FOLLOW ME
2001 FOLLOW ME
October
June
April
March
February
January
ARTICLES
Little Notes
Letters
Confessions
Talk About Movies
Roamin' Catholic
Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
HOW NOT TO RETIRE BY 45
By Jay Dunlap
Scott Santiago Herrera was born in San Diego in 1971, the youngest of 11 children; his parents had immigrated from Costa Rica. Scott credits his father, a fisherman, with teaching him hard work, will power, and responsibility. He credits his mother with teaching him faith.
"When I was in high school, I liked all the things the other kids like, parties, girls, having fun. But when I would come home from a late night," he says, "I always remember seeing my mother on her knees praying her rosary."
Herrera finished fifth in his class at St. Augustine's in North Park; certain classes opened his heart to the search for meaning, a search that led him to discover his vocation; he credits a religion class in social justice his junior year, and Mr. Vogel's philosophy class his senior year.
After high school, Scott felt "burnt out," so instead of going to college he started working for a real estate office in Imperial Beach. He began devising plans for how to retire by age 45. But the thirst for knowledge rose again in his heart. He decided to look into college. He was surprised to hear most of his friends tell him they did not like the schools they were attending.
One friend was studying at a school Scott had never heard of, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. This friend was the only one who was excited about returning to college. After working a few more months, Scott went to Franciscan U.
"At first, I thought it was strange," Scott recalls. "But I saw all these people who were really happy and had a profound sense of peace. I wanted what they had."
One day, Scott was in the campus bookstore reading religious books as if he were in the library. A friend saw him and gave him a booklet on how to make a good confession. Scott says that led to a life-changing experience in the sacrament of reconciliation. He learned the rosary and started to pray it daily. He started to going to Mass more than once a week.
A few weeks later, Scott was praying during Eucharistic adoration at a special campus chapel, a replica of the one that St. Francis of Assisi worked on after hearing God call him to help "rebuild his Church." During this period of adoration, Scott came to realize that God may be calling him to the priesthood.
Although Scott was surprised by this calling and tried to resist it, he says it was a natural progression in his spiritual growth. "As long as you are sincere in seeking God's will, He will take your life into His hands even if you don't realize it."
He asked some of his friends about religious orders and learned about the Legionaries of Christ. He visited the Legionaries in Connecticut in August of 1991 and went back to spend two weeks with them in January of 1992.
Then Scott went with one of his older brothers for a month-long visit to Costa Rica. He drifted from his sense of vocation. He ignored phone calls and letters from the Legionaries. One letter sat unopened for an entire month. When he finally opened it, he read only part of it and ignored it for another month. Then he read the entire letter and says he then knew he had to follow through on the promise he made to God.
Once Scott returned to Connecticut to join the Legionaries' candidacy program, the Lord strengthened his resolve. He says he knew "I have to give it my all because this is where God wants me to be."
More than seven years later, Br. Scott says it has not been easy. But he feels "an ever-increasing zeal for the salvation of souls," and he has growing confidence in the love and grace of the God who blessed him with his priestly calling, and the Blessed Mother who has protected him along the way.
For more information about the Legionaries of Christ, please call Fr. Anthony Bannon LC at (203) 271-0805 or visit their website at www.legionofchrist.org.