Mary became the Godmother of my vocation

My greatest experience with the Virgin Mary took place at home within my family, at a time when we could rarely pray together in church because of the lack of priests available in our region. Back then, the best instrument of evangelization we had was Radio Aparecida (Brazil), whose programs taught us about the devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida and helped us to understand it.

It was thanks to this radio program, especially its vocation campaigns, that I discovered my own vocation to the priesthood. And in 1976 I entered the Seminary of the Redemptorist Fathers, where I stayed for 4 years.

There I grew in the knowledge and love of the Mother of Jesus. Mary became the Godmother of my vocation. I can say that it was at the feet of Our Lady that I discovered God’s call to the priestly life.

At many moments of my life, especially in the most difficult times, I have always felt that God was working in me through the intercession of Our Lady of Aparecida.

Otacílio Luziano da Silva, Bishop of Catanduva - SP - Brazil

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