Jose del Carmen Mendez Izquierdo, 26

First assignment: St. James (Fullerton Avenue), Chicago

Education: Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez School, Miguel Hidalgo High School and San Jose College Seminary, all in Mexico.

Parents: Carmen Mendez Cortes and Guadalupe Izquierdo Martines

First Mass: 5 p.m. May 19 at St. Adalbert Church, Chicago

When his brothers were talking about becoming astronauts or teachers, Carmelo Mendez was already talking about the priesthood—at the age of 9. His father thought he would soon change his mind, but five years later his goal hadn’t changed. At 14, he enrolled in a program where he attended public high school during the week and spent weekends at the preparatory seminary.

After graduating from the college seminary, he decided to take a break in his studies and came to the United States. He lived in Aurora for 18 months and worked in a factory, polishing his English and rubbing shoulders with other immigrant workers. Just as he was ready to return to Mexico to complete his seminary studies, he read a newspaper article about the need for Hispanic priests in the Chicago Archdiocese and that changed his mind. He was accepted at Casa Jesus (a formation house for Hispanic men) and transferred to Mundelein Seminary.

Mendez hopes to be involved in multi-cultural ministry, not just ministry to Hispanics. He’s interested in languages and already speaks a little Polish, which will be useful in his first assignment at St. James. “It’s a very diverse parish,” said Mendez, noting that parishioners include Polish, Latinos from all over, Filipinos and Indians. “I hope to be working with immigrants because I’m an immigrant myself. I want to be a bridge between cultures.”

As for beginning his ministry in these troubled times for the priesthood, Mendez admits, ‘It’s a challenge but I won’t say I’m frustrated. It’s a good time to be ordained to show that men are still interested in vocations. I’m happy to have the opportunity to be ordained—the opportunity to witness what I believe in.”

Next --->

(close window)