Four years ago, at the age of 40, I had the blessing of starting my path of discernment with the Franciscan Friars in the Province of the Immaculate Conception. In response to God’s call, I continue with joy, gratitude, and courage, allowing myself to be guided by the Lord. 

My education and business career

Before embarking on this path, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 16 years. I am a Pharmaceutical Chemist and hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). I worked at Pfizer, Abbott, and Johnson & Johnson. During my career, I traveled extensively and had the opportunity to learn about various cultures and the realities of human beings. Working in the Marketing field, I received several trainings in Group Psychology and different types of personalities. Even today, pharmacology and the use of medicine remain topics that I am passionate about. I am grateful to God for these experiences.

I was named after my father, Dagoberto. My mother is Martha, and I have one sister named Lily. My aunt, Mayra, is like a second mother to me, and my cousin Allan is like a younger brother. Together, they form the family nucleus where I was born and from which I have learned to love, forgive, and heal the wounds of the heart. I believe that the perfect family does not exist, but I thank God for the family that He has given me. 

I must say that I had a beautiful childhood, surrounded by the love of both my parents. My father provided a strong education, emphasizing discipline and responsibility, while my mother showered me with tenderness and unconditional love. Since I was the eldest, I took care of and played with my younger sister. I cherish the most beautiful memories of my childhood with my family. 

Although my family does not belong to any church group, they attend mass on Sundays, and my mother participates in Eucharistic adoration on Thursdays. Prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament continues to strengthen and fill me with peace. They have always allowed me to actively participate in the church and have respected my choice. 

Spiritual and academic studies

I was always an excellent student thanks to the discipline and demands instilled by my father. When I started secondary school, I had the opportunity to study at Catholic Salesian and Carmelite schools, where I had my first encounters with the daily Eucharist. 

At the age of 12, I felt drawn to spiritual practices and became an acolyte and server of the masses. In eighth grade, at the age of 13, a classmate I liked invited me to join the Neocatechumenal Way, a charism of the Catholic Church that I was not familiar with. I accepted the invitation to spend more time with my classmate, a decision that would have a profound impact on my life. 

The Neocatechumenal Way became a fundamental experience for me, teaching me the value of the Eucharist, the sacraments, and living in a community of brothers who became my family. Even to this day, they pray for my vocation and show concern for my spiritual journey. During my 27 years of active participation in the Neocatechumenal Way, I learned to love my brothers, forgave others, experienced charity, and shared my time with those in need. I personally experienced acceptance and love from the community, flaws and weaknesses included. 

During my high school years, I considered myself a responsible young man who was diligent in his studies. I enjoyed playing video games and soccer with my friends. I was also a collector and fan of G.I. Joe collectible figures from the 90s. 

I started going to parties and dating in my university years. To be honest, I really enjoyed parties, dancing, and having fun with my friends – but I remained connected to the church through the Neocatechumenal Way. I lived a typical young person’s experience but always remained united with the church and my family. 

I had a long courtship that was a beautiful time in my life. I experienced the special love of a couple and learned responsibility and caring for another person. We both belonged to the church, but due to work, my girlfriend decided to leave the community. I, on the other hand, decided to stay. I can say that my desire to serve in the church was stronger. We both understood each other’s decision, and we remain good friends. Her family knows me well, and mine knows her. I do not regret the choices I made. 

A journey of reconciliation

During my adolescence, I felt the strictness and rigidity of my father’s character. Many times, I yearned for his affection and expressions of love, but he was not inclined to show any. My sister, on the other hand, always received that tenderness. 

I am convinced that the emotional aspect is central to my being. Only if I love myself can I truly love others. This understanding has been fundamental in my life. 

From a young age, my father taught me the importance of taking care of my health and always presenting myself well. He also taught me to use perfume. These influences have stayed with me from childhood. It was through my church experience that I learned not to be afraid of expressing my affection for my family. 

Over the years, I have come to understand why my father acted the way he did. He had experienced the same lack of affection from his own father. It was a learned cycle that needed to be broken. I am grateful that, through my own experience, that cycle has been broken. I hold no judgment toward my father. I respect him, and our relationship today is beautiful. We have no fear of expressing ourselves openly, but it took many years of misunderstandings and pain to reach this point. 

Throughout this time, my mother’s love has always been constant. She was the balancing force of love in our family. My relationship with both my parents is truly beautiful. I love them for who they are, and they both consider me their son. I strive to be docile in my character and acknowledge that, although I may get angry at times, conflicts should not be feared. Good communication and goodwill should always be present. 

There was a time when I had an argument with my father, and he offended me. He was not one to apologize, and he stopped talking to me. His indifference caused me a great deal of pain. It was then that I realized both of us possessed pride and strong wills. In that moment, I witnessed God’s love through my mother. She gave me advice that I carry with me for life. She told me that brave people forgive. Forgiveness is a decision of love, not about finding fault. It is about always taking the initiative to draw closer to the person you love and asking for forgiveness. 

I followed my mother’s advice and wrote a letter to my father expressing how much I loved him, bought his favorite perfume, and left it in his room before leaving for work. That same morning, I received a text message on my cell phone. WhatsApp did not exist at that time. The message simply said, “Son, I love you. Forgive me, but the only thing I want is to teach you to be a good and strong man.” I was in a work meeting when I read the message, and I cried like a child. I couldn’t stop myself, and I had to leave the meeting. That message was the cure, the medicine for the resentment that had built up in my heart over the years. I had been waiting for my father to say those words without fear or hesitation. 

I can testify that love is the only way to resolve any conflict. However, we must learn how to love and express that love. We cannot rush it. That night at home, my father and I had one of the best and most beautiful conversations of my life. This is why I say I am not afraid of conflict as long as God’s love, good communication, and goodwill are present. 

Encountering the Franciscans

During my last two years of work at Pfizer, I traveled to Olancho, a department in Honduras, every month. There, I had the opportunity to learn about the work of the friars, especially Father Joseph Bonello and Father Albert Gauci. I was impressed by their simplicity and how they treated everyone equally, without any class distinctions. They were always kind and available to everyone. They lived a practical life but were also loving and responsible in their work. 

This experience had a profound impact on me. In Tegucigalpa, my city of birth, my contact was Father Rafael Fernández, the director of Colegio San Francisco. At that point in my life, I was already independent. I had my own house, a stable job of many years, and financial security. However, I felt that something was missing, something that could not be fulfilled by my current life. I decided to embark on a one-week silent retreat. 

My spiritual director, a former Salesian priest from the secondary school I attended, recommended it to me. He advised me to listen carefully, as the Lord had been speaking to me through the events of my salvation story. 

At the end of the retreat, after deep reflection, I felt peace and serenity in responding to the Lord’s call. It was December. I entered a period of continuous vocational discernment with the vice-rector of the Major Seminary of Honduras. He helped me see the entire path of my life and emphasized that regardless of human weaknesses and sins, the path of conversion is ongoing, and there is no exact or perfect moment to respond to God’s call. It is simply a matter of responding sincerely with good intentions of the heart. 

Two of my priest friends from the Neocatechumenal Way, both Hondurans, one living in Italy and the other in Poland, told me, “Dago, we see in you the intention to respond to God. But it should not be sought or pressured. It will happen when the Lord deems it appropriate. Do not be afraid to respond, and do not wait until you feel fully prepared, for it will not happen that way. Let God begin His work.” 

With peace and joy in my heart, I made the decision to leave everything behind—my job, my history in Honduras—and God, in His love, opened the doors of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of New York for me. 

Only God knows what the future holds, but I have no regrets about everything I have experienced up to this point. It is not an easy path to follow in my own strength, and it is not easy for my family either. The first two years were challenging, and even now, I have faced my parents’ illnesses. I admit that I worry about them, and not being physically present to help them adds to my concern. However, I see how God gives me the strength and encouragement to continue. I feel happy and at peace. 

I continue to respond to the Lord’s call in my life, and I trust that He will take care of my family. I always tell them that they are more than welcome to visit me in the United States. My sister has visited, and I hope my parents will visit soon. 

That is the story of my life, my journey of faith, and my response to God’s call to serve Him in the Franciscan Order. I am grateful for the experiences I have had and for the people who have accompanied me along the way. I trust that God will continue to guide me and use me as an instrument of His love and mercy.

Franciscan priests and brothers follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus and St. Francis. They accept the gift of poverty as a way of life. They have nothing of their own but share equally as brothers whatever God provides through your generosity.

To educate and support a seminarian in his studies costs more than $10,000 a year. Show your support for our Franciscan Brothers by making a donation today.

Thank you, and God bless.