Jhon Edisson Madrid

Age: 24
Place of Birth: Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia, Colombia
Home Parish: Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, NJ
Seminary / Year of Study: St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD. (Third Year of Theology)
Interests: soccer, table tennis, basketball, immigration topics, reading.

Vocation History

God has called me to follow Him and preach His Word to all nations in different ways of my life. First of all, the Catholic faith is the most important thing for many people in my hometown in Colombia. Attending Mass at least twice a week and taking part in parish groups are some customs that people in my home town have had for many years. For this reason, I was involved in the different groups of my home parish since I was 6 years old. Second, elementary school was an experience that helped me to grow in love toward God and the Catholic Church. My teacher, who had been educated by the Salesian Sisters, taught me religious principles which increased my wishes to enter the seminary and become a priest. When I finished elementary school, I entered the minor seminary where I learned a lot of things about sciences and academics, but also about the importance of the spiritual, pastoral and community life in this path.

Spiritual directors played an important role during the time in the minor seminary because they helped me to discern my vocation. Finally, when I finished high school I could see that many of my classmates left the seminary and chose to study other things. However, I considered Jesus’ call as something more important than another life style. I decided continuing studying in the major seminary in my home diocese; however, I think that when you choose this path you have to know that you have to do God’s will and not go wherever you want but wherever God wants.

For this reason I accepted the challenge to leave my family, friends, traditions, and everything to come to this country. This has been the most difficult part of my formation because learning a new language and culture is not easy.  However, it has also been the most wonderful experience because I have come to see more clearly that priesthood really is the way in which I fulfill God’s will for me as a Christian.  Now in my second year of theology, I hope to continue discovering more fully the path to which God has called me.