Walter Antonio Yepes Galvis, 28

First assignment: St. Benedict, Blue Island
Education: Escuela Marco Fidel Suarez, Instituto Fernando Velez and Seminario Mayor de Medellin, all in Colombia
Parents: the late Francisco Yepes and
Ester Galvis
First Mass: 1 p.m. May 20 at Notre Dame de Chicago

Walter Antonio Yepes Galvis loved serving Mass. At age 7, the young altar server was not quite sure what priests did but he liked the way they looked when they said Mass. That fondness for priests continued. It transformed into an interest in the priesthood at age 9 when he attended the ordination of a friend of his oldest brother. It was an inspiring experience for Yepes Galvis and his large family that included 14 siblings.

“Our parents taught us that God exists and how to pray,” he said. “They also encouraged us to become involved in our parish.”

And so he did. He became a catechist and a member of his church’s youth group. A seminary near his high school invited him for a visit during his sophomore year.

“That was when I seriously started thinking about the meaning of the priesthood,” said Yepes Galvis. “During my junior year I went to meetings at the major seminary but stopped for a while. Then I went back my senior year. I applied and was accepted at the seminary.”

Theresa Franco—a woman from the United States who rented space in his family’s house a few months every year—suggested he serve in the Chicago Archdiocese.

“I said, ‘No thank you’ because I didn’t know the language and preferred to stay in Colombia,” said Yepes Galvis. “But I left the door open in case I changed my mind.”

Yepes Galvis left the major seminary after two years for economic reasons. He completed his philosophy degree but went to work in a supermarket and then as a funeral director for 21&Mac218;2 years. He also studied criminal justice.

“I went to Mass and worked 12 hours every day but was frustrated because I didn’t want to do this kind of work forever,” he said.”I felt I was being called to be a priest.”

He found the address of Bishop Placido Rodriguez that Franco had given him and wrote a letter. Eventually, he spoke with Casa Jesus’ Father Michael Herman and now—several years later—awaits ordination.

“I want to become a good leader not only for Hispanics but for everyone who lives in the archdiocese,” he said. “I feel prepared and ready to work in this multi-cultural church.”

Yepes Galvis says the best way to increase vocations is by making priests more visible and available to the people who need them and by understanding their needs.

“The church in America in many instances has become more of an organization or institution than a family,” he said. “Priests have to be more flexible. We can’t be there all the time but this ‘call me for an appointment’ thing often turns people off.”

Other ordinations:
Jo-Andre Beltran
Paul Duy Duc Cao
Mark Greschel
Miguel Angel Martinez Figueroa
Michael J. Novick
Edward J. Pelrine
Kombo Livingstone Peshu
Robert William Schultz Jr.
Paul Charles Stein
Walter Antonio Yepes Galvis