In his own words, Fr. Adolfo Martinez’s vocation story

By Father Adolfo Martinez

Discerning one’s vocation to Priesthood, I think begins even before you know it. Since I was a little kid, I remember my mother leading our evening prayers before going to bed. And as she was talking there was no doubt in my mind that up there God was listening.  

I was around 8 years old when she gave me a Children’s Bible, which I read multiple times – I just loved it! I remember having this feeling about the people in it, it’s hard to explain, but somehow, I felt as if I had some kind of special connection with God, too. Maybe an early sign of vocation? But I know I wasn’t daydreaming about becoming a padre. 

While my mother was cooking dinner, she would ask my brothers and me questions about school (like math kind of questions), but she would also ask us about Catechism questions, so we often had faith related conversations. 

Whenever I misbehaved, my mother would discipline me of course, but she would also say that [because of] what I did/say, I would not be able to receive Communion on Sunday at Mass, and that now I had to go to Confession. 

There were also times when I didn’t want to go to Church on Sundays (probably because I didn’t understand most of it), but God was so important to my mother, that just as she sent me to school every day, or made me take a shower, she would make me go to Church. 

I think the message was pretty much clear, ‘God is important in our lives’, and I just grew up knowing it, thanks to her.  

As I was growing up, I was an altar server, something I enjoyed so much! But again, I never thought back in those days that I wanted to become a ‘padrecito’. 

Later on, as a teenager, I joined and became an active member in the Parish Youth Ministry, which involved meetings with other teenagers. We were also Lectors, Choir, and we tried as much as we could to perform charitable works. This time is very special in my life, because it is during these years that I remember thinking something like: “It must be nice to spend one’s life helping others”.  

When I was a senior in high school, one of my teachers asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a priest (in front of my classmates), and I honestly responded, “no.” One year later as I was studying to become a social worker, one of my teachers asked me the same question, and I remember that it wasn’t that easy to say “no.” 

Around that time, my home parish pastor Fr. Rene told me that he believed that I had a vocation to the Priesthood, and that there would be a week-long discernment retreat I could attend. It was very difficult, but again I said, “no.” 

One year later, he tried again, but he changed his tactic. This time he said, “There is this retreat again, you don’t have to become a ‘padrecito’, and you will learn new things that will help you with what you are doing at the parish, and as a person for the rest of your life.” And it is during that experience that I realized that maybe I had a vocation to the priesthood, and the only way to find out was to continue discerning in the seminary.  

I wanted to help others, and I was trying to have a good friendship with Jesus, I think it was only natural to trust in Him and follow Him.  

In the seminary, I dearly enjoyed learning about the holy scriptures because I was getting to know God more intimately. I enjoyed the fellowship amongst seminarians, or as we called ourselves, “Choriceros”. Without knowing it I was part of a second family, the Church family, just on a clerical level.  

One thing I find particularly challenging is listening to confessions (for obvious reasons), but being able to deliver God’s mercy, being able to help people remove that heavy burden off their shoulders, is at the same time one of the most rewarding aspects of this part of my ministry.  

Another aspect I truly enjoy is taking parishioners on pilgrimages far away.  Just to see them happy and enjoying their time. It is very rewarding knowing that their friendship with the Lord is being strengthened.  

I think that if children today see that God is important to their parents, then God will be important to them too, and not just someone you agree “exists” and only reach out to in times of need.  

If God is that important in your family, then you will listen to Him. But not because you have to, but because you love him, you trust him, therefore he is important, and everybody listens to those who are important in our lives.  

Even though my mother never mentioned that one day I could become a priest of the Lord, it is by her example that she prepared me to have a friendship with Jesus. Friends listen to each other, and it is in that friendship that a young man will be able to hear the voice of Jesus calling him to participate in his plan. 

Part of the challenge we face nowadays is that there is plenty of “noise” in our society, the kind of noise that can make it very difficult to hear the voice of the Lord calling this young man or that young man to Priesthood.  

Families can help their children by praying at home, attending Sunday Mass, receiving Holy Communion together, joining a ministry, practicing charitable works, etc., as a way to encourage them to make good friends with Jesus. And here and there, another young man will listen to God’s calling, and his response will be a generous: ‘Yes, Lord’, because Priesthood is nurtured at home. And as Church it’s important to remind our young men of the importance of discernment for them to ‘find out’ what their place is not only in life, but above all in God’s plan.  

Nowadays I happily serve at the beautiful Parroquia San Judas Tadeo, in San Luis, AZ, where Priesthood truly has a soft spot in people’s hearts. 

God willing, I will continue serving Him according to His will. It’s been 20 years since my Ordination to Priesthood, and I only have gratitude. 

“What return can I make to the Lord, for all his goodness to me?” (Psalm 116:12) 

Do you think Jesus is calling you to the Priesthood? Give Him a chance, He knows what is best for you. Talk to a priest about it, and pray, pray, pray!