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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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