Carlos Martinez
At only six days old, the seed of vocation was planted in Carlos Martinez. His parents took him to Mass for the first time at Holy Family Parish in Hesperia and it was there that a priest placed his finger on the infant’s forehead and told his parents, “This one is going to be a priest.”
Now at age 30, Martinez is less than two months from celebrating his Ordination to the Priesthood.
Born and raised in Apple Valley, Martinez is the youngest of three children. His parents were married at Holy Family Parish in 1975 and his family has been involved in that community ever since.
“Growing up in the youth ministry, being involved in the confirmation program and helping out at retreats and different youth activities was a big motivation and served as a big support,” says Martinez. “They encouraged my vocation.”
As he remained closely involved in his parish, he went on to high school and junior college where he continued to feel called.
“It was always in my heart when I would go to Mass,” he says, “Just this tugging in my heart of God saying I want you to serve.”
In 2006, he answered the call and entered St. Junipero Serra House of Formation in Grand Terrace, where diocesan seminarians begin their journey to the priesthood.
When asked what was his biggest challenge during formation, Martinez said that it was sometimes difficult to remember the bigger picture.
“In the seminary, we can get overwhelmed with studies and books and projects and homework, so I think we can kind of lose sight of serving the people and the needs that people have,” he said.
In 2014, while he interned at St. Christopher Parish in Moreno Valley, Martinez says he learned that he really needed to be available.
“The desire to serve kept me encouraged,” he said. “Seeing the need of people wanting to talk to a priest or stories of people needing a priest at their bed side when they were dying or of people wanting to be heard or to share their stories. I wanted to be of service.”
Alma Ruiz, bulletin editor and parishioner at St. Christopher, recalls how much people enjoyed the Masses where Martinez served.
“People loved him so much because he was so fluent in English and Spanish,” Ruiz recalls. “He could really relate to both the English and Spanish communities. Our entire community is excited and we know that from the experience we have had here with him, that he will be a great priest.”
As he looks forward to his upcoming ordination, Martinez says he will miss the studying and the brotherhood of the community of seminarians he lived in. But he’s looking forward to one particular aspect of the priesthood.
“Hands down, celebrating the Mass,” he said. “I love the liturgy. That’s how I fell in love with the priesthood. I was attracted to it through the Mass and celebrating the Sacraments.”
Ken Vu
Ken Vu, 44, has always had positive examples of priests surrounding him. On May 21, he will become one of a handful of men from his family to become a Catholic priest.
Born and raised in Vietnam, Vu moved to the U.S. in 1993 and attended Santa Ana College to study Mechanics and English. While studying there, he met a seminarian studying to become a priest for the Diocese of Orange. They became friends and Vu shared with him that he felt called to become a priest. His friend encouraged him to make a retreat in order to find out.
“I felt really peaceful during that time,” he said. “During the first day, I was nervous because it was very quiet but by the end of my five day retreat, I knew I wanted to serve the people of God through the priesthood.”
So in 2004, he entered the seminary and although he struggled with communicating in English and being understood, he quickly learned to overcome the challenges.
“I have to open myself to learn new things,” he said. “Everything is different here so I must spend a lot of time learning.”
Vu completed his internship at St. Joseph Parish in Upland last year. He recalled a time during his internship when he visited a nursing home and met people who were alone and in need of someone to talk to. He says he is looking forward to many aspects of priesthood but in particular, serving and ministering to the lonely.
“Ken is reserved and insightful,” said Father Jerome “Jerry” Ochetti, Pastor at St. Joseph. “He steps out of his comfort zone to extend himself to those around him. Because of his background, he has a wonderful gift to be able to see the ministry through the eyes of the laity.”
Fr. Ochetti expressed that Vu’s mentor team and his parish community appreciates his calling and the wonderful experience they had in being a small part of his formation.
As ordination day approaches, Vu fondly remembers the brotherhood he formed with the other men in the seminary.
“I will remember the caring here,” he says. “When I was sick people came to my room and cared for me. Brought food to me. They asked me if I needed anything. I will always remember that.”
Jose Antonio Orozco
Jose Antonio Orozco, 37, spent a lot of time with his grandmother in Mexico. When he was little, she cared for him while his mother worked and it was during those times that he says the seeds of vocation were planted in him.
“She would tell me stories of the Cristero War in Mexico in 1926 and how the Church and its people defended God,” said Orozco. The war ended in 1929 and in spite of the persecution of Catholics, Orozco said many vocations to the priesthood grew out of the war torn areas of Mexico. Today, Orozco is one of them. He credits St. Toribio Romo, one of the Catholic priests killed during the war, as one of his inspirations.
After 10 years of formation and with ordination just weeks away, he says he looks forward to bringing God to the people. While Orozco interned at St. Mel Parish in Norco last year, Youth Minister Abraham Villela says he left a big impression on the community.
“Everyone knew him,” said Villela. “No task was too above him or too beneath him. He served everyone and was very pastor-like. He came to us as a seminarian but he left as our brother. We can’t wait to encounter him as our father.”
Malie Hudson is a freelance writer.