Jesús Tovar, Blessed Sacrament Church, Jonesboro

Attends the House of Formation in Little Rock

For as long as I can remember I have always loved the priesthood. This love for the priesthood came from the love of the holy Mass, which I have had since childhood, and the connection I had early on between the priest and the Mass.

I remember and have been told many stories by my family on how, as a child, I would pretend to be a priest offering mass and pretend to bless my family.

I always considered pursuing other careers like becoming an archeologist, lawyer and most recently a professional musician, but the desire and thought of being a priest persisted longer than anything else.

When my senior year started, I was nervous because everyone started applying to college, so I decided to go with music. However, I knew I wanted to try seminary because I loved the priesthood and felt the desire to be a priest. I was scared to pursue that calling because I was unsure about everything I was doing in my senior year. I felt I did not know what I wanted while everyone else around me did.

I decided to study music education. I told myself that, if by the time I finished that degree I still wanted to go to seminary, I would go. Still, I daydreamed about being a priest and could not shake the desire and calling to pursue it, but I was scared and nervous to really discuss it with someone.

In April, my confirmation class had a retreat. That day at lunch, I decided to go to Msgr. Scott Friend and ask him a few questions about priests and seminary. Before I could, he sat down at my table for lunch. I was able to muster the courage to ask a few questions.

I wanted to make it seem like I was just asking questions to know about priesthood, and not because I was considering the priesthood for myself. I believe Msgr. Friend caught on very quickly. He asked me if I was thinking about the priesthood, and I answered yes. From there, I was able to shake off some of the fears I had about seminary and more seriously look at it as something for me.

The biggest reason I want to be a priest is because I want to offer Mass. The Mass is something so beautiful both in its externals and, more importantly, in its spiritual aspect. Through the Mass, God himself comes down to feed his people. One day, I want to offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass to God, not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of his whole people. I want to help others love and understand the Mass.

I also want to administer the sacrament of reconciliation to the faithful. I love confession because in this sacrament not only does God forgive our sins, but he also reconciles us to himself and restores our friendship with him. I want to help the faithful come back to God through this beautiful sacrament, which oftentimes is very scary and intimidating to people.

I want to be a priest because I want to help the faithful come to God and know his love. I know what life can be like without God, and so I want to help the faithful find God and come to him. With him, our life is complete. I have found so much meaning and happiness in the faith and want others to experience that same happiness with our Lord.

If you wish to contact Jesús Tovar, please e-mail Georgina Pena in the Vocations Office or call her at (501) 664-0340. This article was published Aug. 4, 2023. Copyright Diocese of Little Rock. All rights reserved. This article may be copied or redistributed with acknowledgement and permission of the publisher.