Last March 12, CARF organized a online and face-to-face meeting with seminarians from the Bidasoa International Seminary (Pamplona). This meeting was held as a starting point for the campaign "Let no vocation be lost." The students were Hasitha Menaka Nanayakkara of the Diocese of Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Francisco José Lucero Obiolsfrom the diocese of Santiago de Guatemala, (Guatemala). Both thanked the benefactors who help them in their vocation: "To form a priest is to form a people", they said.
This event, which took place at the Oratory of Santa María de Bonaigua (Barcelona), was presented by two benefactors of CARF: Leopoldo Abadía and Fernando de Salas.
Leopoldo Abadía presented Hasitha Menaka Nanayakkara At the age of 15, he thought of becoming a Catholic priest in a country of 22 million inhabitants, of which only 6% are Catholic. How is it that with those percentages he becomes a Catholic and wants to be a priest?" he asked.
Abbey also gave an answer: "In my opinion, Hasitha has two saintly parentss: his mother, because all mothers are saints, who baptized him, and his father who, being a Buddhist, did not object to the priesthood of his son and, therefore, he is the true saint.
The Sri Lankan seminarian, always with a smile on his face, began his testimony.
"We each have a family history. Mine is unique. My mother is Catholic and my father is Buddhist. My mom taught me to pray and baptized me. And my dad showed me his greatness. When I told him I wanted to be a priest, it was difficult at first because I am the only male child (I have a sister), and surnames are passed through the male child. However, he didn't object and gave me his permission".
Hasitha also told how she discovered her vocation:
"An angel did not appear to ask me if I wanted to become a priest; I discovered it little by little from childhood. Through the parish and other events in my life, the Lord planted the call in my heart. When I decided to become a priest, I realized that it was a difficult decision in my context, but "the Lord also gives me the courage to be a priest".
The Asian seminarian thanked all the benefactors who are part of his story and is very grateful for his formation in Bidasoa. We are going to give what we have received because to form a priest is to form a people.
"When my bishop sent me to Spain he advised me to open my mind to understand more about the country I live in, a small country with a minority of Catholics. The 70% of the population is Buddhist and there are also Muslims and Hindus."
Hasitha sent a message of hope for Christians in EuropeThey say that Christianity is dying on the European continent. However, I see very good roots".
He concluded his story by thanking the benefactors once again: "You are like St. Joseph, who works to offer his generosity for the others. The Lord will reward you abundantly for what you do for us. We must be saints and give back what we have been given.
Leopoldo Abadía closed this first testimony with a final flourish: "Nobody has called these benefactors who are here Saint Joseph, until now".
Hasitha Menaka Nanayakkara, 28 years old, comes from Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million inhabitants, of which only 6% are Catholics. At the age of 15 he felt the call to a priestly vocation.
"We each have a family history. Mine is unique. My mother is Catholic and my father is Buddhist. My mom taught me to pray and baptized me. And my dad showed me his greatness. When I told him I wanted to be a priest, it was difficult at first because I am the only male child (I have a sister), and surnames are passed through the male child. However, he didn't object and gave me his permission".
Later, during the guests' question and answer session, a benefactress asked about religious persecution in those countries. Hasitha He replied: "There has always been persecution.The important thing is to be convinced that Christ cannot be defeated. Sometimes the road is slow, sometimes there are moments of silence, sometimes it is good to talk.
To meet Christ and to live in Christ in spite of our weaknesses means to live a life in truth. This example is very attractive: I have seen it in the conversions that have taken place in my country. I do not deny that the environment is sometimes a little hard, but I am happy and joyful and I continue with courage. The Lord gives the strength, I am his witness. Let us do our best, with prudence, but truly living Christianity".
Every year, about 800 bishops request a financial scholarship for their seminarians and priests, such as Hasitha Francisco and José Bidasoa seminarians, and at CARF, we work to meet all their requests, thanks to the contribution of committed and generous benefactors.
Francisco José is 32 years old, speaks English and met a businessman, whom he admired, who had a company with a turnover of millions of dollars, who made him wonder why he was doing everything he was doing "and it shook him to his core," he describes.
On his return from a retreat course, he began a period of uncertainty. Finally, the Lord made him see that He was calling him on this path and he decided, at the age of 26, to leave everything for Him.
"You benefactors are like St. Joseph, who works to offer his generosity for others. The Lord will reward you abundantly for what you do for us. We must be saints and give back what you have given us."
Fernando de Salas, benefactor of CARF, introduced the other seminarian of the meeting, Francisco José Lucero Obiolsof the Diocese of Santiago de Guatemala (Guatemala).
Francisco José is 32 years old, speaks English and met a businessman, whom he admired, who had a company with a turnover of millions of dollars, who made him wonder why he was doing everything he was doing "and it shook him to his core," he describes.
On his return from a retreat course, he began a period of uncertainty. Finally, the Lord made him see that He was calling him on this path and he decided, at the age of 26, to leave everything for Him.
The Guatemalan seminarian told those present about his life in Bidasoa and how grateful he is for his formation.
"In Bidasoa we are one hundred seminarians from 20 different countries.with different customs and cultures. To come together with so many, with so much richness and diversity, is spectacular. At the same time, we live in a family atmosphere because we are divided into groups, both in the formative stages and in five groups of "tertulias", and each one has a formator assigned to it. In these small groups we share experiences, news of the Church and of our countries.
The formation they receive in Bidasoa is on the one hand academic, in the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra, and on the other hand spiritual, human and pastoral.
"We can all call Bidasoa my home. One of the first things that impressed me the most was how the Eucharist was lived. It made an impact on me. The liturgy in Bidasoa is so well cared for that it allows the seminarians to think only of the Lord.. We are transported to Heaven and the choir helps this. It's spectacular," he said. Francisco José.
At the end of his testimony, a benefactor asked him where he sees himself when he is ordained a priest in his country. "I live in the capital of Guatemala and there are places with a lot of need, both economically and spiritually. I see people who suffer a lot and I would love to be able to bring the Lord to these people. I would also love to work with seminarians and with people who are considering a vocation. But it will be what God and my bishop want.
In response to questions from benefactors on the loss of values, warns that, both in his country and in Spain, they are sometimes insulted in the streets when they bring, for example, communion to the sick, but this "makes us grow as persons. We are configured with Christ. As Pope Francis says, we must be a church that goes out, close to everyone".
