Today we’d like to introduce you to Luis Prado
Hi Luis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been a priest since 2018 and arrived in Dallas in 2020 on the same day that for covid reasons everything was closed.
I arrived in a city and parish that I could not have contact with the people on a regular basis. That’s why I started to make videos with gospel messages. That helped me that as soon as we could start having face-to-face meetings I was already known. And when I presented the idea of a youth group, I already had the attention of many people because of the videos I was making.
So at the end of 2020 we started the youth group called “Voces Verbi” which means to be the voice of the Incarnate Word: Jesus Christ. Basically this group is for the youth to get to know Jesus Christ better and to be able to practice their faith in the environments outside the parish.
And since the members are young people we do activities that they are interested in: trips to Europe/Argentina, going to play bouwling, fishing, social help, etc.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The most difficult or rather the biggest challenge with young people I think is always the same: to give them time and to know how to get involved in their things.
It is very difficult to dedicate time to them because they have their own schedules and many times they simply don’t follow you because “they have something more important”… when in reality it’s not like that.
And for them to get excited and want what you want, it is necessary that they first see that you are interested in their things. For example, even if it’s something silly and simple, but that I use the same way of talking about them is something that brings them closer. Many times I told them: “that is a lie” but with the word “cap”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am Argentinean, and I entered the seminary when I was 11 years old. I have 14 siblings, 4 of whom are priests and 2 are nuns.
St. Bernard is the first parish where I worked. To be able to be in charge of a parish far from my homeland, at a young age, and to be able to have all the affection of the people is what fills me with proud and gives me strength to continue working every day.
To be able to work with cultures so different from mine and to find a perfect response makes my life happy.
And on the other hand, the group of young people is one of the biggest consolations because the challenge is so great. That a young person who has everything the world has to offer and who rejects it to follow Jesus Christ more thanks to my help: that is pure joy.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is reaching heaven and helping others to reach heaven.
Because experience tells us that the things of this world do not satisfy, we always want more. And that is why true happiness cannot be something of this earth, because they never satisfy us. So self-control, self-denial are the tools and example that Jesus Christ gives us in his passion, to reach heaven.
Pricing:
- Institute of The Incarnate Word
- Visit of the Pope to my brother in Papua
- Religious: vows of poverty, chastity, obedient
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sbdallas.org
- Facebook: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Parish
- Youtube: SAINT BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH – DALLAS TX
Image Credits
Janell Miank
