience, and naturally, bears resemblance to mendicant orders.

Ultimately, obedience extends beyond just our leaders in the community; it also involves reciprocal compliance. When we receive a request to assist someone or perform a task for another individual within the community, we follow through. We are all here to support one another.

Our Sunday Visitor: We’ve briefly discussed this earlier, but before joining the Benedictine order, you were a talented musician, composer, and teacher. Currently, you serve as the director of the Institute of Benedictine Studies at New Norcia and continue to create and record music. Do you have any words of motivation for young men who are contemplating a vocation, yet may be anxious that joining the seminary involves sacrificing other interests?

Father Nixon: It certainly doesn’t imply abandoning other passions and skills. At times, it may require delaying certain pursuits for a few years in the name of obedience and discipline, but in the end, our existence within the Church represents a life of wholeness.

I realize that I can now engage in [activities I believed I was leaving behind] for the honor of God, which changes everything. When you pursue something solely for your own pleasure, it doesn’t provide the same sense of fulfillment as when you dedicate it to the service of God and the Church.

Our Sunday Visitor: At New Norcia, you found a new enthusiasm for translating ancient and medieval Latin texts into contemporary English. How did you begin this journey?

Father Nixon: Latin was genuinely one of my preferred subjects in the seminary, and I truly enjoy translating texts as I read them. I worked on a piece by St. Idlephonsus of Toledo, and, purely by coincidence, I shared it with a few others who suggested that I should publish it. I submitted it to Tan Books. I was rather taken aback by their excitement over it since this was a little-known seventh-century monastic saint that most individuals had never heard of.

Our Sunday Visitor: I’m interested in understanding how you select which ones to translate. New Norcia possesses more than 80,000 books in its library. That’s quite a selection to choose from.

Father Nixon: Indeed. If something truly resonates with me while I’m perusing it, I believe it will likely resonate with others, too. I’ve been profoundly inspired by the excitement among Catholics for engaging with these texts, which have remained hidden for so many centuries.

Our Sunday Visitor: You have a forthcoming book titled “The Battle of Virtues and Vices” (TAN Books, $19.95). What led you to select that title, and what impact do you believe it will have on the Church in the present day?

Father Nixon: “The Battle of the Virtues and Vices” was among the most widely read books in the Middle Ages. The book is composed as a conversation between the virtues and the vices. The narrative unfolds with a character representing one of the vices appearing to tempt the individual, followed by a virtue that counters the vice. It is both entertaining and enlightening, as it prepares us to identify these vices even when they are concealed.

Our Sunday Visitor: I would like to conclude by returning to the topic of vocations. As a mother, I am interested in the words of support or guidance you can offer to me and other parents who wish to encourage a willingness to consider vocations within our families.

Father Nixon: The essential aspect is to maintain a robust link with the Church, integrating it into everyday life as a regular aspect. Providing that foundation, I believe, is the absolute best contribution parents can make.

Frequently, during their development, children experience various phases. At times, they may distance themselves from the Church or become less engaged. However, if the groundwork is solid, they will be prepared to return and engage with God.

I understand that being a Catholic parent is quite challenging in today’s world, but the core principles of love and faith, along with the commitment to doing what is right, will always remain. These values will accompany the individual throughout their lifetime and prepare them for the vocation that God intends for them.