Despite his youth, this priest already administers the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in El Mene. Here, the spiritual and material needs are pressing. He also serves as notary of the Cabimas Diocesan Curia. His dedication is fundamental to face these challenges. The training and education are vital for young people today.
Humberto Alonso Salas at 27 years old is already in the front line of the Catholic Church. He carries the teachings of the Church as a priest wherever the occasion presents itself. He fulfills his childhood dream of being a missionary, like Pope Leo XIV.
He does not have to leave his homeland to proclaim the Gospel among a people who either do not know God or who urgently need him. His spiritual and pastoral preparation allows him to fulfill this purpose. This reflects the importance of the formation and education in the life of a priest.
This Venezuelan priest tells in this interview to the CARF Foundation that, although his country has been predominantly Catholic, in the last decades there has been a drop in the number of faithful. According to the latest studies, 67 % of Venezuelans still consider themselves Catholic. However, the rise of sects and evangelical groups continues to cause a decrease in the number of believers. Therefore, the religious formation of the population is crucial to reverse this trend.
Religious education is a fundamental pillar that must be strengthened in Venezuela. This will help all those who seek faith and hope in difficult times. The preparation of young people is essential to foster a better future.
The complicated situation in Venezuela has not helped the boom in vocations either. Humberto relates his experience: "The social and economic crisis in Venezuela can be felt in every reality, even in the ecclesiastical one. When I was in my first years in the seminary, I considered the option of leaving it to work and help my parents".
Faith formation is crucial in a country where spirituality is threatened. They need more young people committed to their religious and spiritual formation. Despite this critical situation, the social aid provided by the Church to the most needy has been growing every year. "It has been a home and refuge for many people who have felt lonely or despised. A place of welcome for parents who have seen their children go abroad in search of better opportunities. It has been, as Pope Francis said, a field hospital," adds this young priest.
Before entering the seminary, Humberto started a career in Graphic Design. However, the political situation in Venezuela forced him to return home for security reasons. This hard event allowed this young man to become even more involved in his parish, living his faith more deeply. His family was very believing and many priests were close to them. This allowed him to know well the reality of what it means to be a priest. The formation he received at home and the contact with priests close to him were essential for his integral development.
This was an important element in the theological education of the priest. This is how he remembers it: "Having closer contact with them at home, getting to know their human side, sitting at the table with them, listening to them and realizing that they are men like me, with weaknesses and strengths, had a great influence on me. I asked myself the question: "Why not me? God answered that question. At a very young age, he entered the seminary.
He spent the first years of his preparation in Venezuela, where he appreciated the importance of education in his life. In 2019, his bishop decided to send him to Pamplona for further formation in the Bidasoa international seminarthanks to the study grants awarded by the CARF Foundation.
"I think it has been one of the greatest gifts God has given me. When the bishop told me, I was afraid, because I was 21 years old and it was the first time I would be away from my family for so long. But I saw it as an opportunity that God gave me to prepare myself well, learn a lot and return to serve my Church in Cabima", says the now priest, grateful for that education.
The formation he received in Pamplona enriched his understanding of the faith and strengthened it. This enabled him to pass it on with passion. This formation is a testimony of how study and devotion can go hand in hand. In addition, training in different cultures and traditions has been vital to her personal and spiritual development. This has helped him connect with different communities in Venezuela. It is essential that young priests like Humberto receive ongoing formation. This will allow them to adapt to the changes and challenges of today's world, keeping the faith alive in their communities.
The preparation and support of benefactors are crucial for future priests to fulfill their mission. This helps them to continue helping the community and provides them with essential resources for their education. At the end of the academic year, the seminary students reflect on the importance of education. This has allowed them to grow in faith and in their commitment to the Church. The benefactors who support the seminarians do invaluable work. They help improve the formation of future priests and ensure that the faith continues to flourish in Venezuela.
He defines his experience in Pamplona as "my great school". This is both for what he experienced at the University of Navarra and in Bidasoa. He relates an anecdote that showed him the gift he had received. "When I was in the seminary in Venezuela, we used the books published by the University of Navarra. When I arrived in Pamplona, I saw that the authors of those books were my professors. This made me realize what an opportunity God was giving me: to be well trained, to make the most of those years and to nourish myself with everything I need to serve the Church in my country.".
On a more spiritual level, Humberto says that visiting places where many saints lived and gave their lives was a great help in strengthening his life of piety. One place and one saint especially touched his heart during this Spanish stage.
"Those years made me take a very special affection for the Virgen del Pilar, which was the first shrine we visited when we arrived in Spain and the last one I went to before returning to Venezuela. Also to the figure of St. JosemarĆaI knew him very little when I arrived, but in those years, as a good friend, he helped me to face many difficulties".
Despite his short experience, since he was ordained in December 2023, Humberto is clear that today's priest needs, above all, "knowing oneself to be in need of God and of the other.". In his opinion, "in the priestly life we cannot go alone; we need to be accompanied by friends, brothers, a spiritual director. It is necessary to go out of ourselves and count on others". He also recognizes the importance of a good ongoing formation and the need to be nourished by the experiences of others.
"No challenge becomes difficult if you have people to help you face it. No danger can hurt you if your spiritual life is strengthened," he adds.
Finally, Father Humberto has a special memory for the benefactors of the CARF Foundation. "I remember with joy the times when you accompanied us in the ministries we were receiving throughout our formation. Even though we did not have family nearby, you filled those empty spaces with your presence. Thank you for being our family!".
This young priest also notes how the seminary was looking forward to the end of the academic year. It was an opportunity to spend a pleasant moment with the benefactors of the CARF Foundation and give back, even if it was just a little, of how much they do for us. This young priest also highlights how the seminary was looking forward to the end of the academic year. It was an opportunity to spend a pleasant moment with the benefactors and give back, even if it was just a little, of how much they do for us.
Father Humberto Alonso Salas has the benefactors present thanks to the backpack of sacred vessels which was given to him by the Social Action Board of the CARF Foundation. He makes constant use of it. "When I visit the rural communities of my parish and I take with me the backpack of sacred vessels that they gave me when I came from Pamplona, I can't help but keep them very much in mind and recommend their intentions at Mass. May God continue to abundantly bless your lives and the work you do for seminarians and priests all over the world. Without you it would not have been possible", he concludes.
