CALLED TO SERVE

ALEX GUZMAN

Little did I realize when I was studying at the Pontifical University in Bogotá, that one day soon I would be studying English in the United States and find happiness in a food pantry in Cudahy!

I was baptized José Alexander Guzman Torres in Villahermosa Tolima, a small city east of Bogotá, Colombia, in 1971. I am the youngest of six brothers. Losing four of my brothers gave me a true respect for the gift of life: one brother died from the effects of cirrhosis, one suffered a heart attack, one died at the hands of robbers and one was killed by guerillas. I knew that I must do something worthwhile with my life, and I decided to study theology.

I taught ethics and religion in a high school in Bogotá while I was studying at the university. A friend of mine, Yamid Blanco, was already studying at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Wisconsin, and he encouraged me to apply for the seminary. I was accepted and I arrived in Milwaukee in August of 2008 to study English as a Second Language at Sacred Heart School of Theology as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I am now a third year theology seminarian.

As a seminarian, one has various requirements to accomplish. We need to have experience in society and, for this part of my training, I was assigned to work at the food pantry at Nativity of the Lord Parish in Cudahy. I was grateful for this placement because it is an opportunity to help people. I help organize the products, and I like working with the other volunteers. I also help the food pantry clients pick out the foods that they need, carry their bags to their cars and often I go home with them to carry the groceries to their houses.

I have been changed by this experience. I met people who have difficult economic issues, and I was able to see the world through different eyes. I felt much empathy for them and I enjoy helping them to ease their situations. I enjoy the people with whom I work and I very much appreciate their interest in and support of my vocation.

This has been a transforming experience for me because I feel the presence of God in every aspect with the people at the food pantry, whether it is at Mass and praying with the workers or helping the clients of the food pantry. The love of God and for one another is the motivation for my actions and my service to my neighbor, especially those who find themselves in difficult situations.

I love parish work, working with children and adults, helping to bring them closer to God. By being with these people, I grow closer to God and my dedication to His people becomes even stronger!