At the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Galilee, the Church in the Holy Land rejoiced as four young men — David Sotgiu (Italy), Adolfo Rene de León Salguero (Guatemala), Francisco Hurtado Cárdenas (Colombia), and José Pablo Morera Mesén (Costa Rica) — were ordained deacons on November 9, 2025, by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The solemn celebration, concelebrated by Msgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar in Galilee, and Fr. Juan Manuel Silva López, Rector of the Seminary, gathered numerous priests of the Neocatechumenal Way, together with families, friends, and faithful — many of whom joined in prayer online.
As the four candidates knelt to profess their promises of celibacy, prayer, and obedience, emotion filled the seminary church. Tears of gratitude marked the moment of their investiture as they turned toward the congregation, faces radiant with joy. It was both an ending and a beginning — the start of their service as deacons in the Diocese of the Holy Land, becoming channels of the living water flowing from the heart of God into His people.
Recalling the words of Cardinal Pizzaballa on the reading from Ezekiel, they are called to be that river of life that cuts through salty, barren waters, yet brings with it the presence of God, turning desolation into a place rich with fruit.
They come from different countries and cultures, yet their stories share a single thread — the discovery of God’s mercy and the desire to offer their lives entirely to Him.
“God’s Mercy Found Me” - Deacon Francisco Hurtado (Colombia)
Francisco first sensed God’s call during his final year of school, though he tried to ignore it in pursuit of what he called “a normal life.” He left Colombia for Poland, pursuing a career in music and seeking distance from the pain of witnessing poverty in his homeland. But far from home and the Church, he found his life “void of meaning.”
“I quickly realized I wasn’t happy pursuing other ambitions,” he said. “Through listening to the catechesis of the Neocatechumenal Way, I discovered that God loved me and could forgive all my sins. That changed everything.”
While staying with a Catholic family in Poland, he experienced a warmth and joy that struck him deeply. “God showed me what true happiness looked like — it was His presence in them,” he recalled. “That’s when I understood He wanted me for something greater.”
Upon returning to Colombia, Francisco entered the seminary. Now, newly ordained, he desires to bring hope to others:
“There is hope for those who have tasted the bitterness of sin. Hence, I want to carry hope to those who have lost hope in God and in themselves. By His grace, I pray to give my life entirely for Him and for His people.”
“The Lord Accompanies Me” - Deacon David Sotgiu (Italy)
For David, God’s call began quietly at 14, nurtured by his parents and community. He entered the seminary at 26.
“I entered the Way thanks to my parents,” he said. “Within the community, I came to experience God’s love for me and to see that it is He who leads my life.”
During a time of personal struggle, David volunteered at the Domus Galilaeae — an experience that confirmed his vocation.
“It was there, through work and prayer, that I felt the Lord’s call to the priesthood.”
He expressed deep gratitude for those who guided him along the way:
“I am thankful to my formators and catechists for their patience and care. What I carry in my heart from these years, and from the words of His Beatitude, is the certainty that I will not be alone in my ministry. The Lord accompanies me and never abandons me — and the Church, like a loving mother, watches over me.”
“The Good News of a Father Who Loves” - Deacon José Pablo Morera (Costa Rica)
Before entering the seminary, José Pablo worked in a state bank and had his life carefully planned. “I was living far from God,” he said. “I didn’t believe He was a Father — especially not a good Father.”
Through his Neocatechumenal community, he encountered a personal and loving God. That experience deepened at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro (2013).
“There, among millions of young people, I realized God was calling me to offer my life to the Church.”
Now, newly ordained, José Pablo feels called to share the same love he once discovered:
“I want to bring the Good News that God loves every person — with a love that is almost mad. This message saved my life. Now I am called to share it freely, with my life and wherever He wills. But I know I cannot do it alone. I need God’s grace and the support of a community that sustains me in prayer.”
“To Serve the Community with Love” - Deacon Adolfo de León (Guatemala)
For Adolfo, the seed of vocation was planted early within his family’s Sunday prayers.
“I believe my vocation began during our family prayer of Lauds every Sunday,” he shared. “My father would always ask God that His will be done in each of his four children, and if it was His will to call one of us to the priesthood, so be it. So, the idea of priesthood was always present in my life.”
Although he felt the call strongly at 14, the noise of the world grew louder.
“As a teenager, I was drawn to worldly ambitions and tried to forget God’s call,” he said. “Even though I had one foot in the world, living like a practical atheist, seeking career success as an engineer, the flame of that vocation never went out.”
At 24, after years of searching and inner emptiness, he surrendered to God’s will and entered the seminary. Looking ahead, his prayer is simple:
“I ask the Lord to give me always love for the community He entrusts to me, and the strength to serve it without reserve.”
Four men, four stories — united by the same encounter with God’s mercy. Their journey reminds us that vocation is not an escape from the world, but a call to transform it with love, supported by the families and communities that help us discern God’s will.
From Colombia to Costa Rica, from Italy to Guatemala, their journeys converge in the Holy Land, where they now begin their ministry as deacons and continue their journey towards priesthood.
