Seminarians admitted as candidates for Holy Orders: José Luis Gómez Díaz

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José Luis Gómez Díaz

José Luis Gómez Díaz

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

My heart is full of emotion, and I give thanks to God for allowing me to be admitted as a candidate for Holy Orders. In this stage of my vocational journey to the priesthood of Christ, God continues to confirm his call in my life, and I experience his love, his grace and his mercy. In the Eucharistic celebration, I will be able to freely and publicly manifest my willingness to offer myself completely to the service of God and the ministry of his Church.

From the first day that I began my vocational process, I said, “Here I am, Lord!” and once again, I reaffirm that response freely and generously, saying, “Here I am, Lord, to do your will. Here I am!” and I want to remain in your love and to fall more in love with you every day.

Jesus has come to meet me, he has looked at me mercifully, he has invited me to follow him, and to surrender myself with determination and sincerity. I want to let my heart be formed and shaped with the heart of Christ to be a good shepherd for his Church. I want to be another Christ, an “alter Christus,” bringing peace, joy and hope to everyone. I want my life to be a testimony of love and service, always giving more of myself to all my brothers and sisters. I want to help others to have a real encounter of friendship with Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life, and together we walk towards holiness as the primary vocation to which we have all been called.

I thank the clergy of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Holy People of God, my family and friends for their prayers and support on my vocational journey. I continue to ask for your prayers for the perseverance of my vocation to the priesthood of Christ.