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Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rev. Fernando Carranza, Rector What is "Redemptoris Mater" Seminary? The Redemptoris Mater seminaries were born above all thanks to the courage, the prophetical vision and the enthusiasm of Pope John Paul II. The idea to establish these seminaries started in Rome, the diocese of the Holy Father, to establish a seminary with these characteristics: an international seminary, i.e. with vocations coming from different nations, that be missionary, i.e. that upon ordination, the priests are available to go wherever the ordinary sends them. In 1988, the first Statutes of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary were approved by Cardinal Poletti, Vicar of the Holy Father in Rome. These seminaries have vocations that come forth from the Neocatechumenal Way. When it comes to the studies, the seminarians in these seminaries have the same educational formation as the other diocesan seminarians, following the directives of the nations where they are erected. The characteristics of the "Redemptoris Mater" Seminaries, which possess their own statutes and a rule of life approved by the respective bishops who have erected them according to the rules issued by the Holy See, can be grouped around 4 fundamental inspirations: the Neocatechumenal Way, diocesan character, missionary and international character. They are diocesan i.e. the authority belongs to the bishop. Once the seminarians are ordained Presbyters, the ordinary can place them to minister in his own diocese, or when a brother bishop, seeing the needs in his own diocese asks the ordinary of the seminary for help, then he would send eventually priests to this other bishop to this other diocese. They are governed according to the present norms for the formation and incardination of the diocesan clergy. They are missionary and international in character because the seminarians come from different countries and continents, both as a concrete sign of the missionary character and of their readiness to be sent anywhere in the world. Yet the most significant aspect of these Seminaries lies in their relationship to the Neocatechumenal Way, as a Way of maturing towards an adult faith: this Way prepares and awakens vocations in many young people before they enter the seminary. It accompanies them during their time of formation; once ordained as presbyters it continues to sustain them in their permanent formation. Once there is the ordination and incardination, the Neocatechumenal Way has no authority over the priest, which is at this very moment a priest under the authority of the ordinary. To this day 64 Redemptoris Mater Seminaries have been opened in 5 continents, and have been ordained more than 1000 priests.
Rev. Fernando Carranza, Rector Redemptoris Mater Seminary 419 N Cockrell Hill Rd.
PO Box 211669 Dallas TX 75211 214-467-2255  I was born in a city of the north of Spain named Bilbao, in the Basque Country. I grew up in a family alienated from the Church. The fact is that after I made my First Holy Communion I left the Church. When I was 12, I joined a Boy Scouts group. Two years later, a fellow scout invited me to a Eucharist celebrated in a small community. They were young and adult people, all together, who were in an itinerary of faith named the Neocatechumenal Way. In 1979 I started this itinerary where in 1989 the Lord called me to become a priest. I had just finished my Master in Geography and History. I wanted to be a history teacher and, instead, He called me to announce his love in the history of every person. Before I entered the seminary I did missionary work in Paraguay in1990. From there I went to an international gathering in Porto San Giorgio, Italy, where I was assigned to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. I studied at Seton Hall University where I received a Master in Divinity. I was ordained in May 27th, 1995 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Newark, NJ. My first assignment was as parochial vicar of the Cathedral and also as an Advocate for the Metropolitan Tribunal. On July 1, 1999 I was appointed Administrator of Sts. Joseph and Michael Church, Union City, NJ. On April 12th, 2005 I arrived to the Diocese of Dallas, being appointed Rector of the newly erected Redemptoris Mater Diocesan Missionary Seminary. I was also appointed Administrator of Immaculate Conception Church, Grand Prairie. I have been blessed by the Lord in many ways, numerous times, and one of these blessings is to serve the Diocese of Dallas. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Jn. 21: 15-19
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Benjamin CarrilloFreshmen Dallas, Santa Clara Catholic Church  I was born in Dallas, Texas, November 11, 1985, to a Catholic family. I am the sixth out of eight, two brothers, and five sisters, my younger brother died at birth. As I grew, I started to live as my friends in school, not having any interest in Christianity, hardly going to Mass on Sundays or not paying attention to the Liturgy. I started to get more involved in the world and did whatever I wanted. During my two first years in High School, I was constantly going to parties to escape from the loneliness I felt inside. Even though I was pushing God away, He still protected me. When I was sixteen, I was invited by my older brother to attend the catechesis of the Neocatechumenal Way and start an itinerary of Faith. Slowly God started to pull me out of the passions of the world and show me His love and mercy by bringing me back to the Church. I stopped going to parties because the Eucharist is celebrated on Saturday nights. I was still ignorant of the fact that God was calling me to the priesthood until World Youth Day in Germany, 2005, where I felt the calling. I went to Italy on a retreat, willing to go to any Redemptoris Mater Seminary in the world. If it would have not been for the Neocatechumenal Way, I would not have known I had a vocation, much less be in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Dallas. "O where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your face? If I climb the heavens, you are there. If I lie in the grave, you are there." Psalm 139, 7-8:
Jose Joaquin Martin Castillo English Program Dallas St. Augustine I am from San Francisco de Macoris, the Dominican Republic. I was born in 1984. I am the third of four siblings. My parents have been married for almost 30 years. My family and I are parishioners of the Cathedral in my city. In 1995 we formed part of the Neocatechumenal Way communities of my parish. In this community was where I heard the call of God to the priesthood, but I was too young to understand it. Since I did not understand what God wanted from me I assisted in vocational center. After the first year I left the vocational center because I no longer felt the call. In the pilgrimage of Israel in 2000 with Pope John Paul II I felt the call to the priesthood for the second time. In high school I wanted to be a psychiatrist but I saw that the Church helped more that any science school. Later in my life I felt a stronger call to the priesthood so I left all the plans I had in order to do the will of God. I rejoined the vocational center and in 2002 I entered in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Santo Domingo. I studied for two years and in 2004 I was sent to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Dallas. MT: 9, 35-37 Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing of disease and all kinds of illness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and rejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the laborers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to his harvest.
Radoslaw HerbusPre-theologian Dallas St Joseph Waxahachie  I was born on October 1st, 1978 in Poland in a traditional Catholic family (I have one brother and two sisters) and I would go to the church regularly. But as I grew up I became more and more frustrated because of me and other people's behavior, which I could not accept. I used to find refuge in alienation, sin, and judgments. In such a situation I was invited to the catechesis of the Neocatechumenal Way after which I joined the community. I did this because I was moved by the "news" that God loves the sinner the way he is and that he has redeemed him, and that all of these applies to me. Since then it has been revealed to me little by little the hypocrisy and condemnation I live but also the love God shows to the poor who trusts in Him. I had never thought about being a priest but after couple of years in the community I was able to answer the call to be a Christian in this particular vocation. I was sent to Diocese of Dallas. A man suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to him and pleaded on his knees saying, 'If you are willing, you can cleanse me.' Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said to him, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.' And at once the skin-disease left him and he was cleansed. The man went away, but then started freely proclaiming and telling the story everywhere. (Mk 1: 40-42.45a)
Juan Carlos Marin Cortes Pre-theolgian I Dallas St. Joseph Waxahachie  I am originally from Bogot, Colombia. I was born in March 19th, 1982, and I have been in Dallas since January 2006. I am the oldest of three children, two boys and a girl. Even though my parents gave me the wonderful gift of being baptized in the Catholic Church, it was not until the age of seventeen that I started an itinerary of faith in the Church through the Neocatechumenal Way. At that time, my life was aimless and I was completely afraid to disappoint my family, but listening that God could make me a new person gave me hope. When I was twenty-one, I felt the call to the priesthood by reading a passage in the Bible. (please see below). After that, I spent two years in a vocational group to discern my call. Ever since then, the Lord has given me memorials in my life such as the forgiveness of the sins that enslaved me. Those memorials remind me that in spite of my precariousness as human; God loves me the way I am. This is what gives me courage to keep going. In addition, He has given me strength to follow him and leave my family, my country, and my career as an Industrial Engineer in order to become a missionary priest for the Diocese of Dallas. Through simple facts the Lord shows me that He provides abundantly. And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man over. "Courage," they said, "get up; he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. (Mk, 10, 49-50)
Juan Estaban Currea 1st Philosophy Dallas St. Joseph Waxahachie  I was born in Bogot, Colombia, 26 years ago and I’m the oldest of seven children; three girls and four boys. I was raised by my parents within the Catholic Church. They belong to a small community of the Neocatechumenal Way. Thanks to this they transmitted the faith to me and this brought me to be part of this itinerary of faith. In the Way God has helped me to know myself better and to experience the real communion with the people in my small community. I did my school years at Liceo de Cervantes, which is run by the Saint Augustine Congregation. Since I was 13 years old the rector started to ask me about my vocation as priest. At that time I did not think it was for me. Later, in my first year of college, I felt the call to the priesthood but again I ignored it because I wanted to finish my studies. Afterwards when I got my degree in Industrial Design I began to work and then I lived alone for about one year. This seemed to be the fulfillment of my projects, a good work, and good salary. But my life became a routine and I, a sad person. I was unsatisfied with the things I used to think gave me life. There have been specific persons through whom God has spoken to me, helping me to discern my vocation, like father Hernan Prat from Chile who is a friend of my family. The way he is and the way he behaves with the people has definitively helped me to see how God loves me even though I’m a sinner. It also helped me to see that the priesthood is the Will of God for me. Finally, my vocation for the priesthood was born inside this experience of faith of the Neocatechumenal Way and specifically it began the summer of 2005 when I felt again the calling of the Lord and I was sent to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Dallas. Here the Lord is helping me to live each day by His Providence. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. And behold, I’m with you always until the end of the world." Mt 28, 18.20 |
Daniel Rendon Sophomore Dallas, St.Clair of Assisi Catholic Church  My name is Daniel Rendn; I was born on January 27, 1986 in San Antonio, TX. I am the fourth of seven children; I have one older brother and two older sisters, and I also have two younger brothers and one younger sister. The year before I was born, my parents joined the Neocatechumenal Way. Something that is sealed in my heart is that the Neocatechumenal Way saved my parents marriage, which was on the brink of divorce due to lack of communion. Slowly God has rebuilt their marriage, and continues to help them know and love each other. It is not that they do not argue any more, but now I see that they continuously forgive each other. This makes present to me that the Lord can do miracles. In my own life, I am grateful for what the Lord is doing with me. I could not see the love of God in my history. One example was that since I was little I could not accept that I was poor. I see that my entire childhood was a want to flee from the sufferings that were present, due to poverty. I would strive in school, not because I cared about school, but to guarantee that I would not suffer when I got older. With this mentality I joined the Neocatechumenal Way. Little did I know that God would give me something much more fulfilling than just a way to escape from suffering. God gave me an answer to my suffering, and he brought into light the deceptions the Devil had presented to me since my childhood. In the year 2002, there was a World Youth Day in Toronto. In this pilgrimage I discovered that the Lord was calling me to the priesthood. With the help of the catechists of the Neocatechumenal Way, I was able to confirm the call that God had made to me. I do not know the future, but at least I know that in the sufferings of my life, God will always be with me. I have memorials sealed on my heart of the love that God has for me. "O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. The lot marked out for me is my delight: welcome indeed is the heritage that falls to me!" -Psalm 16:
Javier Diaz Nuestra del Senora Pilar  My name is Javier Diaz. I was born Nov. 15 1984 in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. My parents had four children and I am the oldest. I lived in Mexico until I was eight years old, then I was brought to Houston, TX where I grew up. At the age of 15, I experienced many things (my real father leaving me, not experiencing love in my family, being alone) that led me to think of God as an unjust judge. At the age of 16 I met a priest from Argentina, Father Guillermo, who helped me to see the love of God. He helped me to see that my true father was God and although I suffered he was always there with me in my sufferings. Knowing that God was there with me, I got involved in many groups of the church but I still felt empty. One day in mass I heard an announcement about catechesis in the church for adults and young people, and I attended the catechesis. I entered this itinerary of faith known as the Neocatechumenal Way. Being in the Way helped me to see who I really was. I was blind, I could not see my sins, I could not see my arrogance, my pride, my attitude, and above all I could not see the love of God. It was this itinerary of faith what helped me to heal my blindness. Two years later in an annual retreat, I felt the call to the priesthood. When the catechists asked for vocations I stood up to the call. After that I joined a vocational group which helped me discern my vocation, and helped me to see what God truly wanted from me. The group met once a month and I was there every month. After two years in the vocational center the catechists sent me to a retreat in Denver to see if I was ready to enter the seminary. In that retreat, the catechists, with the help of God, decided I was ready to go to the seminary. I was sent to a retreat in Italy to see what seminary I would be sent to. I was opened to go any Redemptoris Mater Seminary in the world. In this retreat I was sent to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary here in Dallas. Now I feel that my vocation is still strong and I am grateful for all the blessings the Lord has given me. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. John 3; 16-17 Do not be afraid. John Paul II
Luca Simbula Pre-theologianI Dallas St. Joseph Waxahachie  I was born 28 years ago in Cagliari, a small city in the island of Sardinia, Italy. My father and my mother, both retired , are respectively 64 and 61; my only brother is four years older than me; he is married and has a son. I grew up like many of my friends. Yet during the adolescence I was deeply sad: I thought that my parents did not love me, so I rejected them and I closed in myself, looking for life in different forms of alienation. Just at that time, I started the experience in the Neocatechumenal Way, where God little by little talked to my life, and showed me His love. In particular, He led me to reconcile with my parents and see that they did love me. This prepared me, few years later, at the age of 21, to open my heart to Him and to feel clearly for the first time His Call. It was in Israel, on Mount of the Beatitudes, in 2000, during a Eucharist with Pope John Paul II, whose homily deeply touched my heart. Then a struggle followed that lasted six years, during which I wanted to follow the Lord and, at the same time, I wanted to keep my life and do my will. I was in a relationship with a girl and I was studying hard for my degree in psychology, but I was still sad. Nevertheless, God was faithful to me and he kept inside me the desire of follow him, especially through the help of my spiritual father and of my catechists in the Neocatechumenal Way. Then, in the summer of 2005, I felt strongly the call of God again and I went to a gathering of aspirants to the seminary in Italy. There I was sent to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Dallas. This last year in the seminary the Lord confirmed me that He has been the very One who called me, helping me to come out of my loneliness and to enter in communion with the rector and the other seminarians. "That is why I am going to lure her and lead her out into the wilderness and speak to her heart " Hosea 2,16
S. Nehemias Vargas Moquete Seinor Dallas
St. Augustine  I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I grew up in a family of eight. I have three brothers and two sisters. In May 2003 I graduated from Fernando Arturo de Merio High School in Santo Domingo. At the age of thirteen I started an itinerary of faith, which is called the Neocatecumenal Way. I have to say that without the Neocatecumenal Way I would have never payed attention to my calling from God or even consider entering in a seminary. Before I was born my parents were in the Neocatecumenal Way. I remember that in Santo Domingo when a Redemptoris Mater seminary started in 1992 there were seminarians living at my house while the bishop, with great care, was looking for a place (house) for the seminary. This is exactly what I am living here in Dallas, which is the first stage of the foundation of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Dallas. It is great because day by day one can see the providence of God through the families that welcome us in their houses. One of the biggest influences to my vocation to the priesthood was Fr. Omar Ivan de los Santos, who is now the rector of the Redemptoris Mater of Nicaragua. I had a six months experience living with Fr. Omar Ivan at the rectory of Jesus Maestro Church in Santo Domingo. This experience was very helpful in the discernment of my vocation, as well as my relationship with Fr. Guillermo, the vice rector in the seminary of Santo Domingo, whom I considered my spiritual director at that time. I want to thank God for my parents, Cesar y Amanda; they raised me in the atmosphere of the Catholic Church together with the Neocatecumenal Way. Pray for me. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you as prophet to the nations" Jeremiah 1, 5 |
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