During Mass, Ángel David understood God’s call for his life.
This is the story of a Mexican seminarian who discovered his vocation to the priesthood after his parents’ profound conversion and his family’s journey from atheism to faith.
From Practical Atheism to Encountering God
Ángel grew up in a large family that considered itself religious but lived what he calls “practical atheism,” essentially ignoring God’s presence in everyday life.
Along with his four siblings and his parents, he acknowledges,
“We didn’t see God in our daily lives, much less go to Mass.”
Everything changed when his parents decided to return to the faith, receive the sacraments, and marry in the Church. From that moment on, the family became actively involved in evangelization.
“Seeing my parents return to their faith was the seed of the vocation God planted in me—and He continues to nurture it every day,” Ángel told the CARF Foundation.
His family’s renewed Christian life became the fertile ground where his vocation first began to take shape.
The Moment He Discovered His Calling
Ángel shares that his first serious encounter with faith came while preparing for his First Communion. What began as a simple family tradition grew into the start of a deep spiritual path. Serving as an altar boy helped him discover the beauty of the liturgy, and in the quiet of the Mass, he clearly felt God’s call.
“The special moment was during a Holy Mass. The priest had about 50 people waiting for confession, and I thought it was impossible for him to reach them all. I wondered if one day I could be the one offering God’s forgiveness… and at that moment, He planted the seed of my vocation,” he recalls.
The Challenges of Evangelizing Today
Reflecting on the state of the faith in Mexico, Ángel notes that even though the country is predominantly Catholic, evangelization faces major challenges.
“The biggest challenge is secularism and materialism among young people. This materialism leads to a lack of commitment to the Church. Also, the rise of various religions and sects has caused Catholicism to decline somewhat,” he explains.
Even so, he says devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe remains a source of hope: “In Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe is seen as a loving mother who always takes care of us and intercedes with God for us. On December 12, her feast day, even people of other religions—or atheists—come to pray the rosary before her. It sounds like a joke, but it’s true.”
Now 20 years old, Ángel is studying for the priesthood at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, supported by the CARF Foundation.
He admits that arriving in Spain opened his eyes:
“I never imagined there would be so few people at Mass. I was very surprised one day to see only three people at a Holy Mass.”
Still, he emphasizes that the young Spaniards who do attend Sunday Mass show deep commitment to their faith.
“The Priest of Today Must Be Healthy, Wise, and Holy”
For Ángel, the Church today needs priests who are approachable and grounded.
“The priest of this time must be healthy, wise, and holy—knowing how to live in the world but not be of it,” he says.
He also believes priests must learn to use social media as a tool for evangelization, “but with caution, so as not to isolate themselves or fall into misinformation.”