Chosen to love

With the Columban Fathers from Perú an Chile before the ordination.

On my last birthday celebration, while reflecting on my life, I remembered my Priestly ordination day as a missionary of St. Columban. I was ordained priest on 10/01/95.
I was studying my last year in the Superior Institute for Theological Studies John XXIII in Lima, Perú (ISET John XXIII).

With my classmates during our Pastoral trip to Puqio, Ayacucho. There are two Camilian,
my good Marist friend El "Churre" Cruz, an Oblate of Mary and a Carmelite Brother.  

 Those were wonderful years sharing my dreams and my life with my friend and companions. ISET is a Theological Institute were men and women from Perú, Latinoamerica, Italy and Africa were educated in the fields of Philosophy, Theology, Moral Studies, and Pastoral studies and other subjects. The education received in ISET will prepare us to work better for the Kingdom of Justice, Peace, Faith and Joy of the Risen Lord, in his Church and in the world. We studied and worked having in mind the promise of Jesus, “I will be with you until the end of time, always by our side.

Logo of the Superior Institute for Theological Studies, Juan XXIII (ISET) 

Times in ISET were very fertile and rich in experiences of God among us and his people. With my friends, we mixed studies; we reflect on the Scriptures through the lenses of life, we organized pastoral visits in lima and the provinces, we visit our different seminaries to study, do some sports  and spend time together, sharing our lives between one or two healthy mischief. The academic challenges mingled with the pastoral enjoyment, we lived those challenges with lots of enthusiasm and joy. We share our sadness with any departure of our close friends from the convents and seminary houses where they lived. We started 49 at the beginning of our studies and after 8-12 years of studies, between 95-97, 16 of us we ordained to the priesthood.

Accepting the Paten from hands of Archishop Vargas Alzamora, Cardinal of Lima

Those who left the Seminary houses kept working for the Kingdom of Jesus and giving witness of His presence in their lives from other sacraments and ministries in our church. Most of them are now happily married and keeping faithfully the promises of love they took with their partners. They have children who bring happiness and joy to their lives and keep high their courage and hopes. What has being built in doubts and anxieties also allowed us to keep our hope alive.

Receiving my Chalice and Paten from hands of Sr. Ana Maria Mulqueeney in behalf of the Columban Sisters.

At that time I was experiencing a health crisis, I was suffering from a lower back injury.
"A sick missionary is always limited and only gives a half of himself," I said to myself.
I was thinking in quitting and leaving the Columban Seminary, but Columban Sister Ana Maria Mulqueeney, and Columban Fathers Michael Fitzgerald and Reynaldo Hegerty were there for me, always nearby. They were and are a very inspiring and good friends to me. They encouraged me and use to say: “crises are always temporary. Crises are good opportunities to grow not only in physical strength but in trusting more and better in Jesus and his project of love.

At St. Peter´s Parish where I was baptized in my hometown Camporredondo, happily celebrating Mass with Bishop Emiliano Cisneros
and Fr. Wilson, then parish priest stationed in Ocalli. 

Thanks to Jesus Christ and his mother Mary of Guadalupe, the crisis was over in two years. I remember with a smile now the time I was thinking in quitting because my health crisis and almost leave the Columban project of sharing Jesus ‘love with everyone, everywhere. I spent the month before my ordination studying, preparing the ordination ceremony, readings, invitations, brochure, song pamphlets, going and coming to the printer, practicing the songs with my friends of Grupo Siembra and many other things. That was an busy and tiring month but full of joy, hope and enthusiasm; those memories still encourage me to keep working with the same excitement and hope, full of Peace and Joy in the Lord of Life.