“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you” (Jn 15:16). These words from Our Lord are at the heart of every vocation. A vocation, or our calling from God, is simply about responding to God’s love with our love by accepting His will in our lives — responding to love with love. My response of love to God is answering His call for me to be a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit; likewise, each and every one of us is called to respond to God’s love, unconditionally and wholeheartedly, like our Blessed Mother. His will is what will satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts: to be who we were created to be — saints!

I am the second oldest of four children raised by Mexican immigrants. I grew up in a household where our Catholic faith was at the center of what we did. As immigrants, my parents faced a variety of challenges and difficult moments, but always remained firm in their faith in God. From a very young age, my faith was very important to me, and I greatly loved God. The Church was my second home, and I very much enjoyed altar serving. 

While both of my grandmothers were saintly women, my maternal grandmother, Mercedes, played a particular role in my vocation. She was a Third Order Carmelite who served as a catechist in her town, Los Dolores. She was a model of faith for everyone. My mother mentioned how my grandmother prayed to have a son or a grandson as a priest. Interestingly enough, I was the last grandchild she met before passing away. Her life and her love of God greatly inspired me to be a holier person.

After two years discerning the seminary, a pivotal moment came during my last semester at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I wanted God to give me a clear sign — a burning bush, or to open the heavens and say, “Lizandro, go to the seminary.” But He was speaking to me in different, more subtle ways. During my last semester, I had a full course load in addition to working two jobs and volunteering at my parish. One day, during a coding class — which I absolutely despised — I found myself frustrated. So I left the class, prayed a Divine Mercy Chaplet, and continued my work. A few minutes went by, and again I was completely unmotivated. I left the class again, asking myself, “What am I doing with my life?” I was physically present, but my heart was somewhere else. 

I had already attended two discernment weekends at the seminary, and I couldn’t get over the possibility that God was calling me to be a priest. Instead of doing homework, I would find myself in class daydreaming about the seminary or watching videos about priestly vocations. I realized that the next step was to enter the seminary and see where the Lord was leading me. Eventually, I attended one final discernment weekend, and the Lord made it clear this is where I was meant to be. Seven years later, I am months away from priestly ordination!

Looking back, I am beyond blessed to have attended Sacred Heart. I’ve dedicated this time to prayer, discernment, study, brotherhood, and conforming my life to Christ’s, and that makes me content. The brotherhood at Sacred Heart — getting to know and spend time with men who also heard the call from God and decided to follow Him to the seminary — has filled me with great joy. I have been blessed to pray, live, and enjoy time with our community’s future priests, religious, or husbands, and I am filled with hope for the Church at seeing my brothers conform their hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in order to do His will in their lives. 

I am so attracted to the Church’s universal call to holiness that I constantly remind myself and others, “Strive for holiness!” It’s a phrase that has caught on at the seminary, and a reminder that we are called to be saints.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, how will you respond to God’s love in your life? Will you allow Him to form you into the saint He created you to be?

Deacon Lizandro Barba, from St. Alfred Parish in Taylor, is a seminarian in formation for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit.