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«Thanks to the tenderness and mercy of our God» (Lk 1:78a). With these words I summarize the mystery of the vocation of every man called by God. They were spoken by Zechariah, after he recognized that his son John the Baptist was a gift from the Lord not only for his family but for all the people; an incredible call to prepare everyone to receive the Messiah. This is the mystery of vocation, it is an immense gift, but it only makes sense if it is carried out in service to souls, it only reaches its fullness when the life of the consecrated person and all apostolic activity begin and end in God. Why would the Creator give such a great gift to a man? That was Zechariah’s doubt, it seems impossible, but it can only be understood in faith, because it is a grace from God, who is good and merciful to His people and above all to His chosen ones.

My vocation started quite early, very early, I think that’s why the vocation of John the Baptist impacts me so much. I was born in Curitiba, a city in southern Brazil, into a Catholic family, and I am the youngest of three brothers. When I was four or five years old, my relatives would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, as is common to ask children; they expected answers like “football player,” “police officer,” “singer,” but it was a surprise when my answer was “I want to be a priest.” Some were surprised, others laughed and said that when I grew up I would definitely change my mind.

And I did, by the age of ten I no longer wanted to be a priest…, but I still participated in the altar boys’ group at my parish, where I made good friends. One of them invited us to visit a seminary, which he said was an incredible place. Four of us went to see it, and it was really cool, but today I wonder what attracted me, because I didn’t like playing football, the swimming pool scared me a little, board games weren’t a big deal, and they didn’t even have video games. What attracted me was the joy of the priests and seminarians. There was a very welcoming environment, they taught us to talk to Jesus as a living person and emphasized the importance of formation for young people. I remember they told us the story of Saint José Sánchez del Río, a young Mexican martyr. When I listened, I felt that we all could do great things for Christ and the world. All the desire I had to become a priest returned like a hurricane inside me.

I entered the seminary in 2006. Today I am grateful for the effort and support of my parents, even though it was very difficult for them to let me leave home at that age. I was very happy in the seminary; those were four wonderful years, with many friends who continued on the path to priesthood and others who did not, but I believe they were great learning moments for everyone. After one year in the seminary, I experienced a crisis; I even told one of the priests that I wanted to leave, but it was during a prayer before the Sacred Heart, when I felt inside that I couldn’t be “playing with God,” that He was calling me, but He left me free to choose whatever I wanted; if it was the priesthood, to give my life one hundred percent, if as a layperson, to be one hundred percent committed. The important thing was that my surrender to God would never be mediocre. I didn’t doubt God’s call, but I doubted what I would answer. That’s when I said “yes” to God on the path to priesthood.

The formation was long, as it has been seventeen years since I left home. God always surprises us, He pampers us so much with His blessings, but we also encounter stones along the way, which are often the best teachers, things that God allows to happen always with a purpose: to demonstrate that He loves us, has mercy on our miseries, and always brings good out of what is sometimes difficult when we live through it.  

A very significant moment during these years was the apostolic practices. I had the grace to work in Mexico, two years as a vocational promoter for young people and one year as a formator at the minor seminary in Guadalajara. A fantastic country, where I met so many wonderful people. Working with young people and adolescents, it’s incredible to see God touching so many hearts. Jesus continues to call as He called His apostles on the Sea of Galilee—to be priests or committed Christians. However, not always do young people find the way and someone to accompany them; often the future of great apostles is cut short, afraid to be generous and to give themselves to God, sometimes drowning in mediocrity or even in sin. I felt that God had placed me there for a reason, because I also had felt the call of God from a very young age and I was at a crossroads between happiness and mediocrity. That was one of my main goals: to talk about how good God has been to me and how He desires everyone’s happiness, whether apostles or authentic and generous people. God wants an army of saints.

Now, as I approach priesthood, I feel great inner joy and confidence in God, who never abandons us. I want to thank all those whom God has allowed to pass through my path until today; they have been His instruments in one way or another to prepare me for this moment, which is a great beginning. If there is one thing I want to ask of God right now, and I wish everyone would pray for me, it is the gift of perseverance in the service of God. This is the prayer I will include in my ordination remembrance: «One thing I ask of Yahweh, this is what I seek: to dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Yahweh and to inquire in His temple» (Psalm 27:4).