{"id":231597,"date":"2026-07-14T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/?p=231597"},"modified":"2026-07-13T08:36:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T06:36:40","slug":"joao-victor-de-medico-a-seminarista","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/joao-victor-de-medico-a-seminarista\/","title":{"rendered":"Jo\u00e3o Victor, from Doctor to Seminarian: How a Priest Can Apply Medicine to Souls\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

He had just finished his grueling medical school program when, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jo\u00e3o Victor Corr\u00eaa Maiolino began devoting more time to prayer. \u201c<\/em><\/strong>\u201dWhen I finished my residency, the very next day I was already with my brothers at the seminary,\" says this 31-year-old seminarian from the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). He has been living in Spain for a year at the Bidasoa International Seminary. In his testimony, <\/em>Jo\u00e3o Victor provides us with the keys to applying medicine in the spiritual guidance and healing of souls. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ordinary family <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jo\u00e3o Victor Corr\u00eaa Maiolino was born in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. He comes from a very modest family. His father (Francisco Vicente), a doctor by profession, spent a little more time away from home, but he was present in his own discreet and observant way. His mother (Rosane) is a teacher and applied her knowledge of pedagogy to raising him and his two older siblings: Thiago and his sister L\u00edvia. \u201cI\u2019m the youngest, even though I\u2019m not the shortest,\u201d,<\/strong> she says with a smile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy family doesn\u2019t have a strong Catholic tradition. We\u2019ve all been baptized, but only my brother and I actively practice our faith. My father practices his faith more discreetly and usually attends Mass on the occasion of a funeral, a wedding, or some other family celebration. My mom and my sister practice another religion, Kardecist Spiritism,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even though his parents do not practice the Catholic faith, they chose a Salesian Catholic school for his education. And in their family life, with moments of joy and fun, Their mother always made them make up after they argued with each other. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Sports in His Personal Development <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adolescence is a time of change and rebellion, but Jo\u00e3o Victor went through it without much fuss. His concerns were much more about sports than anything else. \u201cWhat I was passionate about was playing basketball. I didn\u2019t like studying\u2014I just passed my classes and that was it. However, I played basketball at a high level, to the point where I moved to Rio de Janeiro at age 16 to play for the Fluminense club,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This athletic experience helped Jo\u00e3o Victor a great deal in his personal development, because It allowed him to develop very important skills, such as teamwork, <\/strong>discipline and the ability to prepare for major challenges under pressure. However, he did not continue his athletic career because he suffered several injuries, and at age 17, he had to choose between basketball and attending college. He chose to go to college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jo\u00e3o<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The tough six years of medical school  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI chose to study medicine. Since it\u2019s a very competitive field in Brazil, I had to study really hard to get a spot\u2014especially since I\u2019d never studied that much before. In the end, it took me two years of preparatory classes to make it, and at age 19, I started college,\u201d recalls the young Brazilian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After six years of college, He began working as a resident physician. He had a girlfriend, and his life was going very well. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His calling to the priesthood came with the pandemic <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

However, During the pandemic, in 2020, Jo\u00e3o Victor<\/strong> began to devote more time to the prayer<\/a> and, as it became possible, to the sacramental life as well.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He recalls the intimate moments with God from that time: \u201cLittle by little, I grew so much in my intimacy with God and drew closer and closer to Him. Until, at a certain point, A new question arose in my heart: Why not become a priest?<\/strong> My first reaction was to reject that idea right away. But it didn't work. The question kept coming up again and again<\/strong>, until I decided to face it head-on. I shared this with my parish priest, and during the discernment process, I ended my relationship and chose to take this calling seriously.\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For two years, while Jo\u00e3o Victor was completing his residency in Family and Community Medicine, he discerned his call to the priesthood. Since the residency was at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), he lived in Rio and participated in the Archdiocese\u2019s vocational meetings there. Little by little, doors began to open, though not without effort and courage. \u201cWhen I finished my residency, the very next day I was already with my brothers at the seminary,\u201d,<\/strong> judgment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Seminarian from R\u00edo in Bidasoa <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, in 2024, he began his training as a seminarian at the Propaedeutic Seminary of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, and in early 2025, he had the opportunity to come to study at the Bidasoa Seminar<\/a> to continue their education.<\/strong> He has been in Spain for about a year, \u201cwhere I feel very at home,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he received the invitation to study in Pamplona, he felt a mix of emotions: surprise, joy, fear, uncertainty, gratitude, and many others<\/strong>. \u201cIt was very unusual, because I went the first seminarian from the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro to come to Bidasoa to study the first year of philosophy<\/strong>. Until then, everyone else had come solely to begin their studies in theology. For me, this opportunity has been a great blessing from God.\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A movement among young people to draw closer to their faith <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the Church in Brazil<\/strong> He says that reality is very diverse in a country this large. And something new is changing: \u201cI get the impression that, Right now, there is a growing movement toward faith, especially among young people<\/strong>, driven in part by digital apostolate initiatives.\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This young Brazilian man says that Many young people are discovering a certain emptiness in today's world.<\/strong> See how social media<\/a>, especially platforms like TikTok, are taking up more and more of people\u2019s time, but often without helping them find a deeper meaning in their lives. When they discover that the Church has a solid history spanning two thousand years\u2014one that continues to be tangibly present in the lives of so many people\u2014they feel a desire to get to know it better, and many end up drawing closer to the faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastoral Life, Vocations, and Priests <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro has a very active pastoral life, and depending on the region, one can find different charisms. As a result of this reality, There are a large number of vocations<\/strong>Yes, both for diocesan life and for the religious life of men and women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 162 seminarians at the Major Seminary and 41 at the Preparatory Seminary.<\/strong> \u201cWithout a doubt, this high number is also the result of the excellent work of Cardinal Don Orani, the prayers of the people of God, and the reawakening of faith among young people that I mentioned earlier,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also points out that there are quite a few priests in the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, but since it is such a large city, \u201cI think that if there were more, it would be even better,\u201d especially because of the need for priests in outlying areas<\/strong>. \u201cFurthermore, there are priests who live alone and, in some cases, are somewhat isolated, without much contact with fellow priests, which would help them live out their brotherhood more fully,\u201d he laments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an example of the pastoral, social, and charitable work carried out by the Church in its diocese, he cites his home parish, Santos Anjos. It grew out of a project promoted by Don H\u00e9lder C\u00e2mara, called the S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o Crusade, which included the the construction of a church, ten apartment buildings for families living in the favelas, a school, and a parish center<\/strong> dedicated to technical and vocational training. The idea was to provide opportunities to those most in need in a high-income neighborhood like Leblon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenges Facing the Church in Brazil <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jo\u00e3o Victor recalls that Brazil is a nation with a deep-rooted Catholic tradition<\/a>, but for many years, faith has been viewed and lived primarily as a cultural expression, without ever reaching a deeper level of experience and without understanding the most basic aspects of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis has led to the growth of Protestant communities in recent decades, which, in turn, has become an opportunity for Let us Catholics deepen our own formation<\/strong> \u201dand may we be able to give an account of our faith and the hope that is within us,\",<\/strong> he says enthusiastically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another major challenge is indifference toward God<\/strong>. \u201cWe live in a culture where many people organize their lives as if God did not exist, and this is not limited to Europe. It is, without a doubt, a major challenge for evangelization. However, I believe it can be overcome, especially through the example of one's life.<\/strong> A life that is consistent, centered on God, and focused on the people closest to us is \u201dlike a candle that burns itself out to bring light and warmth to others,\", <\/strong>says this seminarian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jo\u00e3o<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

His experience among Spaniards  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As for his experience in Spain, many things have surprised Jo\u00e3o Victor.<\/strong> First of all, the entire history that speaks to us through architecture, through the great temples, and through a millennia-old culture that remains present not only in the buildings but also in the way many people live their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI spent the Easter<\/a> in Granada<\/strong> and I had the chance to see how practically the entire city took part in the processions: some as float bearers, others playing in the bands, and still others simply accompanying or watching the brotherhoods pass by. What impressed me most was seeing that \u201dThe whole city celebrated Holy Week as one,\", <\/strong>recounts. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Jo\u00e3o Victor got the impression that there wasn\u2019t always a strictly religious motive behind that participation. In other words, not everyone participated out of faith. \u201cBut I don\u2019t see that as a problem; rather, I see it as a reflection of a society that has gradually been drifting away from God. Actually, it seems to me like a a great opportunity for evangelization,<\/strong> \u201dbecause it shows that there is still an open door to sow the Gospel in the hearts of many people.\". <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrasts Between Brazil and Spain <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has also noticed differences between Brazil and Spain<\/strong>: \u201cIt is one of the major challenges facing our country: urban violence<\/strong>. \u201dIn Rio de Janeiro, drug trafficking is rampant, and many people live in fear and feel vulnerable in this climate of violence. All of this influences the way people live, think, and make decisions, since they often have to take into account potential risks that shape their daily lives,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although we also face insecurity in Spain, it\u2019s not comparable to your country. \u201cA a child growing up in an environment like the one I've found in Spain<\/strong>, \u201dWith a greater sense of security, you can enjoy many experiences with greater peace of mind. In the face of this problem, the Church plays a fundamental role, for only God\u2019s love is capable of transforming hearts in a profound and genuine way,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priest who wants to become a doctor of souls <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After completing his training in Spain, he will return to Brazil to be ordained as a priest. And this raises some inevitable questions: \u201cHow can we proclaim Christ to people today?<\/strong> \u201dWhat kind of priest do I want to become?\". <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jo\u00e3o Victor offers some insights, drawing a parallel between medicine and the priesthood: \u201cI believe that priests, just like doctors, need to develop many skills. Not only a solid theoretical foundation, but also great sensitivity in dealing with people, keen observational skills<\/strong>, \u201dpastoral sensitivity and closeness to the people God has entrusted to him.\". <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But above all, he insists that A priest is a man of prayer<\/strong>. \u201cThe graces he receives, the fruits of his ministry, the effectiveness of his preaching, and all his pastoral work do not come solely from his own efforts, but from its correspondence with God's grace<\/strong>. \u201dIn short, it is God who does the work. We are merely His instruments.\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why, in order to reach people\u2019s hearts\u2014whether they are young people or those who are farthest from God\u2014, A life of prayer is necessary<\/a>. \u201cWe must follow the path that God shows us, listen to and recognize the voice of his sheep, protect them with our very lives, and love them. Deep down, there isn\u2019t much to figure out: \u201dIt's simply a matter of following in Christ's footsteps,\", <\/strong>concludes this Brazilian seminarian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marta Sant\u00edn<\/strong>journalist specializing in religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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