The priesthood was not part of his plans, but he felt the call after years of being part of a Neocatechumenal community, an itinerary of Christian formation.
In the Neocatechumenal Way, Garcia said, “I discovered the love of Christ for the sinner, the love of Christ for me. When I found that the brothers and sisters accepted, they did not judge or demand from me to be someone I am not. This experience helped me to answer the call during a vocational meeting at World Youth Day in Paris” in 1997.
After three years of struggling, a March 2000 meeting with the late Pope John Paul II in the Holy Land helped him to renew the call.
Garcia has been studying for the priesthood at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Toronto, preparing to serve the people of the archdiocese of Toronto.
Ordinand's meeting with John Paul II helped form call
By Catholic Register Staff
{mosimage}Editor’s note: This is one in our series of profiles on the men who will graduate from St. Augustine’s Seminary this spring and be ordained to the priesthood for various dioceses.
Landorff José García Mariona, 34, was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. He is the oldest of three brothers, and his family immigrated to Canada in 1987.
Landorff José García Mariona, 34, was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. He is the oldest of three brothers, and his family immigrated to Canada in 1987.
Please support The Catholic Register
Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.
For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.
DONATE