Denver Catholic

46 FEB-MAR 2024 | DENVER CATHOLIC JOSE DELGADO W H AT' S YO U R H O M E TOW N? W H AT WA S YO U R U P B R I N G I N G L I K E ? I was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado, to Mexican immigrants. I grew up steeped in Mexican culture. I lived on a farm outside the city for much of my childhood, so I spent my summers helping my dad on the farm and work- ing outside. I am the eldest of five, so I also grew up help- ing to take care of my young siblings. My upbringing was humble, but always had what I needed. I went to public school my entire life in a small farming town north of Greeley in Eaton, Colorado. W H E N D I D YO U D I S COV E R T H AT T H E LO R D WA S C A L L I N G YO U TO B E A P R I E S T ? I began to discover my call to the priest- hood when I was in high school, as I went through confirmation. My family had a sort of reversion to the faith while I was in middle school, so I began to foster my relationship with the Lord during this time. As I studied more about Jesus and the Church, I felt drawn to the priest- hood, especially through learning about St. John Bosco. I attended a youth group and began to attend high school discern- ment retreats with a friend from youth group, and I continued to feel this desire to serve the Lord grow. While I was in college at Colorado State Uni- versity, I continued to be involved in campus ministry and continued attending discernment retreats and speaking to my home pastor and other priests about the vocation. I continued to feel drawn to seminary to discern my vocation more closely. I like to describe my calling as a God placing this desire in me and continually growing it in my heart as I continued to grow as a person and as I began to serve more through campus ministry and in my prayer, feeling a call to serve the Lord by serving his people through the sacraments. W H AT A R E YO U M O S T LO O K I N G FO R WA R D TO A B O U T B E I N G A P R I E S T ? I am looking forward to serving God by serving his people through the sacraments, especially that of Confession. I want to receive others into God's mercy through this sacrament, and to bring Christ to them in a concrete way through the Sacrifice of the Mass as well. I also look forward to encountering people and to help them in their walk towards the Lord. W H O A R E S O M E S A I N T S/ M E N TO R S/ I M P O R TA N T FI G U R E S T H AT H AV E H E L P E D YO U A LO N G I N YO U R VO C ATI O N? Some saints that have helped me along the way are Our Blessed Mother, especially under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. Joseph has also been instrumental in my vocation. St. John Bosco was also a huge inspiration for me, not just as a priest, but as a man who desired to encounter the MEET THE ARCHDIOCESE'S NEWEST TRANSITIONAL DEACONS O R D I NATIO N S In February, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila ordained two men to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Both are studying to become priests at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. Get to know both of the Archdiocese of Denver's newest deacons and learn about their respective paths to the priesthood by reading the short profiles below. 46 FEB-MAR 2024 | DENVER CATHOLIC

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