How Bro. Joe helped me join the seminary

Bro. Joe Ferrer is a coadjutor brother with the Salesians of St. John Bosco.  He is a "monk" but not a priest.  He was the head of the Electronics department in the technical high school where I went.  Back in the 60's, electronics was leading edge technology.

By the end of my senior year, I didn't know where to go.  Like everyone else, I got an application to the state university but my heart was not in it.  I remember attending meetings of those who wanted to enter the seminary and being the only senior there.

I must have confided to Bro. Joe because after graduation, I worked at the electronics lab during the summer.  We sorted donated electronic components from Germany courtesy of Miserior.  During this time, Bro. Joe drove me to the seminary and arranged a meeting with the provincial superior of the order.  I was asking for an academic scholarship.  That was going to be my ruse to enter the college / seminary because, when I asked back in grade school, my mom wouldn't let me saying that I was too young.

In the meeting, Fr. Provincial opposed the idea saying that I would need to tell my mom sooner or later.  And that is what I did. My mom allowed me this time.

In this post, I want to highlight the effort of this brother in fostering and working for vocations and thank him for doing so.