Fredy Antonio Olarte Gonzalez

Age: 37
Home Parish: San Ambrosio
Seminary / Year of Study: Instituto de Misiones Extranjeras de Yarumal.  Philosophy (1998-2000), Spiritual year (2001), and Theology (I-II); Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Theology (III-IV), and Philosophy.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Philosophy from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
Interests: Sport, music, philosophy, theology.

Vocation History

I was born in a religious family, and that spiritual environment has helped me in developing my vocation. I have five aunts who are religious sisters, one uncle and two cousins who are priests.  I learned to pray the Holy Rosary with my family. I remember the time I attended holy Mass and the wonderful happiness I felt there. Because of my love for the Mass, I later became an altar server. The most important thing that God has done in my life is He has put a small light in my heart, which has been increasing every single day. I feel that God has a immeasurable love for me, because I have felt in my smaller life his huge presence. I have had different accidents: first, I was shot twice in my head, so I was  quadriplegic for two years; then I nearly drowned in the Pacific Ocean, in my first mission when I was in the Seminary, Institute of Foreign Mission of Yarumal; next, I was in a car accident in a mission in Bolivia, with the same religious community; finally, The Lord has saved me from other difficult situations. As you can see, I’m not Saint Augustine, but I believe that God has great love and mercy for me.

My fight against the world hasn’t been easy, but The Lord says to me, as He said to Saint Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” and “the life I now live in the flesh, I live in the Son of God”. The idea of becoming a priest  was clear to me after I finished high school. Then I entered in the religious community: Institute of Foreign Mision of Yarumal, with them I spent eight years. I had many beautiful experiences there, but the most important experience was when I baptized for first time as a child in the mission. That was the day when  I felt the most happiness in my life, and my wish to be a priest increased more and more. That experience has helped me in my spiritual vocation, in feeling that my life, hands, lips, words and all of my life is for serving God, so that through me, God will bless, love, and forgives His people. I left the religious community and continued my studies, and I was serving in a church in Medellin, with a holy priest. That priest has been a good example for me in my vocation life.

When I was finishing my bachelor in philosophy the Lord showed me the Diocese of Paterson, and I followed Him.  I have always tried to understand and see my life through God. I have always said to Him: “let it be to me according to Your Word”; and I’m here since September first of 2010. I left my family, friends, and I’m trying to be “born anew” for serving the Holy Lord in our holy Catholic Church.