Father Miguel

Who am I?

Lots of answers to that question!

I am a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew and a cousin in a really big family.

I am a professional. I have degrees in business administration and have been an executive in two successful businesses.

I am a soldier. I have served in the U.S. Army and I am still active with the National Guard in Arizona.

I am a Roman Catholic priest.

Of all the things I am, of all the things I have done in life, it is being a priest that really answers that question, “Who am I?”

I was born and raised in Tucson where I attended Catholic grade school and public high school before going to the University of Arizona.

After I got my bachelor degree in business administration, I decided I wanted to see the world and serve my country at the same time. So, I went into the Army. Great experience! I did see the world – mostly in Europe. And it was during one trip that I took that I got the answer to the question, “Who am I?”

The trip was to Italy. Actually, to Rome.

So, I am standing in the middle of the huge square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica and it just hit me – I am going to be a priest.

I had always – from the earliest I can remember – felt Jesus was a very important part of my life. He wasn’t just someone from a long time ago that we study about and are supposed to love and be like because He is the Son of God. I mean, that’s important, but to me He was (and is) the feeling in my heart and the focus in my mind that life is supposed to be about love of others and that He is the love that we are meant to share with others in our lives.

Becoming a priest didn’t happen right away. I got out of the Army, got my graduate degree in business administration and had executive positions in two good companies.

I really enjoyed that time of my life. I had good friends (and they are still good friends!), lived close to my big family and could afford my hobby – music. Playing it (I love my electric guitar!) and listening to it (on a great sound system) are joys in my life.

Anyway, for the five years I was a professional businessman the thought – the certainty – that I was going to be a priest was still strong inside me. It was like Jesus was waiting patiently for me to be ready.

And when I was ready, I really felt Jesus was ready for me. I remember the big family dinner when I told my mom and dad and brothers and sisters and their families that I was going into the seminary. “It’s about time,” my dad said. “What took you so long,” one of brothers teased me.

I look back now and see how He placed just the right people in my path to help me, encourage me and guide me.

I have been a priest for four years now. I am in a busy parish where every day I learn more about the challenges and the rewards of being a priest in today’s Church.

There are so many different ways that men find out that Jesus is calling them to serve Him in the priesthood. I know this because the men who are my brothers in the priesthood all have very different stories about how they felt Jesus’ call and how they answered Him.

What do you do now if you have the feeling that Jesus might be calling you?

Well, phoning Father Mike or Father Vili at the Diocese of Tucson Vocations Office at 520-838-2531 or e-mailing them is a great first step.

They’ll tell you about a group of guys who get together very informally to just talk about this feeling of a call to the priesthood.

So, who are you?

This is a good time to start finding out, and praying can really help! Here are some prayers.