Becerra takes next step to priesthood

Fear of not accepting God’s call was motivation enough to keep seminarian Christopher Emmanuel Becerra on course throughout his long years in the seminary, a course that has taken him one step closer to becoming a priest.

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey by the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit ordained Deacon Becerra to the sacred order of transitional diaconate on May 26 in Corpus Christi Cathedral.

Becerra was born in Laredo to Manuel and Teresa Becerra and raised in Veracruz, Mexico, for the first 12 years of his life. During this time the Mexican authorities confiscated the family car, threatened to take away their home and his sister Elizabeth, became dangerously ill. The family was able to get through these tough times by praying together and staying strong in their Catholic faith. God answered their prayers. They were able to keep their home and Elizabeth made a miraculous recovery and has been fine ever since.

In 2001, shortly after the death of his dad, Becerra and the family moved to Corpus Christi where their main priority, after finding a home, was finding a church. They began attending Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where he became an usher, joined the Spanish choir and printed the Spanish bulletins. He loved the idea of serving and the Church gave him that opportunity. The idea of becoming a priest was the furthest thing from his mind, but he thought it “cool” that a priest could change the bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ.

Becerra attended and graduated from Ray High School. During those years he described himself as a straight “A” student, but while looking good to his teachers he would skillfully manipulate others behind the scenes. Still the instigator, he now applies his powers for good.

As the high school years were wrapping up, Becerra thought he had his future wrapped up; he would become a doctor and set up a clinic in a poor country. But thoughts of becoming a priest overcame him. He felt God’s call while praying during Holy Hour at a Search Retreat.

“It was one of the most intense hours of my life, but at the end I had run out of excuses not to join the seminary. Fear was not an excuse; fear of not accepting God’s call was my motivation,” Becerra said.

He called the vocation director and went through the interview process and two months after graduating from high school he was on his way to the seminary.

“As the years went along, my understanding about the priesthood grew, and I felt peace, but I still did not understand ‘why me?’ or, ‘why am I even doing this?’” Becerra said.

About three years ago Becerra hit a dry spell; sometime during his fifth year of formation. Feeling tired and spiritually empty, he did not feel a hundred percent sure about his vocation.

He was not happy. He began to question his decisions, and even why or if he believed in God. His negative thoughts only increased when he saw the movie “Therese,” about St. Therese of the Little Flower. 

“She could not receive Jesus moments before her death. It made me aware of my mortality. Is it going to be worthwhile doing what I was doing? If I was going to be a priest, I wanted to believe what I preached. I needed some proof, something concrete,” Becerra said.

That summer he was to attend a program in Omaha, Nebraska, about the spirituality of the diocesan priesthood.  “I love retreats, but I did not want to go to Omaha for a retreat and I waited until the eleventh hour to turn in my application,” Becerra said. “It was a one-thousand-mile drive and I was mad about having to go there.”

The 10-week program included a weeklong silent retreat. Despite being tired and frustrated he recognized that unless he surrendered completely to God’s will he would have wasted that week.

It was in a simple outing in downtown Omaha that he found his answers.

As he was walking the streets he saw a homeless man going into the kitchen of a restaurant and coming out with a yellow helium balloon. Blessed with a child-like curiosity, Becerra followed him.

As the man headed toward the park, Becerra noticed a blind couple at the bus stop. They were holding hands and seemed very happy. He saw families walking and people taking naps in the grass. He could not remember the last time he had done that.

Losing the homeless man for a moment, he lay down and closed his eyes. When he sat up a few moments later he saw the homeless man with the yellow balloon join other homeless people under a bridge. They were singing “Happy Birthday” to one of their friends.

“Wow! They were able to be happy. Here I was feeling so incomplete and these people were able to find joy, friendships and companionship. That was my proof of God. Every single day he gave me gifts and I never saw them.

“Suddenly, I felt so reassured.  God was reminding me, you are my son and I’m still taking care of you. I felt so complete. This was the greatest moment in my life,” he said.

His vocation became clear. He was a child of God. His mission was to share that joy.

“I was also reminded of a truth I once held as a child –God will make this well at the end. This is the source of joy for the Christian, to know that God takes care of us as a father cares for his children. I finally understood the nature of my call at that moment; I am to share the joy that comes from being a beloved child of God,” he said.

The bishop has assigned Deacon Becerra to serve as parochial deacon at St. Philip the Apostle parish in Corpus Christi, effective June 4-Aug. 3. He will then return to St. Mary’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for his final year. He will be assigned to St. Martha Parish in Kingwood for two weekends a month.