Preston Quintela, Seminarian Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston
My name is Preston Quintela and I attended the University of Houston during the fall semester of 2004. I came to Houston continuing my education as a Master’s student pursuing at the time a degree in Sports Management with the sole intention of coaching at some point college football. During my time there I met many wonderful people including priests who have moved on to other positions, Dolores Perez, and Giovan Cuchapin to name a few. There are several other people who I met there who I remain good friends with.
I lost interest very quickly in the field of study and gained interest in theology. During the spring semester of 2005 I took two theology courses at the University of St. Thomas and two courses in education. I ended up getting a full time physical education position at Rusk Elementary School which is about a mile away located near the George R. Brown Convention Center. For the next four years I would be teaching physical education to children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. I taught there for two years and then in the fall of 2007-2009 I taught and coached at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School and coached high school football at Strake Jesuit in 2008.
My plans were going perfectly until I finally decided to allow God to show me the way to joy and fulfillment. My plans were quickly thwarted and I found myself contemplating the voice of Christ who was calling me to lay down my life as a Catholic priest. I applied and went through the whole process and was officially accepted to the Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston on May 20,2009.
So, here is a bit of information about what has been going on since last fall.
As I embark on my last semester here at the University of Dallas, while continuing to be formed and molded more into the person of Jesus Christ at Holy Trinity Seminary, I find myself exited about what lies ahead. The many opportunities for service as a seminarian where it is in serving that I have found the greatest joy, happiness, and peace. There will be many challenges though and for me one of those challenges is academics.
This semester I will be taking fifteen hours or five classes. They are as follows: Elementary Latin II, Faith and Science, Philosophy of Anthropology, Theology of Thomas Aquinas, and Aristotle’s De Anima. All five of these classes require a lot of reading, which also requires self-discipline and sacrifice. Last semester though I had my best semester academically.
Also during this semester I will be participating in intramural basketball, soccer, and softball. Last semester we defended our intramural football championship from 2009 by winning in dramatic fashion on 4th down with the final score being 12-6. It is a feat we are all proud.
Before taking on the many challenges for this semester all the seniors and pre-theologians (those who have degrees from another university and are here only to fulfill philosophy requirements) took a five and a half day silent retreat, which took place in Grand Coteau, LA from January 9th until January 15th. No cell phones, televisions, radios, or any other device that could make noise were allowed. Though if one really wanted to one could use the cell phone but that would defeat the purpose of the retreat. As our Holy Father Pope Benedict as stated that we are constantly bombarded with noise frequencies and it is hard to hear the voice of God. During June of this summer when I journey up to Omaha, Nebraska at Creighton University the seminarians will take an eight day silent retreat.
Once we returned from our silent retreat twenty-one from Holy Trinity Seminary and representing various Dioceses journeyed to Washington D.C. to attend the pro-life vigil Mass and participate in the March-4-Life January 21st - 25th. The trip was very memorable.
Though I have not included many details I do want to encourage those who have questions to please email me with your specific questions you may have in regards to what I have been called to do (pquintela79 [at] gmail [dot] com). Please allow time for a response. Thank you once again for your support, prayers, and encouragement as I continue to discern this vocation to the priesthood. I continue to walk with my eyes fixed on Christ. I want to leave with words of hope from St. Paul: “I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1: 12-16). BE NOT AFRAID!
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