Meet Our Seminarians

- Akbar Saul Perez
  
  Akbar "Saul" Perez says he is inspired to be a priest because of his burning desire to serve the Lord with all of his heart and serve his church and his people. "During my formation in the seminary, I hope to be able to configure my heart to the heart of Jesus, so that in the future I can be, if God allows me, a priest according to the heart of Jesus," says Akbar. His advice to anyone thinking about becoming a priest is to think about the vocation to the priesthood, and don't be afraid to open your heart to God and let yourself be loved and surprised by him. Afterwards, he will guide your steps.
- Patrick Germann
  
  Patrick Germann was led to enter the seminary after spending 3 years as a high school History teacher at Central Valley High School in Ceres. "The longer I worked with my students and other youth, the more I began to feel the call to not just teach," says Patrick, "but also to save souls and to grow in love for Christ as the man He calls me to be".
  Patrick credits his family with providing his foundation of faith, and his perseverance in faith on prayer and the daily challenge of making himself available to God's call. "We are ALL meant to be saints in our time and place," he says, "and because God is the good Father of us all, he promises to be with us on that path, even in the midst of darkness and doubts, if only we place our trust in Him".
  Patrick looks forward to continuing on his discernment journey with his brother seminarians, and is thankful for the continued prayers of everyone in the Diocese.
- Joshua Lesan
  
  Joshua Lesan says that his love for Jesus and his growing relationship with Him is what made him want to become a seminarian. "I felt the invitation to pursue priesthood in the seminary. I want to respond out of love to this generous call," says Joshua. He is a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus where he studied psychology. Joshua is now in Theology II, which is his fourth year at St. Patrick’s Seminary. He says that prioritizing his relationship with God and being open to what God wants for his life are the keys to his discernment. "Your primary call is to know, love, and serve God. He will reveal his secondary vocation to you in due time," says Lesan. "He wants you to trust Him. Give Him the opportunity and an open heart to do so.”
- Joshua Kong
  
  Joshua Kong is a native of Manteca, CA, and is a parishioner of St. Anthony’s in Manteca. Joshua is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) where he graduated with a B.S. in Business Psychology. Joshua says that he wanted to become a seminarian simply because that’s where he feels the Lord is calling him and this is how he can increase his love for the Lord. “I was deciding about what to do with my life after college, and all of sudden, there was a restlessness in my heart that I could no longer push away; the Lord was calling me,” says Kong.
  Joshua advises those considering the priesthood as their vocation to be attentive to the Lord in prayer and ask Him what He wants you to do, not what you want to do. Once you can surrender your life to Him and be at peace, that’s when you know you are headed in the right direction. Stay close to Mother Mary and pray your Rosary everyday; Our Lady will lead you down the right path. Remember, the seminary is a place to further discern your vocation; just because one goes to the seminary, does not mean one will become a priest. “Do not conform yourself to this age...that you may discern the will of God” (Romans 12:2). Thank you for your prayers and support.
- Javier ("Jazzy") Elias
  
  Javier Elías says that his desire to serve the Church in a deeper manner led him to be a seminarian. “As I embraced the faith and made it my own through ministering to all of God’s people, I was able to encounter Jesus in a real and profound way. I saw Jesus, whom I love and want to serve, in all His people,” says Elías.
  Javier gives thanks to his devout family for passing on the love and zeal they have for Christ and His Church. “They cemented and fomented my love for Christ by showing me how perseverance and closeness to Him should look like,” explains Elías.
  Javier’s advice to all those thinking about the priesthood is to not be afraid. “Fear is a good thing: it means that you’re afraid to fail at something you love. But you can’t let fear paralyze you on taking the next step. Risking it all, even failure, on account of Jesus is the best way to show Him you love Him,” explains Elías.
  The best way he has stayed close to Christ and let fear go is relying on Our Blessed Mother. She will guide you to her Son no matter how difficult all may seem. Lean on her and she will never let you go. Her tender words to Juan Diego always consoled Javier and he hopes they console you too: “Am I not here who am your Mother?”
- Josue Montoya
  
  My name is Josue Montoya. I grew up in Turlock, CA for the majority of my life. I attended Pitman High school and just recently graduated from CSU, Stanislaus with a degree in Exercise Science in 2021. I recently finished a frutiful 2 years of seminary, and now I am moving on to my third year. I am continuing to be excited about God's plan being revealed to me, and ask for your prayers that I give Him my full "yes".
  Q: What made you want to become a seminarian?
  As I was going through college, I had plans for my future that included starting a family and receiving a career in the field of Adapted Physical Education. As I continued this path, my heart felt a deep restlessness when I considered the vocation of marriage I was heading towards, as if there may be other plans God has for me. The thought of priesthood could not leave my mind, so I took a leap of faith and begin to discern the priesthood, and eventually moved into the house of formation. Almost immediately the Lord began to guide me with an undeniable peace toward this vocation. I wanted to become a seminarian, because the thought of becoming a priest and giving my heart to Him who loves me, in this particular way, brought my heart a sincere peace and joy.
  Q: What advice do you have to those considering the priesthood?
  My advice for anyone considering the priesthood as their vocation would be to contact their vocational director and/or talk to a well trusted faith figure in your life like your parish priests. You are not alone in this journey, so you should not keep all your thoughts bottled up inside. Talk to these wise priests and above all speak to God about what is going on in your heart. If you are truly called, the Lord will let you know your vocation with gentleness and peace over time. Also, stay close to Our Blessed Mother, and let her YES to God become yours.
  Thank you all for the support and Prayers!
- Michael Kelley
  
  Michael, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption in Turlock, credits his home parish's strong community with helping him encounter our Risen Lord more deeply. "During high school, things like ARMEE and LifeTeen introduced me not only to Jesus, but also to a group of lifelong friends who shared a common goal - to live a truly Christian life."
  After graduating as the salutatorian from Central Catholic High School class of 2017, Michael completed his B.A. in Rhetoric from U.C. Berkeley. He says, "I always planned being a water rights attorney and work in the Central Valley, but all throughout college I couldn't shake this interest in the priesthood." After his undergraduate studies, Michael joined the ECHO program at Notre Dame where he completed his M.A. in Theology while living in Ireland and working for the Diocese of Meath. He says, "while I was in ECHO, I began to feel the call more strongly than ever before. I knew that this time I had to do something about it, so I decided to apply to my diocese. Since I made that decision, God has continually confirmed that this is the path He wants me to walk."
  Michael's advice to discerners is: "Follow the Holy Spirit, He will guide you. You will know it's Him by the peace He brings. But, remember that peace is not synonymous with comfort. You can have peace even in the midst of fear and uncertainty. The closer you grow to God, the better you will be able to discern that peace and, ultimately, your vocation."