In my country I new a lot of Priests that were an example of life for me. And I could say that was because of these great men of God that my vacation increased. I was blessed because in this Country, the first person that I met was a Priest; his name is Dennis Reardon, and another Priest from Colombia who send me to one of the Vocation Awareness week in the Seminary of our Lady of Providence. By this time I had my girlfriend and I was looking for an excuse for not to go. But God had already a plan for me. Was in this retreat that God really conquer my heart and I said yes to him.

My major questions were How I going to support myself if I won't be able to work? What I am going to do with my car, if I still paying for it? Well I had to return it to the dealer; and I sell all that I possess. I resign to my job and not only that all my family is out of the State of Rhode Island, so I had many fears. But God in his great Mercy has been helping me. The life in Seminary is not easy task either because in my case I have to share with a very diverse group, there are sixteen nationalities and eight different languages. But God is always by my side helping me to grow and to live in community.

The response of the people is amazing, as soon they know you are a seminarian they approach you and start to share their experiences with you. Once we visit a poor parish in one of the cities here in Miami, and a man of 89 years old made rosaries for each one of the seminarians. When he was distributing the rosaries, he was in tears giving us all kind of blessings, after words we been told that he did not have any money to by the beads, but somebody else provided him with money so he could made the rosaries. My heart was broken and was right there when I recognized that been a seminarian is a privilege. Priesthood is not a profession is a call is a style of life that we have to live with our Lord. Pope John Paul II used to say "don't be afraid." And those words really impact me, there is no reason for be afraid to the call of God.

Prayer is the key to respond to the call, today I'm very happy to know that I take the right decision, the only regret that I have is not to respond early to this call. I am praying to God that these lines help you to discern if you are feeling the call in your heart. Just go talk to your pastor as I did. I'm sure that he will be more than happy to help you. I will pray for you please pray for me and all the seminarians around the world. That the God Almighty sends more workers to the vineyard and you might one of them.

In this third year in the seminary I thank God, for all the blessings and for all the people that he sent and will send to help me in my discernment. And for my Parents that gave the gift of how to be a good Catholic.