A Catholic priest from Costa Rica celebrates his 20 years of priesthood. Fr. Luis Enrique Guillén, decided to leave a police career in the National Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS) to give his life to the Lord.
“The priesthood experience is very beautiful. There has been everything, but I can openly say that nothing I earned before compares to what God has given me in this ministry”, said Fr. Guillén in a recent interview.
“The priesthood experience is very beautiful. There has been everything, but I can openly say that nothing I earned before compares to what God has given me in this ministry”, said Fr. Guillén in a recent interview with the Costa Rican channel Teletica.
“After leaving school, my first job was as a school teacher. Later, I joined a position at the Juan Santamaría Airport, in the air section, to later dedicate myself for seven years to work in the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS)”, he commented.
The DIS is a police agency under the Ministry of the Presidency of Costa Rica, and, according to its regulations, its functions include “intelligence and investigations” to “ensure the security of the State.”
The priest today pointed out that “in the DIS I worked for seven years and that is why now I maintain the link, but as a chaplain. After working that time, we began the entire vocational discernment process.”
Fr. Guillen also said that the priesthood means learning to renounce material goods and trust fully in Providence.
“It is giving up credit cards, a monthly salary and starting to depend a lot on Divine Providence, which is manifested through the charitable action of people or depending again, a little, on the family,” he said.
Finally, he stressed that “God never fails, He is always faithful”, because “he always gives us what we need”.
“After leaving school, my first job was as a school teacher. Later, I joined a position at the Juan Santamaría Airport, in the air section, to later dedicate myself for seven years to work in the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS)”, he commented.
The DIS is a police agency under the Ministry of the Presidency of Costa Rica, and, according to its regulations, its functions include “intelligence and investigations” to “ensure the security of the State.”
The priest today pointed out that “in the DIS I worked for seven years and that is why now I maintain the link, but as a chaplain. After working that time, we began the entire vocational discernment process.”
“At 24 years old, I think that maturity and the passing of the years made me question what I wanted, where to go. That made me wonder: ‘And why not what I had once thought?’” she recalled.
“Back then I even had a girlfriend, I talked to my parents and told them that I wanted to give myself a chance at the seminary, whether it was three weeks, three months or three years. And here I am, I am already on my way to 21 years of priesthood and 10 years of being a chaplain of the Public Force of Costa Rica (police)”, he added.
Fr. Guillen also said that the priesthood means learning to renounce material goods and trust fully in Providence.
“It is giving up credit cards, a monthly salary and starting to depend a lot on Divine Providence, which is manifested through the charitable action of people or depending again, a little, on the family,” he said.
Finally, he stressed that “God never fails, He is always faithful”, because “he always gives us what we need”.