The Call: What if I gave my all to Jesus?
The Diocese of Austin is hosting a video series entitled The Call, in which priests who serve in the diocese share their experience in hearing God’s call to the priesthood. Father Michael Noriega, associate pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville, recently shared his call to the priesthood.
The Diocese of Austin is hosting a video series entitled The Call, in which priests who serve in the diocese share their experience in hearing God’s call to the priesthood. Father Michael Noriega, associate pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville, recently shared his call to the priesthood.
During his junior year of high school on a youth retreat, he experienced a call from Jesus during Adoration.
“It wasn't a voice saying ‘Michael, be a priest,’ but there was a deep sense of being loved and known by the Lord, which began to change my prayer life. I became more involved in youth group and things at church,” he said.
He also thought about becoming a doctor because he was very attracted to the mission of healing that came with medicine. However, the idea of becoming a priest never really left him after that retreat experience.
“There was this sense of what if I said yes, what if I gave my all to Jesus?” he said.
Father Noriega, who was ordained in 2025, said now that he is a priest he sees what he was most attracted to about a career in medicine.
“Jesus the great physician is working through me and all priests,” Father Noriega said.
The Call can be found on YouTube, and the videos are shared on the Diocese of Austin Facebook page.
Do you think you may be called to the priesthood?
Visit www.austinvocations.com to learn more about vocations in the Diocese of Austin.
