On Good Shepherd Sunday, a special day to reflect on God's call, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua, shared the beginnings of his priestly vocation. From a very young age, when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would simply answer, "I want to be a father." That seed, planted in his home, was nurtured by his mother and grandmother, who constantly reminded him of that childhood answer.
"I believe vocation is born in the lap of our mothers," the cardinal said, echoing the words of the prophet Jeremiah:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV).For Brenes, that divine call manifested from childhood, and he simply responded with availability.
The Nicaraguan prelate recalled entering the seminary at age fifteen, where he found a true family. There, both formators and fellow students became brothers who accompanied him on his journey. Many of those friends are still part of his life today.
A Priesthood Rooted in Community
Cardinal Brenes especially thanked Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, then Archbishop of Managua, for allowing his priestly ordination to be celebrated in his hometown, Ticuantepe. It was August 16, 1974, and the entire community turned out for the celebration. "The people could enjoy it: those who had seen me since childhood, playing baseball in the square, riding my bike to Masaya… all those people felt very identified with my ordination," he shared.
For Brenes, the priesthood is not a solitary path. "I am what I am because all these people, with whom I have served as a pastor, have contributed their grain of wheat so that today I am what I am as a bishop, as a cardinal," he expressed with gratitude. This communal vision reflects the heart of the Gospel, where every believer is part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).
A Message for Pastors and Faithful
When asked for advice for priests, Cardinal Brenes encouraged them to strengthen fraternity among themselves. "Feel that we are family, that we have been called to this great family which is the presbyterate," he said. In a world where isolation can tempt pastors, communion with other ministers is a vital support.
To the faithful, the prelate asked them to pray for priestly vocations. "Let that exhortation of Jesus, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few' (Matthew 9:37), become a reality in our lives," he noted. Constant prayer for new pastors is a shared responsibility of the entire Christian community.
Cardinal Brenes' testimony reminds us that vocation is not just an event of the past, but a path that is renewed every day. As the psalmist says:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1, NKJV).May this trust inspire every reader to respond to God's call in their own life, whatever their state in life.
Final Reflection
Have you ever considered how God has called you since childhood? Perhaps not to the priesthood, but every Christian has a unique mission in their family, work, or community. Take a moment to thank the people who have sown in your faith and ask yourself: how can I be a "good shepherd" to those around me? The answer may be closer than you think.
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