First Encounters with Faith

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, on August 27, 1994, into a Catholic family. I grew up with my parents and my older brother, from whom I always received love and learned to live the faith. From a very early age, I felt attracted to religion, recognized the importance of prayer, and enjoyed participating in Mass, praying the rosary, and dedicating part of my time to helping others. For this reason, the desire to dedicate my life to the Lord as a priest has been present since my childhood, although at that time simply as a child’s dream without fully understanding its meaning.

As I grew older, that initial desire was set aside, but my interest in knowing, living, and defending my faith intensified due to various circumstances. Then came adolescence, a period of many external and internal changes, of restlessness and doubts, during which my faith was tested. I questioned some teachings of the Church and Christianity itself, but despite this, I always had the desire to defend the faith I had received and the need to understand the reasons behind its teachings. Although I drifted away from God somewhat during this time, His love and mercy never abandoned me, and He constantly came to meet me to put me back on the path of faith.

Transformative Experiences and Vocational Decision

In the midst of this inner process, the desire to serve others, to help, and to share was born in me. This is how I began to participate in some pastoral activities, and in 2009, I met the Legionaries of Christ. After learning a little about their work, their charism, and their mission to form apostles, as well as how they lived their faith, something in me connected deeply. For this reason, I continued to be involved in some of the apostolates that helped the needy and where we received spiritual and human formation.

In 2010, I had the opportunity to do an exchange in the United States, which marked my life by allowing me to see the world with different eyes and enrich myself with another culture. During this time, I was somewhat disconnected from faith, but upon returning to Colombia, I reconnected with the Legionaries of Christ and continued participating in their activities.

In 2011, in my last year of high school, the time came to make big decisions. I had always wanted to study civil engineering and had my plans laid out for my future. However, that same year, the World Youth Day was held in Madrid, an event that awakened in me a great desire to participate. Thanks to God’s providence, I was able to attend, and the experience marked me deeply. It was an opportunity to experience being Catholic in a way I had never before, sharing my faith with millions of young people around the Vicar of Christ, realizing that the Church was truly alive, and that thousands of people had consecrated their lives entirely to God and are completely happy.

When I returned to Colombia after this great experience, I felt an enormous desire to share my faith, a gift from God that must be shared. The days went by until one day, without knowing how or why, I heard in the depths of my heart the voice of God saying: Why aren’t you my priest to transmit my love to humanity? At first, I thought it was a product of my imagination, a result of the great emotions I had experienced earlier, but I increasingly felt that call to leave everything behind, and I told God that at least I would try. I felt peace in my heart. Suddenly, my plans changed, and due to various circumstances, God placed the Legionaries of Christ back in my path once again, and that is how I discovered that God was calling me to be His priest, but in religious life, specifically in the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ. A congregation that was in a process of renewal and purification after very difficult times, but one that was seeking to respond to what God was asking.

Religious Formation, Spiritual Growth, and Apostolic Experiences

After a period of reflection, prayer, and discernment, I shared my decision with my family and friends, and I received unconditional support from them. In this way, I abandoned my study plans, my dreams of forming a family, and I renounced many things to follow Him who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In December 2011, I began the vocational discernment process with the candidacy, a two-month period during which, together with other young people with vocational concerns, I was able to discern God’s will for my life with greater serenity and thus begin preparation for religious life in the novitiate. After these two months of many changes, during which I learned many things, I decided to continue this adventure and finally received my religious habit; my cassock, with which I began the novitiate period.

The novitiate was a period of purification, growth, and dedication in the spiritual realm, and an opportunity to continue growing in my intellectual, cultural, and human formation. I had the grace to carry out my novitiate in three different countries, starting in Colombia for a few weeks, then Venezuela for almost eight months, and later Brazil for a little over a year. Different cultures, different companions and formators, but always the same ideal, the same faith.

After these two years, with God’s grace, on March 2, 2014, I professed my vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, vows with which I consecrated myself to love Christ more and better, His Church, and souls.

After my religious profession, I began the humanities period in the United States. This first stage as a religious was a time of great personal growth and many human experiences; two years to deepen my consecration to God and learn a lot in the intellectual field. At the end of this stage, I continued my formation in Rome, where I began studying Philosophy. Three years in the Eternal City, growing in love for the Church and the Pope, and learning to see the world in a new way.

At the end of the philosophy studies period, I was sent to León to help in the formation of minor seminarians at our vocational center, an enriching experience where I could witness God’s action in the lives of many young people. After two years, I returned to Rome to continue Theology studies and to collaborate with the General Directorate of the congregation in the areas of administration and communications.

This last stage of my formation journey was a decisive period in my life where I made my perpetual vows in the congregation and received the ministries of lector and acolyte. It was a period of purification and inner renewal. Upon completing my Theology studies, I received my first mission as a novice assistant, where I am currently serving—a great responsibility and at the same time an opportunity to share all that I have received from God in recent years.

The Priestly Ordination: An Unmerited Gift

Throughout this path of formation, I have experienced a long but necessary process, growing spiritually, intellectually, and humanly. Religious life and the priesthood are not easy paths, but for those called, they are the greatest adventure of life. In my case, there have been many challenges, moments of difficulty, but I would not change for anything all that I have lived and what I know is still to come.

Jesus taught us that “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” and this becomes a reality when we give our lives to Him. God does not let Himself be outdone in generosity, and I have seen this repeatedly over these years in my own life.

With God’s grace and everyone’s prayer, I hope to be a faithful instrument of His love and mercy, bringing His real presence in the Eucharist, His forgiveness in confession, and His wisdom in preaching. My greatest desire is that, through my priesthood, many people come to know the truth and experience the transforming love of Christ.