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Representatives from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who visited the California campus for a recent vocations talk, including Jorge Moncada Hernandez (�18 , center) and Paul Collins (�14, bottom right)
Representatives from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who visited the California campus for a recent vocations talk, including Jorge Moncada Hernandez (�18 , center) and Paul Collins (�14, bottom right)

What does it mean to witness for Christ? How does one discern God檚 call? What role does celibacy play in the life of a priest?

These questions and more were the topics of a recent vocations talk on the California campus presented by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, featuring two alumni seminarians: Jorge Moncada Hernandez (�18) and Paul Collins (�14).

淭his place was really foundational to discover my calling,� said Mr. Moncada, who urged students to see their time on campus as an opportunity to seek God檚 will for their lives. Dating 渁 beautiful woman� while a student briefly caused him to question a lifelong sense that he was called to the priesthood, but during his junior year, 淕od told me what I needed to do in life.� Forsaking marriage and family is a difficult sacrifice, he added, but a joyful one. 淲e say 榥o� to many things, but we say 榶es� to many more.�

Mr. Collins, who, in addition to a lifetime of service in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, plans to spend 20 years as a chaplain for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, echoed this sentiment. 淭he priesthood is for a guy who wants to give his whole life to witness for Christ and save souls,� said Mr. Collins. 淏eing willing to give up marriage and family � despite really wanting it � that檚 what makes a good priest. That檚 the whole point of our spirituality: to give our lives for Christ.�

Mr. Moncada and Mr. Collins are just two of the five 91快活林 Aquinas College alumni studying for the priesthood in Los Angeles. The others are David Allen (�10), Michael Masteller (�13), and Edward Seeley (�16).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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