My Greatest Joy

PAULO SALAZAR ’24, DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

Eighth grade. That is my response to anyone who asks me what I did before entering seminary. Throughout my life, I always had the desire to become a priest. It is one of my earliest memories, if not the earliest. My family had always been very involved within the life of my parish and we kept a strong life of prayer. Since I am an only child, and rather than going alone, my mother would often take me to daily Mass. It was my mother and father who first taught me how to pray. As I grew up, my parents would often volunteer at our parish. Eventually my father was ordained a permanent deacon for the diocese and we spent even more time at Church. If I counted the total hours of my life thus far, between my life at home and at the parish, it could very well be a 50-50 split.

The parish became the focal point of my life—it was where I made most of my closest friends and became my home away from home. I also grew up in close proximity to my parish priests, many of whom have inspired me to pursue this call. They trained me to serve Mass, fall in love with Christ, and gave me a glimpse into living authentically for Christ. How they lived for their people and for their Church was contagious. They were men who gave everything and expected nothing in return. The greatest gift that they received was the joy of bringing Christ to his people.

As most eighth graders were preparing to enter high school, I was preparing to enter seminary. After graduation, I entered Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary, one of the very few remaining high school seminaries in the nation. Officially, I was 14 when I entered the seminary system. There, inspirational priests inspired me to grow closer to God by attending Mass daily and growing in greater devotion to Our Lady. However, like most teenagers around the age of 18, I wanted to go out and experience the world. I put the idea of priesthood in the back of my mind and decided to study economics and law in Washington, DC. I had an inspirational history and economics teacher in high school who had helped me discover a passion for these two subjects. During my time in DC, I was content yet unfulfilled. There was something missing in my life. Then, the thought of the priesthood returned and would not leave.

Remembering that authentic joy I had as a child wanting to become a priest led me to discern this thought that really never left my mind. Attempting to find out more about this call, I entered college seminary to continue my discernment—I allowed the Lord to lead me wherever he wanted. I followed him to Rome, a place that takes me away from my family, friends, diocese, and life as I knew it. The one thing that remained was Christ and the one thing I gained was a group of men I call brothers.

Living in Rome and at the NAC has been one of my greatest blessings. I’ve experienced the Church in an incredibly unique way, making friends with priests, seminarians, and religious from all over the world. To pray at the tombs of numerous saints throughout the city such as Pope John Paul II, Peter, Paul, and Ignatius of Loyola is inspiring for my journey—it allows God to shape my heart after that of his Son. Traveling to a place such as Athens and standing in the same place where Paul preached is powerful and can light a heart on fire. The opportunities to meet the Holy Father have also been life giving. The College has been instrumental in making sure that Rome becomes a part of me, a part that brings me immense joy to share. It was rediscovering that joy I had as a child who desired to become a priest that led me to seminary. That joy sustains me and increases my appreciation for this city and this College, both of which help me fall more in love with the priesthood each day. n