{"id":86676,"date":"2026-06-22T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carfundacion.roymo.info\/?p=86676"},"modified":"2026-06-19T13:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:06:25","slug":"sacrificarlo-todo-por-vocacion-julio-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/sacrificarlo-todo-por-vocacion-julio-venezuela\/","title":{"rendered":"Julio, from Venezuela: \u00abYou have to be willing to sacrifice everything\u00bb.\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"

The history of Julio C\u00e9sar Morillo Leal<\/strong> It is the story of a man willing to sacrifice everything, who decided to put his successful professional career on hold in his native Venezuela to courageously answer God\u2019s call to become a priest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He studied theology for five years in Pamplona at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra and lived at the Bidasoa International Seminary. In 2022, he completed his studies and returned to his diocese in Cabimas<\/a>, Venezuela, where he completed his training and was ordained a priest on December 3. He is currently the pastor of the Ni\u00f1o Jes\u00fas Parish in San Timoteo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A family brought together by their grandparents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julio grew up as the older of two brothers in a modest family. His early years were marked by the care, affection, and deep tranquility of rural life, sheltered by the love of his grandparents. However, fate had a radical turn in store for him when the time came to move with his parents to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clash was not only geographical but also emotional. Family life began to fall apart, turning the home into a complex environment. As Julio himself recalls: \u00abThe change in atmosphere was extremely hard; the peace I was used to vanished, and moments of tranquility at home began to grow scarce.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adolescence became a minefield for him because of the constant disagreements between his parents. When he turned 15, the tension at home became so suffocating that Julio even considered a desperate solution: leaving home to escape the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That critical moment coincided with his parents\u2019 divorce. Far from running away or letting the situation get the better of him, the breakup redefined his role. Julio decided to stay and commit to being the main source of support for his mother and younger sister, proving that even in the midst of a storm, it\u2019s possible to find the maturity needed to protect those you love most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From that age I had to assume certain responsibilities in my home and set different goals that led me to focus on achieving them with a lot of effort, dedication and hard work. I designed in such a way what I wanted for my life and I followed that plan until I achieved it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He chose to study engineering because he was passionate about numbers, and that's why his dreams were based mainly on graduate with a degree in engineering<\/strong>, so that later I could not only work in the field but also teach at the university level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Julio<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Calling<\/strong> to the priesthood<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A vocation is a strictly personal journey. For Julio, his faith was nurtured from a young age through active service in church movements in Venezuela, such as youth ministry, Cursillos de Cristiandad, and the Legion of Mary. However, it was with the Family Encounters of Venezuela that he devoted much of his years of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paradoxically, this movement focuses on preparing for marriage and building a home\u2014a path that Julio had already adopted as his ideal goal, complementing it with his professional aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00abMy life's journey was focused on that path, which led me to believe that this was also what God wanted for me.\u00bb.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Convinced that family life and professional success were the ultimate fulfillment of his faith, Julio moved forward with a steady stride, unaware that his calling still held other nuances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional Success Versus Inner Emptiness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Julio achieved what many would consider the pinnacle of success: he graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering, worked in his field, and became a college professor. At a relatively young age, he was admired by his friends and was the pride of a family that celebrated each of his achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, professional fulfillment did not translate into personal fulfillment. Behind his brilliant career, an existential crisis began to take shape, challenging his own plans. As he himself admits: \u00abI thought this would be what would make me truly happy, but in reality I felt empty and sensed that I was called to something more.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That dissatisfaction wasn't a hindrance, but rather the driving force that prompted him to pause, question the direction he was heading, and focus all his energy on discovering his true purpose in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sacrificing Everything for One's Calling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coming to terms with the fact that a successful project did not equate to fulfillment was a hard blow. However, this clash with reality prompted Julio to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Accompanied by his spiritual director, he made the most difficult decision a brilliant professional could make: to let go of control and place his future in God\u2019s hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During that process, he had a fundamental realization about how he had managed his life up to that point: \u00abI mapped out what I wanted for my life and followed that plan until I achieved it. But my life felt a little empty. I realized that, although I had carried out my plan, I had never submitted it to God to see if that was what He truly wanted for me; rather, my prayers were only about asking for help to carry it out, and I feel that God allowed me to fulfill it,\u00bb he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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