catechism in high school and college.
Meet After three years of teaching, I decided to
come back to our archdiocesan seminary.
I also love cooking, especially Asian
foods. It is a very relaxing activity for me.
Student: On December 8, 2007, Fr. Noel Zamora,
I have also been interested in
photography. I started three years ago
when I got my first digital camera. I have
a Filipino priest of Lexington, KY,
Jeffrey D. Estacio invited my brother to study for the
entered different international
photography contests, and I am blessed
priesthood for the Diocese of Lexington.
because sometimes I have won the
My brother was not interested. He contest.
mentioned this to me and I said, “Let me
try to go there and see what will happen.” Q. What aspect of seminary has been the
When I went there for the first time, I fell most rewarding?
in love with the place and the people. The most rewarding aspect of seminary
life is that it gives a seminarian an
Q. Favorite saint and why? opportunity to be formed holistically as a
My favorite male saint is St. Ignatius of person. Through that formation, I have
Loyola. Besides his loyalty to the pope realized that I am becoming more drawn
and his keen observance of discernment into a personal relationship with God.
of spirits, he composed a prayer called the
“Prayer for Generosity” that has inspired Q. What aspect of seminary life has been
me in my priestly vocation. the most challenging?
I find the routine nature of seminary
My favorite female saint is Gianna formation the hardest. It is just like a
Beretta Molla. She is a good example for wheel that goes round and round. But a
us to follow Christ in our contemporary potter needs his wheel for the clay to be
Final Year of Seminary time. A complication while she was formed into a vessel. The routine in the
Diocese: Lexington, Kentucky pregnant with her fourth child escalated seminary helps to mold the character of
Hometown: Angeles City, Philippines to the point that only one of them could the seminarian.
survive. She decided to save her child.
Q. What attracted you to the priesthood? This is a selfless act of a mother’s love.
Pope John Paul II called Gianna “a
Q. Best advice?
I was attracted to the Mass. When I was Be yourself in a community that forms
young, I always enjoyed serving as an simple, but more than ever, significant
messenger of divine love.” you. If God calls you to be a priest, do not
altar boy. I liked hearing the priest say the react. Rather, respond to the call and
Eucharistic prayer and seeing the you’ll discover your real self.
consecration up close beside the priest Q. Favorite Scripture verse and why?
while ringing the altar bells. It was my John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world
initial attraction to priesthood. that he gave his only Son, so that Would you
everyone who believes in him might not
Q. Who influenced you to begin study perish but might have eternal life.”). The
like to make
for the priesthood? first time I really listened and paid a gift to
Indirectly, it was my godfathers. In the attention to this passage was when I Saint Meinrad
attended the World Youth Day in 1995. It
Philippines, we have several godparents
was the theme of the event and the
and receive
at baptism. I got four and two of them
were seminarians when I was baptized.
official song was based on it. It was the income
They are my parents’ friends. Both of
number one song on the radio for the for life?
whole year. Now it gives me hope for us
them became priests and one of them For information regarding
all and gives me the encouragement to
became a bishop. Saint Meinrad’s annuity
tell this truth to others.
program, contact:
Q. What were you doing before you Q. Hobbies? Barb Balka
came to the seminary? Director of Planned Giving
I play the piano, saxophone, flute, guitar
I was in the seminary for seven years in Saint Meinrad Archabbey
and other musical instruments. My 200 Hill Drive
the Philippines. After that, I joined the mother encouraged me to study piano St. Meinrad, IN 47577
Salesians of Don Bosco, Northern when I was young. From there, I have (800) 682-0988
Province of the Philippines. After three explored different instruments as I grew bbalka@[Link]
years there, I decided to leave the up. I also had the chance to be in a reggae Gift annuities are subject to state law
seminary and I taught music and band when I was in my country. and not available in all states.
