Fernando Hernandez

Formation Stage

Propaedeutic Year

Home Parish

Immaculate of Heart of Mary, Santa Ana

Seminary

Mount Angel Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Peter, St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Favorite Book or Movie

The Mystery of Joy, The Dark Knight.

Favorite Hobby

Weightlifting, soccer, video games, photography, playing music.

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?

My entire life I had closed the door to the vocation of the priesthood until a seminarian told me these words, "75% of men who enter seminary end up leaving, but at least they gave God that chance". I started to think about how unfair it was for me to close this door, when our Lord truly died for us and needs men to become priests to help save souls. That statement that the seminarian had told me is what initially sparked my discernment and overtime, my attraction to the priesthood grew and my trust in the Lord grew.

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

Many priests, seminarians, and other consecrated people gave me advice that helped me in receiving clarity in my discernment, but 3 priests showed me the reality of what being a priest looks like. Father Benjamin Tran showed me that priests aren't depressed or boring but just dudes who also know how to have fun. Father Gregory Marquez and Father Timothy Peters showed me how much joy a priest can be full of.

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

One major moment was me deciding not to pursue the next steps of my career, which was entering the military, because I wasn't done discerning the priesthood and I knew that entering seminary was a real possibility for me. Every day of discernment is taking the next step because I believe that our Lord wants us to take one step at a time.