by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
Deacon Cesar Gomez isn’t one to say “no” when he hears God calling.
He was just 5 years old when he first felt drawn to the priesthood and never closed the door on the idea — even when, 15 years later, it called him to leave his home in Mexico and move to the United States without knowing English.
The opportunity to attend seminary for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was stronger than his apprehensions.
“In my heart, I knew that I wanted to be a priest,” he said.
Deacon Gomez will be ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on May 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Nativity in Leawood.
He is the youngest of four children of Bertha and Rafael Gomez and grew up in Puruandiro, Michoacan, Mexico.
His mom stayed home raising the children, and his dad has worked in the United States as a permanent resident since the 1980s.
Although his parents didn’t practice their Catholic faith, Deacon Gomez was attracted to it from early on.
His first memory is being confirmed at 3 years old, which was common in Mexico at the time.
“I think that God gave me many sacramental graces because of that,” he said.
At age 13, he got involved in a youth group called Oasis.
“I remember that the priest who was in charge of that youth group, he was very influential to me,” said Deacon Gomez, “because he was very dynamic; he had a lot of energy, he was very young.”
When he was 15, Deacon Gomez shared his interest in becoming a priest with his parents, who were baffled by the idea.
“They even said, ‘Where did it come from, because we are not very Catholic? We are not practicing the faith,’” he said. “They were supportive, but they were doubting about my call.”
Deacon Gomez had some doubts about the priesthood, but at 17, his best friend invited him to a weekend retreat, where he had “a conversion experience.”
“It was before the Blessed Sacrament,” he said. “I think that experience lasted for about 30 seconds.”
He was inspired to go to the sacrament of reconciliation.
“And after the retreat, I started to go to daily Mass, to pray the rosary, to read the Bible, to be more active, to actually live out my Catholic faith,” he said.
Deacon Gomez had planned to study chemistry or biology after high school, but that dream no longer gave him a sense of fulfillment.
Instead, he joined a religious community in Mexico until one day, his dad told him he was being accepted as a permanent U.S. resident. He had applied on behalf of his son without his knowledge.
“During that time, I was consecrating myself to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” said Deacon Gomez. “And I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to come to the U.S. or not.”
Deacon Gomez took a leap of faith and said “yes.” But he didn’t yet have a plan in place when his dad met a group of religious Sisters while grocery shopping at a Walmart in Leavenworth.
They put him in touch with the archdiocesan vocations office, who invited Deacon Gomez to come to northeast Kansas.
He spent his first few months in the archdiocese at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, learning to speak English.
He was then sent to Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, where he was part of a language, culture and church program, and went to college at Conception before moving on to Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.
Deacon Gomez became a U.S. citizen on Sept. 14, 2023. The welcome he’s received in the archdiocese has made the transition away from home easier.
“I have met a lot of good people here — a lot of good people who have helped me throughout these years of priestly formation,” he said.
And after many prayers, his parents are coming around to the faith.
“My dad hadn’t gone to confession for more than 30 years,” said Deacon Gomez. “And just before my diaconate ordination, my dad went to confession.”
His mom now attends Sunday Mass and occasionally eucharistic adoration.
“I can see how God is working in my family, in my life,” said Deacon Gomez.
When he faces challenges, Deacon Gomez is carried by “my faith, my prayer life and just knowing that I am doing God’s will.”
Deacon Cesar Omar Gomez Cervantes
• Age: 31 years old
• Born: Puruandiro, Michoacan, Mexico
• Raised: Puruandiro, Michoacan, Mexico
• Home parish: Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas
• Parents: Bertha and Rafael Gomez
• Siblings: Nalleli, Aaron, Rafael
• Favorite food: barbecue
• Least favorite food: pickles
• My favorite activity as a child was: playing volleyball
• Best job I’ve ever had: Totus Tuus
• The quality I admire most in people is: honesty.
• Favorite musical artist: Miguel Bernal Jimenez (composer of sacred music)
• Aside from Christ and his mother, the biblical character I most want to know more about is: St. John because I love his Gospel.
• Favorite Scripture passage: “When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Jn 19:30).
• I deal with failure by:
1. Pray about it; 2. Go for ice cream; 3. Move on
• If I have an important decision to make, I start by: clarifying the decision itself and putting everything in God’s hands.
• When I wind up with free time and have no plans, I usually: read a book or spend time with my friends.
• My favorite type of social event to attend is: birthday parties.
• The one thing I’ve always wanted to do but never tried: Go to the Holy Land
If I hadn’t felt called to become a priest, my dream job would have been: to become a clinical laboratory scientist.
