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January
9, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 1Oakland,
CA
Latino men invited to consider becoming priests
Father Ruben
Morales of St. Louis Bertrand Parish in Oakland now has a new mission:
to help and advise young Latinos interested in the priesthood so they
learn a little more about priestly life.
In September, Bishop Allen Vigneron appointed Father Morales as director
of Hispanic vocations for the diocese and named three other priests to
work with Filipino, Vietnamese and African-American candidates, a decision
which will undoubtedly help increase the number of vocations.
“It’s very important to have someone who speaks Spanish in
order to guide Latino youth,” said Father Morales. “Sometimes
it’s thought that those who don’t speak English don’t
have vocations, and this has nothing to do with language. The Lord doesn’t
choose by race. It is we ourselves who have to provide the means.”
The young priest recalls his experience when he arrived in the United
States in 2000 from his native town of Colima in Mexico. “I didn’t
know English, I didn’t know how to drive, I knew nothing about the
culture and everything was new for me.”
Father Morales says that this is a common situation among immigrants who
want to devote their lives to God, and as happened to him, they don’t
know where to ask for help.
“When I came to Oakland I got in touch with Father Marco Antonio
Figueroa of St. Elizabeth Parish. He helped me get to know the diocese
and he told me where I could go for help.
Father Antonio Valdivia of St. Louis Bertrand also helped me a lot and
being bilingual, he could form a close relationship with me.”
Although Father Morales had already studied in the Colima seminary, he
entered St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park in 2002, and on May 28, 2004,
he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Oakland and assigned as a
parochial vicar at St. Louis Bertrand.
Father Morales now realizes that the diocese took a very big step in electing
a Latino to direct this vocation model. “It’s not only knowing
the language but also knowing the culture.” He adds that the fact
that he is young also allows him to get close to youth. “The older
priests inspire respect and sometimes young people are afraid to approach
them.”
In fact, since this model was created, 12 Hispanic youth have been trying
to discern their vocations. To them and to future candidates for the priesthood,
the priest says that the first step is to pray over any worries they have
about their lives so that God will enlighten them.
He also recommends that they ask their parish priest for guidance and
that they speak with the diocesan vocations director, Father Larry D’Anjou.
And even though Father Morales has said that his job is to guide youth
throughout this discernment process, he emphasizes that the prime facilitator
is the Holy Spirit, who uses people to reach out to others.
A vocation is a choice that continues to mature, and the seminary is a
tool the Church offers for discernment. “The fact that they enter
the seminary doesn’t mean that they have to force themselves to
stay,” says Father Morales.
“It’s a good opportunity to know more about God through theological
and philosophical studies and to learn more about oneself,” he adds.
“If you feel the call to serve the Lord, don’t hesitate to
accept his invitation since it is Christ who has chosen you,” he
advises young men. “It’s not you who have chosen me but I
who have chosen you.” (John 15, 16)
Each month, Father Morales holds meetings at St. Louis Bertrand Parish
with youth who are interested in exploring a priestly vocation.
Afterwards, the priest gets together with them to talk and come to know
them better. “I like to know who they are, if they are young men
of faith with a spirit of service who can relate to others, who have no
problems that can affect their ministry and, of course, that they have
the intellectual capacity.”
To be exact, Father Morales says that the most gratifying aspect of being
a priest, besides the fact of being ordained, is communicating with people,
making friends and helping those with problems in their lives. “It’s
the way in which you carry out your ministry that drives you to keep struggling,”
he concluded.
Anyone wishing to contact Father Morales, can do so by phoning him at
(510) 568-1080 or writing to him at: rumm2121@yahoo.com.
Father
Ruben Morales
