“For the Lord, age is no barrier,” said Father Juan Daza Jara, who at the age of 64 and after serving as a coadjutor brother of the Little Work of Divine Providence for 40 years, was ordained a priest. Now he shares the story of a “yes” that matured in the light of service.
Born in Laza, a small rural community on the banks of the Bio Bio River, 28 miles from Los Angeles, Chile, Daza still fondly remembers his grandmother Trinidad, who taught him “to pray and trust God with simple faith.”
These days, he turns his thoughts with gratitude to his hometown’s first parish priest, Belgian priest Father Felix Aicher, who lived there for 50 years and whom he still remembers as “a great man who helped me, guided me and stayed with me throughout my vocational discernment”, he told in an interview with EWTN News’ Spanish-language sister service, ACI Prensa.
During this period of accompaniment, Eichler recommended him St. Luigi Orione as a model, whose example aroused in him “the desire to become a brother so that I might serve the most needy in a more direct way.”
As part of his discernment, in 1985 he spent a year in Argentina, where he completed his novitiate with the Little Work of Divine Providence. Currently, he directs the “Cotolengo” care facility housing 107 elderly residents.
a new calling
Being a coadjutor brother, he explained, means fulfilling four vows: “poverty, obedience, chastity and fidelity to the Pope,” which is the fourth vow of the Congregation of Don Orione. “I follow all the rules, and I have all the rights and duties of the congregation,” he said, adding that his devotion to religious life had always made him feel “very satisfied and very happy.”
However, after several decades of service, he began to hear from colleagues and friends saying: “The congregation needs priests; you have to become a priest.”
At first, religious people offered some resistance: “I would say: ‘No! I feel satisfied, I’m satisfied with what I do – happy,'” he recalled. But recently, he began to hear this urge more frequently from acquaintances as well as from priests of the diocese and congregation, prompting him to consider this inner turmoil more seriously. “Maybe it was always inside me, I just didn’t want to bring it to the surface,” he mused.
“I prayed about it extensively, discussed it with people with more experience, and let them help me become convinced about this step. And after 40 years as an auxiliary brother and seven years as a permanent deacon, an uneasiness arose within me about giving a more serious response to the Lord about the path to the priesthood,” he explained. As a result, during a visit by one of the congregation’s superiors from Rome, Daza presented his position to him.
Considering every step as God’s will
After that conversation, he sent a letter to Rome in accordance with the formal procedure and also spoke to the Bishop of Los Angeles, Cristian Castro Tovi. “But I never thought it would happen so quickly,” he admitted with surprise.
Priestly ordination of Father Juan Daza Jara. | Credit: Don Orion Chile
So it was that on March 21, accompanied by his mother, María Jara, and in the presence of brothers from his congregation and communities coming from different parts of Chile and even his novice classmate, Father Sergio Jiménez (who had come from Argentina), Daza was ordained priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Los Angeles by the local bishop.
Reflecting on this new path that God has set before him, he said: “One must understand this as God’s will and God’s ways in man’s life.”
He shared, “Since making my first vows, I have felt fulfilled and happy in the congregation. Today, more than ever, this step is a big step, a big responsibility.”
As he recalled the moment of his consecration, Daza remembered it as “a great mystery”, a moment in which he experienced “many conflicting emotions”.
“I don’t know how to explain it, because there are moments when you feel like you’re ‘up,'” he said. And he especially values the presence of his fellow brothers: “It was a very important thing.”
Of his first Mass he said: “As I walked past the priests into the middle of the church, I felt something really big; it’s very difficult to explain, a feeling of joy, a feeling of crying for joy. It was a very powerful experience.”
Father Juan Daza Jara with his mother at his priesthood ceremony. | Credit: Don Orion Chile
a greater commitment to people
At present Daja remains quite active. “Don Orión always did everything,” he said, enumerating the works of the congregation currently active in Chile: homes for the elderly, ministries for young offenders, and farms that help generate resources for the home, tasks that demand both their time and energy. Now, in addition, pastoral care has been added to their responsibilities.
The pastor said he believes that, in these times, “there needs to be a greater commitment to people. People need to be heard; they need someone who will dedicate time to them.”
“I’m a little hyperactive, so this is one exercise I have to do,” he joked.
“I’m very grateful to God and the congregation, because my daily routine revolves around being able to help people spiritually. A lot of people already know me, they know I can be a little quirky,” he quipped, “but it seems like I inspire a certain amount of trust. I’m content and happy; the fact that people feel heard, loved and respected, that’s already a Big step,” he stressed.
Be courageous and let others help you
Finally, the priest addressed the young people, encouraging them to “be courageous in responding, submit yourselves to God, and let God do His will.”
In this regard, he recalled the motto of his ordination – “The Lord is my shepherd;
To those considering the possibility of the priesthood, he advised: “Pray often, let yourself be helped abundantly, be open with those the Lord places on your path, have courage, and I say it again: do not be afraid; take the step, and the Lord will help you later.”
“In my case, it has been 40 years and today I can say with complete peace of mind that I have never felt any doubt about my vocation, whether it was really my path or not because I have always felt safe, supported and loved by everyone; and that is what has always kept me happy.”
He said, “Age doesn’t matter to God; what matters is simply your willingness to help.”
this story was first published By ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
