“Before forming you in the womb, I chose you; before you were born, I consecrated you” (Jer., 1:5).
“I must say that my vocation is very simple. God planted it in my heart from a very young age. I remember that when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied that I would like to be a priest. I don’t recall anyone suggesting it to me; that desire was born spontaneously within me.”
I could not begin this story without talking about my family. Personally, I feel very grateful to God Our Lord for this wonderful gift. Thanks to them, I received the faith and values that have sustained the early years of my life. I am the youngest of four brothers. My grandparents—I did not have the grace to meet them because they died before I was even born; in fact, I believe my parents had not yet met. Specifically, my father was an orphan of both parents while still a minor, which meant he had to lead a life of simplicity, work, and sacrifice in the countryside. From him, I learned the value of work, to be austere, and to act always guided by God’s will. I remember a day when I told him we would go to a recreational park with school, and he replied: “You will go if God wills it”; and I, not understanding why my dad involved God, responded: “We will go whether God wants it or not,” but he corrected me and told me that we are always in God’s hands and that we can do nothing unless it is His will. From my father, I also learned his testimony of honesty; on one occasion, when I was six or seven years old, I found a box full of coins at his workplace; I showed my brother my discovery and suggested we take some to buy stickers for an album we were collecting; my brother didn’t hesitate for a second and took several coins, while I, feeling a bit guilty, took only one. When my father returned home after work, he called us aside and told us he was very disappointed in what we had done, as it was not what he had taught us; he gave us a few spankings, but from that moment on, we learned to always be honest. My father died very young, due to cancer; his coworkers commissioned a plaque in his memory for his testimony of work and honesty.
From my mother, I received faith and her desire to always do good to others. I am very grateful to her for her closeness and companionship, because despite working every morning, she spent the whole afternoon with us at home or took us with her on visits to my aunts or her friends. She comes from a family with a deep religious life, as my grandmother was able to transmit the faith to them. Recently, I discovered that my grandmother helped seek vocations for the religious congregation to which one of my aunts belongs.
I must say that my vocation is very simple. God planted it in my heart from a very young age. I remember that when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied that I would like to be a priest. I don’t recall anyone suggesting it to me; that desire was born spontaneously within me, although I honestly don’t know why, because I didn’t particularly enjoy going to Mass or praying the rosary, but I was attracted to the figure of the priest.
One day, while at school, a Legionary priest, Father Rafael González, visited us and handed us a sheet with a questionnaire. The main question was whether we had an interest in vocations and if we wanted to participate in a vocational gathering in Medellín. Of course, I said yes. Additionally, I was intrigued by the idea of having a few days off in the city. When my mother gave me permission, my brother didn’t think it was fair that I go alone, and they encouraged me to ask the priest if he could accompany me, to which the priest agreed very happily. In the end, I gathered a good group of friends and, along with other children from school, went to the apostolic center, which at that time was located in La Estrella, south of Medellín. The place was very austere, with a soccer field that had a 30-degree incline (we always played the top against the bottom), the classrooms were not very large, nor was the dining hall or chapel. Thanks to God, amidst the austerity, I found a beautiful environment of charity and kindness, which was what attracted me most. When I returned home, I told my mother convinced that I was going to the seminary. She was very excited and persuaded my father to give me permission. During the previous months, I prepared myself as best as I could, receiving visits from the priest and buying all the necessary things. I still remember the trip to the seminary; my mother personally took me there using public transportation, and it took us almost two hours. At that moment, I didn’t realize the enormous sacrifice I was making, as I was only eleven years old; I can imagine how difficult the return trip home must have been.
I spent five years at the apostolic center. It was there that I began to deepen my understanding of my faith. As an example of my religious ignorance, I used to think that “Holy Trinity” referred to an invocation of the Virgin Mary; for me, only Christ, Mary, and the saints existed… At the apostolic center, I also fell in love with the Legion, with its spirit, and the style of the Legionary priest. The last year was the most difficult for me, as I started feeling the weight of monotony and was a bit afraid of life in the novitiate, knowing it would be a more austere and demanding stage. To all this, the illness and death of my father was added. Still, I always had the support of my family, my superiors, and especially my companions, for whom I am extremely grateful.
The novitiate marked a period of maturation of the reasons that led me to follow Christ. It was two years of intense prayer and union with God. I remember fondly the times of adoration, the explanations of the rule, and the conversations with my brothers. I cherish the memories of the two months we dedicated to working in the fields, because unlike other novices, we had the opportunity to go into the mountains, in austere conditions, to work harvesting coffee. The last six months I experienced quite intensely as preparation for my first profession, which I made with the intention of dedicating my whole life to the Lord, even if I had to take vows for three years.
The next stop was Salamanca. The first few months were uphill, as it was a cultural shock for me, as it was for many others; it was the first time I had to live outside my country, in a place with a rather harsh climate, especially in winter. Over the months, I got used to it, and I began to enjoy the Salamanca experience very much. I highlight the seriousness and rigor of the studies and the enrichment I gained from so many brothers of diverse nationalities; thanks to them, I started to value my roots even more and to recognize their lights and shadows.
After two intense years of study and a couple of months in Barcelona helping with ECYD, I was assigned to Thornwood, New York, to begin my philosophical studies. The challenge now was to learn a new language and a subject somewhat more arid than literature and history. I remember that in the first months I would leave the classroom with a headache, because I had to make twice the effort to understand what the teacher was saying and to try to grasp philosophy itself. The years in the United States were among the best of my life, because our community was not very large, and we had a very beautiful environment of fraternity; also, the study center was huge, and the property was very nice. From these two years, I have very good memories of the opportunity I had to give catechesis to some fifth-grade children; initially, we didn’t understand each other well because my accent was not very clear and they spoke very fast; over time, they corrected me, and I transmitted the faith to them.
At the end of these two years, I traveled to Mérida, Venezuela, to serve as a formator at our minor seminary. These were years of great growth and purification, as each year I was directly responsible for the care of 24 adolescents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The first year and a half, I was in charge of the youngest, who were very restless and quarrelsome, but very simple and transparent; I remember that at night, before going to bed, I would start to fall asleep while walking. The following year and a half, I was responsible for the older ones, who began to have their teenage crises; I remember that the last half of my second year was very tough, as I had a particularly difficult group; at night, I would go to bed no longer so tired, but worried about my boys.
My final period of formation was spent in Rome. There, I earned a license in philosophical anthropology and a bachelor’s degree in theology. These were years of significant institutional changes, but on a personal level, of much peace and serenity. Being in Rome helped me grow in my love for the Church and the Pope; I made an effort to pay attention to the Holy Father’s words, listened to summaries of his catechesis, some of his speeches, and tried to read all the documents he published. In Rome, I experienced the universality of the Church; I loved assisting at the Pope’s solemn Masses in St. Peter’s Square. I had the grace and opportunity to serve as an acolyte at the Easter Mass in 2018; among the acolytes was one of my classmates, Brother Anthony Freeman, who that very night would pass into eternity, after some fruitful spiritual exercises. I miss his friendliness and sense of humor; he was an extremely optimistic brother. In Rome, I also had the opportunity to help at the parish of “Gran Madre di Dio,” which was an experience that helped me step out of routine and give myself to others.
After my diaconal ordination in Colombia on August 12, 2018, I traveled to Padua, where I am currently helping with the youth work of Regnum Christi and the adolescents of ECYD. These months have been of great growth and learning, as I have spent many years in formation centers and now I am adapting to the circumstances and challenges of external work.
I want to take this opportunity to thank first of all God Our Lord and His Most Holy Mother, who have accompanied me throughout these years. I entrust to their hands my priesthood and the salvation of my soul. I also thank the intercession of my saints, especially Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, whom I have grown particularly fond of in recent years. I also thank my family members who have accompanied and supported me throughout these years. And how could I forget so many superiors and companions whose names I do not write down, because the list would be very long, but they know they have been present in my life.
Father Julián Serna, L.C., was born in Rionegro (Antioquia), Colombia, on October 26, 1987. He entered the vocational center in 1998. In 2004, he joined the novitiate in Medellín, where he made his first religious profession. He studied two years of humanistic studies in Salamanca, Spain. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in Thornwood (NY). He worked for three years as an apostolic prefect at the vocational center in Venezuela. On January 28, 2012, he took his perpetual vows and returned to Rome to pursue studies in philosophical anthropology and theology. He currently collaborates as director of ECYD and assistant to the youth section of Padua.
