WHEN Father Florentino Santiago was a young child in the Philippines, it was obvious what profession he was going to join when he grew up.
While most kids his age would run around and get into trouble, Father Santiago would “play mass with neighborhood kids using improvised materials like a banana and coke for bread and wine.”
Several decades later, Father Santiago is a member of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and appointed pastor at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Theriot, Louisiana.
Ordained in December 1978, Father Santiago has been serving the people of Theriot as pastor the past couple of years.
According to his bio on the Diocese website, Father Santiago, at first didn’t want to join the priesthood but a religious teacher planted the idea in his head.
“My classmates were joking with me after our first confession in preparation for first communion, that I would become a priest,” he said. “I answered, that is not possible.”
A religious teacher interjected and said, “Why not? God will make it possible.”
Soon, Santiago found himself involved in the church. He joined the choir and volunteered as an altar boy. He said the people around him – the nuns and catechist – had a profound impact on his life. He said they were the reason why he decided to become a priest.
After being ordained, his faith was strengthened when he was assigned to “places where he did not have the comfort and familiarity of family and friends,” he told the Diocese.
He enjoyed being planted in a foreign place and having the people there not only accept him but adopt him as a member of a large family.
The most fulfilling part of being a priest he says is being able to help people improve their lives.
“I always have that outlook when working and living with people as a priest,” he said. “To find that somehow you have helped improve someone’s life by your presence, something you did or said at the right time and place. That is priceless.”
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