Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic Churches (WCCAC) :: View topic

fr.rogermartinezcsc · Guest

My story

I felt the call to the priesthood at the age of 13. iwas then an altar boy in our Roman Catholic parish.I took the exam in our diocesan minor seminary but did not pursue it because of financial constraint.

After highschool,at 16.I took an entrance exam again at our seminary.Major seminary.I passed.I entered the seminary in 1987 June 7.

Seminary life was never easy.specialy in Academics.I failed latin once.but When I was about to graduate from Philosophy,I was third place in our comprehensive exam.

After graduation from Philosophy,I took Theology in the same seminary in Immaculate Conception Seminary,Guiguinto,Bulacan.when i was in second year in theology,i took regency program.I taught in High School.
Had a girl friend.

But after six months I returned to the seminary and had my 30 day retreat-Ignatian Retreat.1997,I graduated from theologate but did not submit to Ordination to Diaconate because I was afraid to break my promise of celibacy once there in the priesthood.

I got married in 1999 with Lyn Jacinto.But Still I felt that I Was called.I prayed.Prayed hard.Lord,Make me a priest,but i dont know how!

I thought everything was a dead end in my life.But,one time a friend came saying"you can still be a priest"

I met Bishop Joseph Galaroza,CSC,DD.a great father to me.after a year He Ordained me as a deacon then on April 12,2003 as a priest.

BpAndre · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:15 pm Post subject: My Story

Having been born a "cradle Catholic", I was active begining very young. I was an altar boy, and took an interest in the priestly duties. I felt called to the priesthood at a very early age, and by 13, I was applying to a minor seminary.

I attended minor seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin, with the Society of the Divine Word (I still get the Alumni Newsletter). This was a "live in" seminary, where I stayed on the seminary grounds, visitng back home in Chicago once a month or so. It was a good spiritual experience, as the seminary was isolated on its own land, had a farm, that we learned to work on, and few distractions. I returned to Chicago, Illinois and felt somehow that I was also called to be married. I went to college and later joined the Naval Reserve. I met my wife, and we got married. I thought, "that was it" for the priesthood.

I was, however, still experiencing a strong call to the priesthood, even though married. I began to research the Permanent Diaconate, which, while in minor seminary, had not been authorized. The Permanent Diaconate was open to married Roman Catholic men. As a result of begining this process, I came across the non-Roman Catholic Churches. After some additional research, I ultimately reached out to one and began the process of becoming a seminarian. I studies for two years in the seminary program, and having been ordained to the diaconate halfway through the program, upon completion and graduation, I was ordained to the priesthood. It was on the occasion of my Diaconate ordination that I met Bishop Robert Gubala.

Due to changes in the church, our diocese was later to be without a bishop, and I was incardinated by Bishop Gubala. I have been a spiritual son of the now Archbishop for quite some time now. I was later selected by the Church to be consecrated to the Episcopate, as the Church's first Bishop of Chicago, and that is where I am today.
_________________
Bishop Andre' Jhohn-William Queen, SCR
Vicar General
Catholic Apostolic National Church
Phone: 773.942.4660