Carlos Gonzalez

Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Cicero
Priesthood was never on my radar until I was a sophomore in high school. At that point, I began to take a more personal interest in my faith. Later that year, I was invited to the Steubenville Youth Conference, where I made a commitment to follow the Lord’s call, wherever it might lead. After the conference, I started attending my parish’s Youth Ministry program regularly. It was through Youth Group that I experienced the most growth in my faith. Our pastor at the time, Fr. Richard Prior, made it a point to attend every Youth Group meeting, and his example of living a life of constant, faithful service to God and the Church inspired me to consider a vocation to the priesthood.

After high school, I entered college seminary and began my studies in Philosophy. After two years, and much prayer and discernment, I felt called to take a leave from seminary with sincere hope that God would make His calling more evident.

Very quickly I began to make my own plans. I planned to move to California to become a member of the San Jose Police Department. I had done almost everything involved in the application process to the Police Academy and I was one week away from moving to Cali. The certainty that I had of becoming a cop and moving to California had disappeared. When I prayed, I felt the strong urge to stay back and go back to my original intention of listening and being open to where the Lord was calling me.

Shortly after prayerfully deciding not to move to California, I met with a priest friend of mine, Fr. Cliff Auth. During our conversation, Fr. Cliff invited me to consider becoming the Youth Minister of his parishes, St. Augustine’s and St. Mary’s in Baldwinsville. I jumped on the opportunity. It was through working with Fr. Cliff and ministering to the youth in Baldwinsville that I continually sensed the Lord’s call to follow Him.