Denver Catholic

9 DENVER CATHOLIC | MAY 23-29, 2015 confi gure hearts to Christ FATHER ERIK VIGIL REYES Age: 26 Born and reared:«Calvillo, Aguascalientes, Mexico Seminary: St. John Vianney Theological Sem- inary, Denver Most inspirational saint: St. Paul and St. Augustine W hen Father Erik Reyes was young, his father would tell him stories about the Cristero movement in 1920s Mexico. Thousands of Catholics started the movement in response to a government ban on public expressions of faith and a closure of churches. "So my father used to take me to 6 a.m. Mass every morning and tell me stories about the Cristeros," Father Reyes said. "So I got involved with the Cristeros and the move- ment. I wanted to become a priest, because I had a good relationship with the priests who were at my parish." He forgot about his interest in the priesthood until he returned to Mexico after high school. He entered minor seminary and then came to the United States to con- tinue his studies. Father Reyes said he most looks forward to absolving in the sacrament of reconciliation. FATHER FRANKLIN ANASTACIO SEQUEIRA TREMINIO Age: 34 Born and reared:« Born in Matagalpa, Nicara- gua; reared in Ciudad Dario, Nicaragua Seminary: Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary, Denver Most inspirational saint: St. Francis of Assisi A s a young altar boy, Father Treminio admired the priests he assisted during Mass. But he said he was unsure about becoming a priest. Even when he felt a call, he hesitated. "I tried to forget about it. I wanted to get married, have a family, children," he said. At the age of 15, he heard the call to the priesthood during a gathering of youth in the Neocatechu- menal Way in Nicaragua. "I remember when someone said, 'If there is anyone who feels called to the priesthood, please stand up,' I felt someone speaking to my heart and telling me to stand up. I remember being very emotional, something which I could not even describe. It was an experience of the love of God, of the presence of God which fi lled my whole being with joy and happiness—something which I had never experienced before." Then he stood up. At that point he was awakened to the call of the priesthood, he said. FATHER TOMASZ STRZEBONSKI Age: 30 Born and reared: near Krakow, Poland Seminary: SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Mich. Most inspirational saint: St. John Paul II and St. John the Apostle T he fi rst time Father Tomasz Strzebon- ski thought about being a priest, he was 12. "It was mostly because of the good example of the priests I had in my home parish," he said. But he didn't pursue the thought of a vocation until he was studying physics in a college in Poland. Some of his professors were anti-clerical and asserted that physics was the answer to everything. "I was just burning inside to tell them they're wrong. I just wanted to react to it," he shared. Father Strzebonski said he also felt a growing need for spiritual formation and the need to spread the faith. "I wanted to be like the disciples, bringing the faith to all the nations," he said. He entered a seminary in the Archdiocese of Krakow but left after two years feeling that he was called to serve elsewhere. He came to the United States in 2012 and contin- ued his studies at the Polish American seminary in Michigan. After a visit to Denver, he knew he wanted to serve in Colorado. He said he is most looking forward to working with youth.

• Cover