Junior Coronel - My Vocation Story:
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Junior was not raised Christian but has always been faith grounded and believed in the Triune God. He was that a typical lukewarm Christian that only called upon God when life got difficult. When he entered his twenties, he was living life as this world glamorizes it, a life of sin and selfishness trying to convince himself that life was all good. Despite all the thrilling moments, his heart still felt empty and lonely in constant search for happiness.  

It was Holy Week 2011, when Junior unexpectedly received an invitation to go to mass. That was the first time he witnessed the “Washing of the Feet” during a mass, and that was the moment of true encounter God that changed his life forever. During that moment of conviction his willingness to listen or obey the divine call from God was unquestionable.  He felt a deep urge in his heart to join the community and fully participate but knew he was not allowed because he was missing two out of the three Sacraments of Initiation. The following day, he scheduled a meeting with Dcn Juan to tell him about his experience and requested to start the Sacramental classes. Junior completed the Sacramental Formation of Initiation and has been active at OLMC since 2012.

An answered prayer after his Sacramental Formation of Initiation, “Lord Jesus, please use me as your instrument, so I do not steer away from you”. God answered his prayer, and Junior has been the OLMC Coordinator of the Hispanic Community since May 2014. While holding this role at OLMC, Junior also had a full-time job in the secular corporate world.

The journey is not over yet; God has another unexpected task. Junior is challenged to make one of his biggest life decisions which is to drop his corporate office career of 22 years and follow the Lord with all his heart. In September 2022, after a lot of prayer and discernment, Junior decides to resign from the secular world and assume his new role as Pastoral Associate / Director of Youth Discipleship at OLMC.
“Whoever serves me must follow me and the Father will honor whoever serves me.” (John 12:26)

Junior sensed that God was calling him for something bigger but did not know what or how. After meeting with Fr. Anthony and Dcn Juan for spiritual direction, the outcome of that conversations was to pray and discern to petition for admission into the Body of Candidates for Permanent Diaconate for the Dioceses of San Diego. 

Junior is pleased to announce that he has been accepted to Candidacy for the Permanent Diaconate program and is expected to be Ordained in the Summer of 2027. Please keep his family and him in your prayers as he continues to grow in his spiritual journey.