Father Dominguez reflects on 20 years of priesthood

It is incredible how time goes by so fast, and how God arranges everything according to His Will in order to carry out His plans.

At the age of 18, I entered the House Formation of the Missionaries of Christ and studied and served with them for 10 years. The moment came when God made me see in various circumstances that my path was more for the diocesan life, and although I applied to a diocese in Mexico and was accepted, for mysterious reasons God had another plan for my life.

Seminary formation was very expensive so, not wanting to burden my parents with these costs, I decided to come to the United States to work for a few months to raise the money I needed to finish my theology degree and be ordained.

I had cousins in Gastonia, and they kindly offered me their house and even a job to help me.

I arrived with all the spirit in the world, knowing what my plan was and with the idea of saving as much money as possible to be able to return to the seminary.

I remember going to St. Michael Church in Gastonia for Mass. The Hispanic community was still very small at that time. The Mass was celebrated by Father John Allen, who at that time was in charge of vocations for the Diocese of Charlotte. I had been invited to be a lector at that Mass, and to my surprise at the end of the Mass a young man came to tell me that Father Allen wanted to talk to me.

When I introduced myself to him, the first thing he asked me was if I had ever thought of becoming a priest. When I confirmed that I was in my last year of theology and that I would soon be returning to my studies in Mexico, Father Allen almost jumped with joy! He was very enthusiastic and told me that the Charlotte diocese needed Spanish-speaking priests. He wanted to introduce me immediately to then Bishop William Curlin and to Father Fidel Melo, who ministered to the diocese’s Hispanic community. Those who know Father Allen know that he is spontaneous and quick-acting, and when he sets his mind to something, it happens, no matter how crazy it might at first seem to others. On Tuesday of that same week, I was taken to meet with Bishop Curlin.

They explained to me the great need for priests in the Charlotte diocese, and I remember reminding Father Allen at that moment that my plan was to return to Mexico.

Later that evening, I called my mother to tell her what was going on. With her characteristic wisdom and calmness, she told me: “Son, it is not by chance that you are there. You have to see God’s plan, not yours.”

To be honest, at that time I did not feel any attraction to staying in the diocese, and yet I felt my conscience telling me: “Listen to your mother.”

And so I entered the seminary here in the United States. It was a bit difficult, as I was only given a three-month English course before starting theology classes. It was also a dramatic time, as it was the year of the September 11 attacks on New York City and I was in Pennsylvania at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

In the seminary, thanks be to God, some of the professors spoke Italian and Spanish, so I was able to take my exams. To my surprise, I finished my studies with summa cum laude honors.

I was soon ordained by Bishop Curlin, but everything felt like it was happening so fast that I don’t really remember many details of my ordination.

I was sent to Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury and had the good fortune to share three years with Father John Putnam, who was a great mentor in my early days of ministry and whom I love, admire and respect very much as a person.

In the same year I was ordained, Bishop Peter Jugis was also consecrated and installed as our bishop. The following year, he invited me to be a part of the Eucharistic Congress committee, then to be part of the diocese’s Presbyteral Council and the vocations committee. I have been serving these committees with great pleasure ever since.

At Sacred Heart Parish, I had very good experiences, and the truth is that whenever I go back there, I feel at home.

From there I was sent to St. Aloysius Parish in Hickory, where I served for three years.

I always remember the words of my seminary rector, later ordained as Bishop Michael Burbidge: “Julio, you have an advantage in your favor for your priesthood that you can always use.” I asked him what that was, and he told me, ”You are going to be loved by everyone.”

I carry those words in my heart and, thanks be to God, I have always seen Him in the parishes and ministries where I serve. Sometimes people nickname me the “angry father” because of my seriouslooking face, but I get along well with the faithful I have been privileged to serve.

After Hickory I was transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Lenoir. The first two years were a little stressful for me as I adjusted to being a pastor for the first time. But then came the awakening of the whole community and it became a parish that felt like family: joyful, committed 100 percent to the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, spiritual retreats, formation, and a lot of unity. Thanks be to God, two priestly vocations flourished during that time, and those priests serve today in our diocese.

After that, in agreement with Bishop Peter Jugis, I became part of the Diocesan Hispanic Ministry Team. I have been growing in this ministry and I am really passionate about it.

My goal in the Hispanic ministry is to achieve the same reaction as in my former Lenoir parish: a people prostrated at the feet of the Blessed Sacrament, a team of well-formed catechists and pastoral leaders who know how to explain the faith and help in evangelization. I envision a diocesan family united by the bond of love; a diocese that produces many priestly and religious vocations because we have many young people in the Hispanic community; a diocese inclusive of different cultures, but called by the same God even with the difference of languages and cultural customs; and a Church in which we look not so much at differences, but at the richness of the Catholic culture that makes us go beyond ourselves to embrace the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and truly unite us in Christ our Lord.

I thank God for every moment of my priestly vocation. If I were to be born again and asked what I want to do with my life, I would certainly ask to be a priest, because the riches of grace that God bestows, especially in deep intimacy with Him, are truly incredible. I entrust myself to your prayers.