Emilio Cardona

Formation Stage

Propaedeutic Year

Home Parish

St. Mary’s, Fullerton

Seminary

Mount Angel Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

Some of my favorite saints have helped shape my faith and inspired my journey toward the priesthood. St. Michael the Archangel is my Confirmation saint—his role as protector and patron of the military always gave me strength, especially during my time in the Marines. I connect deeply with St. Joseph, too; like him, I tend to be more quiet and reserved, and I try to let my actions speak for themselves. I see parts of myself in Moses, especially with my stutter and moments of doubt, but he reminds me that God uses our weaknesses for His glory. Jeremiah and David are also big inspirations—Jeremiah because he trusted God even when he felt unready, and David because, despite his flaws, he kept turning back to God. I look up to saints like Padre Pio for his love of prayer and the Eucharist, and Don Bosco for his joyful heart and dedication to youth, which speaks to me especially as someone involved in youth ministry. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati reminds me that sainthood is possible in everyday life, and his motto “Verso l’alto” always encourages me to keep striving. St. John Paul II challenged me to be bold in faith, and Fulton Sheen showed how powerful truth can be when shared with love, and Bl. Miguel Pro—his humor, courage, and unwavering trust in God, even in the face of death—inspires me to live my faith with joy and total surrender.

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Our Lady of Fatima has always stood out to me because she reminds us that Jesus, while He is fully God, is also fully human and can feel pain and sorrow because of our sins. One of the little shepherd children said that they wanted to console Jesus for all the offenses and hurts committed against Him. That really hit me hard because it shows how much Jesus loves us, and how much He feels the weight of our sins. It also shows Mary’s heart—she wants us to join her in offering love and comfort to her Son. When I pray the Rosary, I feel like I’m standing with Mary, praying not just for myself but also as an act of reparation for Jesus’ Sacred Heart. It’s like I’m offering Him comfort for the hurt He endures for all of us. Fatima isn’t just about hearing messages or seeing visions—it’s a real call to action. It teaches me that faith isn’t just believing in God, but loving Him deeply, making up for the times we or others hurt Him, and trusting Mary to lead me closer to Jesus every day. It encourages me to live a life rooted in prayer, repentance, and self-giving love—just like Mary did when she said “yes” to God and stood by Jesus through everything. This devotion helps me stay connected to that love and reminds me to always turn to Mary as my mother and guide.

Favorite Book or Movie

I really enjoy reading books about the saints and the spiritual life. Some of my favorites are The Devil in the Castle by Dan Burke, which unpacks St. Teresa of Ávila’s Interior Castle through the lens of spiritual warfare. It helped me understand how the enemy tries to distract and discourage us as we grow closer to God. I also love Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross—his writing helped me see that dryness and suffering in prayer aren’t signs of failure, but signs that God is doing something deeper. A Priest Is Not His Own by Fulton Sheen and The Priest We Need to Save the Church by Kevin Wells have shaped how I view the priesthood: not just as a role, but as a deep calling to prayer, sacrifice, and spiritual fatherhood. And honestly, I also really love The Lord of the Rings. It might be fiction, but the themes of sacrifice, friendship, courage, and fighting for good—no matter the cost—really speak to me and have shaped how I see the journey of faith. All these books, in different ways, have helped me understand what kind of man and priest I want to be.

Favorite Hobby

I like playing video games and reading books in my free time. It helps me relax, unwind, and sometimes even reflect—especially when the stories or characters speak to deeper themes of virtue, sacrifice, or purpose

Who are some of the people who influenced your decision to enter the seminary? What is it about them that assisted you?

I’ve been a part of St. Mary’s Parish since I was seven years old, and the priests who have served here have been some of the greatest men I’ve ever known. Each of them has done incredible things for our diocese and has been a true witness and example of Christ’s love. Their dedication, humility, and joyful priesthood have inspired me deeply. I can’t forget our deacons either. They’ve shown me what it means to serve with compassion, reverence, and humility. Their presence at the altar and in the community has taught me that holiness can be lived in ordinary moments. They’ve offered guidance, mentorship, and encouragement in a way that has helped me feel both seen and supported in my journey. Alongside them, our youth and young adult ministers, catechists, and volunteers have played a huge role in my discernment. They’ve often seen things in me that I didn’t see in myself—my commitment to service, adaptability, dedication, and selflessness. Whether it was during ministry events, retreats, or simply helping around the parish, many of them—sometimes even within the same week—would say, “I have a feeling you could be a priest,” or “Have you ever thought about it?” Their love, support, and prayers have truly been a blessing in my life. I believe God has used these people as instruments of His will, guiding me and affirming the call to give my life completely to Him in service to the Church.

Describe the moment that you knew you wanted to take the next steps to become a priest?

I started listening to podcasts like Ascension Presents, Logos, Pints with Aquinas, Stand Firm, and Purposely Catholic. Sometimes a priest would be a guest and share his vocation story, and I’d find myself genuinely intrigued. Some of those priests were also diocesan vocation directors, and they would often describe the qualities they see in men who might be called to the priesthood. Hearing them talk, I started to see myself in some of what they described. Fr. Mike Schmitz, for example, really impacted me with something he said: “Ever since discernment became popular, no one's made a decision.” That hit me hard because I realized I had been circling around the idea of a vocation without truly committing. He also says, “Try something. If it’s a no, try something else.” That helped me understand that discernment isn’t about waiting around for a perfect sign—it’s about trusting God enough to move forward. In an episode of Logos, Fr. Brett Brannen—author of To Save a Thousand Souls, a staple in vocations work—reminds men that entering the seminary isn’t a lifelong commitment; it’s a place to explore the call more deeply. He puts it simply: “God can’t drive a parked car.” That line stayed with me. I realized that I couldn’t just keep thinking and praying without also acting. So with all of that in my heart, I decided to stop hesitating and take the next step. I trust that if God is calling me, He’ll make it clear—but I have to give Him something to work with.