Know the Lord, know each other, know oneself. In the midst of the constant and diverse offer of the world, the major seminar “San Rafael”, in the Chilean diocese of Valparaíso, offers monthly a space entitled “Dialogues” so that young people can deepen their life of faith and ask about their vocation, accompanying them in that search.
The initiative is part of a new stage of the seminar, with new challenges that have as its purpose “that young people can meet the Lord,” explained his rector, P. Diego González, to ACI Press.
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“We believe that the truth is in the dialogue. And the more it is dialogue, the more it is known, the more you learn and more is known. And obviously, in this search for truth the Lord appears clearly as the revealed truth, that is, fundamental to anchor life, ”he said.
“We understand dialogue as an instance to meet the Lord, to meet between us and also to know oneself,” he summarized.
The meetings begin with the worship of the Blessed Sacrament, then the Eucharist is celebrated, and there is a time to share the talk between the trainers and the young people.
“Many times we have not been able to directly raise the priestly vocation as a real option for the life of our young people,” said Father González, and also admitted that “we have not always known how to accompany these processes.”
What is the purpose of “dialogues”?
“Dialogues” seeks to “make an invitation to young people reflecting on the vocation they are called. And if it is the priesthood, well, you have to continue with discernment. But if it is not, we also have the happiness that they have deepened their life of faith and that is why they decide a path to follow by the Lord’s hand, be the priestly way or the marriage route. ”
“What we have thought is that they, in the midst of their searches – because they are in search stages, professional career decision, future study – know that a young Catholic must also be raised, by honesty, the priestly vocation, if it is God who is calling. And if you are calling, you have to open to that possibility, ”he synthesized.
“We are very excited because we see with great hope that young people are considering the priestly vocation, and that the Lord has put in the heart the desire to follow him,” he said.
“We, as a seminar, want to make ourselves available to these young people so that they can truly internalize in serious and deep discernment,” he committed.
How was the response of the first young people who participated?
“What we received from them was, first, the gratitude to know that they are not alone, that the path of faith is in community. And that they know that these questions they have, are not isolated, but make sense in the hearts of other young people like them. ”
Second, he said, “the need to continue linking, to generate instances where they also feel that the priestly vocation is a real possibility arose very strong. Because they told us that in their schools, at university, they continually listen to offers of many things, ”he reviewed.
What are the priests to share in these meetings?
“With the team of trainers we have talked a lot and we have reached a common conclusion. And we are so happy to be priests that all we have left is to share it, ”he synthesized.
“We cannot reserve this great joy in our hearts, but we have to go out to show them others, to tell them that being a priest fully life and fills all the walk.”
“Young people need link with someone concrete,” he insisted. “Our company, the spiritual direction and these moments of prayer, we believe that they are the key to deepen in the search for what God wants of one.”
What barriers do young people find before the priestly vocation?
The rector of the seminar identifies a “double temptation” in young people when evaluating the priesthood as a life option: “On the one hand, the lack of commitment to a lifetime. There is a kind of fear of assuming a permanent commitment. They feel that taking such a radical option makes other things impossible, “then the questions arise:” Can I always be a priest? Can I continue with this task? Won’t I end my enthusiasm?
On the other hand, “young people believe that a lot is lost being a priest. As life would not be complete. ”
In response, he said: “What we want to show you with these meeting instances is that on the contrary, everything is won, you win a lot. You win in links, you earn in faith life, you make your life, you win everything, in truth, ”he synthesized.
“I believe that young people have to know this experience of being a priest to see that nothing is lost, that on the contrary, it is a great gain that really satisfies all the needs that a human priest seeks, wants.”
What is the advice for those who are doubting their vocation?
To young people who are doubting their call, Fr. González recommended “to look for someone to accompany them in this, who do not feel they are alone, that it is an individual desire of the heart, internal, or who must take it secret.”
“I would encourage them to look for some priest, some institution, their seminar, vocational pastoral teams, which are very attentive to who can help them, who can accompany them on this path,” he advised.
“You have to dare, you have to launch. This also implies sacrifice, implies dedication, effort, work, but to get things in life we all know that we have to step forward. And I believe that young people want to take those steps ahead and sometimes they lack the tools, but if there are people who accompany them they will be fully happy, if the Lord calls them to this life and honestly continue what the Lord and the Church ask. ”
Vocations in Chile
Until November 2024, Chile had 75 seminarians forming the priesthood. In the Valparaíso Seminar, last year there were four, and this year the figure increased to seven. In mid -March, a house will open there where the propedical, the stage prior to formal income to the seminar.
Until last year, there were four seminars in Chile: Santiago, Valparaíso, San Bernardo and Villarrica. One more is being resumed in the Archdiocese of Concepción, starting with a very small propedical.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.