Baruc Garcia

Formation Stage

Propaedeutic Year

Home Parish

St. Norbert, Orange

Seminary

Mount Angel Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine of Hippo

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Our Lady of Fatima

Favorite Book or Movie

Book: Catch-22 Movie: Nacho Libre

Favorite Hobby

Off-roading, Weightlifting, Playing Pokémon

Background

What are some of the factors that led to your decision to enter the seminary and discern the question of a vocation to the priesthood?

A lack of true satisfaction with both my career in prosthetics and my romantic relationship with a wonderful woman I had been dating for a year. The closer I was to fulfilling my own vision of happiness, the more I felt the absence of God. After stepping away from both my career and my romantic relationship to grow closer with God and His Church, the more the idea of priesthood called out to me. Despite convincing myself I was made for the vocation of marriage for many years, I was never truly able to shake off the idea of becoming a priest. I think that means something, hence my journey to seminary.

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

Fr. Erialdo from St. Norbert first suggested that I think about the possibility of seminary. He is my spiritual director and has helped me every step of the way, introducing me to both Fr. Cheeyoon and Bishop Timothy Freyer. The passion and desire he has for catechizing his parish is inspiring and has pushed me to educate myself (carefully) on the teachings of our Catholic Church. My first meeting at the Vocations Office with Fr. Ben Tran was also incredibly encouraging. You can tell he is truly happy and at peace with his vocation as a priest and talking to him about priesthood truly opened my eyes and heart to God's will, whatever that may be. I also think the book he gave me, ""To Save a Thousand Souls"", is a must-read for any man thinking about diocesan priesthood.

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

Fr. Erialdo was presiding over the Shrove Sunday Mass. If I recall correctly, I had just finished my first meeting at the Vocations Office the day prior and my spirit was high. He gave a truly moving homily on the providence of God and the significance of the coming Passion of Jesus. During the Consecration, he began shedding tears in sheer reverence of the Transubstantiation and most of the congregation began tearing up with him. It was such a beautiful moment and seeing the power and responsibility of the priest in bringing about such a profound experience steeled my resolve in pursuing priesthood.