Thy Kingdom Come!
Hello everyone! I’m Father Jesús Salinas, LC, originally from Mexico City, and for me it’s always a joy to share how God has acted in my journey towards the priesthood, but this time I would like to share in a specific way what He has done in me during my first year of priesthood that I just celebrated. But before I start, let me tell you briefly about my background.
I am the youngest one of 5 siblings and have 4 nephews and 4 nieces. They are awesome! I met the Legionaries of Christ at my school in Mexico (Instituto Cumbres) where I got to know them more and more through different youth activities, but above all just by being around. The charism they shared was very attractive to me, and that’s what Christ used in order to bring me to the Legion. After 18 years of formation, studies, pastoral work and discernment the big and so awaited day arrived: May 4, 2019.
On that day I became a priest of Christ forever! It’s hard to believe! But with God, all things are possible, right? Firstly, it was a blessing to have my parents at my ordination. It was from them where I learned how to love God and my faith. They have always been there as an essential part of my vocation. Let me share with you some of the main blessings of my first year as a priest:
Right after my ordination in Rome I was able to go on a pilgrimage to Poland, the homeland of St. John Paul II to whom I owe so much in my discernment. Praying before the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa in her Shrine, and entrusting my priesthood to her (something that I had a huge desire to do), I perceived that a gentleman with whom I was traveling was insisting me on visiting the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Even though I wanted to spend more time before Our Lady I went with him. Upon arriving to the beautiful Blessed Sacrament chapel and kneeling before Christ, I totally realized what Mary was doing. She sent me to her Son. And that’s what She wants me to do as a priest: to bring others to Christ.
For sure, it has been a year of many surprises. When I finished my theology studies in Rome (summer 2018) I received my first assignment: I was sent to Rolling Prairie, Indiana to work in the vocation promotion for our high school seminary (Sacred Heart Apostolic School). It was great to go back where I had worked as a seminarian helping these young men to discover God’s plan for them, and at the same time I was preparing for my diaconate and priestly ordination. A year after that, already being a priest, I got a phone call from one of the superiors asking me if I would be willing to take over the chaplaincy of a school in Cincinnati. I was totally shocked at that moment. I was not expecting a change of assignment that soon, but at the same time I strongly felt that that was what our Lord wanted me to do, beginning my priestly ministry there. So I arrived to Cincinnati in October 2019 and started my mission as Chaplain of Royalmont Academy, a PK – 12 Regnum Christi school in Mason, OH. It has been such an awesome blessing to be here and to serve all these kids, their families, teachers and staff, accompanying them in their journey towards Jesus, especially through the sacraments and spiritual direction.
After a couple of months of “getting my feet wet”, the pandemic happened! School was closed and I was not able to see anyone for a while. That was hard as a priest, because “who is the priest without his people?” I had been ordained to serve the people of God, but it seemed that the people were taken away from me. What was I supposed to do? Keep serving! Besides the use of technology that helped to stay connected, I was able to bless the school families at their homes throughout the Easter season. That was such a strong experience to see how the power of prayer brought us together in those difficult moments, and for me was so humbling to see their faith in the person of the priest. There is no greater satisfaction for a priest when he sees in others a true desire to grow in their faith and relationship with Christ and each other, and using their talents to serve.
As a priest and as a chaplain I become more convinced each day of what Christ put in my heart on the day of my ordination: “To be Christ’s instrument, the floor others can walk on as they journey towards heaven”. The floor! The floor that needs to sustain and help others to get to the other side! As I begin my priesthood here in Cincinnati, I am so grateful for all those families that have been “the floor” for me during this past year, helping me in my “baby steps” through their prayers and support. What a joy to be a priest! Thank you for who you are and I send you all my priestly blessing!