Kevin Gomez - Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Seminarian Information

Fun Facts

Current Seminary: Propaedeutic Year at Mount Angel Seminary, Oregon
Proposed Priestly Ordination: 2030
Hometown: Santa Fe
High School: Capital High School
College: B. S. Applied Mathematics, B. S. Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering
Home Parish: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Santa Fe
Parents: David & Patricia Gomez
Number of Siblings: Two Sisters
Favorite Saints: Sts. John of the Cross, Theresa of Jesus, Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, Sts. Augustine, Francis de Sales, Francis, Padre Pio, Phillip Neri, Paul.
Hobbies: My hobbies are reading, learning, and eating with people.

Vocation Story

During my second year of graduate studies I had a deep encounter with the Catholic Faith, and while I am a cradle Catholic, this encounter drove me to seek the Lord in the depths and beauty of the Church. Learning about the Church became my priority and changed my outlook on life. Being months from completing a Master‚Äôs degree in Mathematics, I moved back to Santa Fe due to Covid with a desire to know Jesus brewing in my heart. This marked the beginning of my active discernment, as I began to consider whether the Lord was calling me to live for Him and the Church as a priest. Discovering the Lord‚Äôs Will and doing it, made it imperative for me to adjust and heal to the point of being able to make this decision in freedom. During the time of healing and discernment, I lived in a suitable environment with my family, met great priests, made wonderful friends, and worked in different industries: food & beverage, construction, and Christian retail. I have also ministered at my parish leading a young adult group and the altar servers, and have taught Confirmation to Spanish speaking students for three years. The Immaculate Conception parish community has taken me in as their brother seminarian and allowed me to minister there in many ways. Thanks to God, my family, closest friends and many priests, I will begin my seminary studies in July of 2024.

Who or what inspires you to be a priest?

Jesus, the people of this Archdiocese (including the Carmelites), and priests who live out their vocation with joy and love, inspire me to be a priest.

Why Santa Fe?

Santa Fe is my home and has a rich faith and spirituality found nowhere else in the world. The people in our Archdiocese are in need of local servants and I in need to serve the people I love.

I first became connected with the Vocations Office at a retreat in February, 2012. I had no idea what to expect out of seminary, or even if I should join to begin with. But when I met with them, the Office was able to answer all of my questions and I left the meeting having signed up. The Vocations team accompanied me every step of the way for seven years on my road to the priesthood.

Throughout the discernment process, the Office of Vocations provided solid support, always seeking my best interest. They were a reliable source of guidance, answering questions and offering direction. I felt like I had an ally in them, someone who truly cared about my success and well-being. I strongly believe in the leadership and guidance provided by the Office of Vocations and their commitment to helping men discern the call to the priesthood.

When I was a student at UNM, I got to know the Vocation Director for the Archdiocese, and he invited me to attend the yearly vocation discernment retreat which the Office of Vocations sponsored. After that experience, I realized that God wanted me to attend seminary, and although I didn't quite know what that process entailed, the Office of Vocations helped me navigate all the steps of applying as well as providing necessary financial support to attend seminary. Throughout the whole seminary process, the Office of Vocations continued to support me and also arranged my parish assignments and seminarian retreats. I'm grateful for their immense help in bringing me to that joyful day of priestly ordination and for their continued work in helping others walk the path of discernment.I strongly believe in the leadership and guidance provided by the Office of Vocations and their commitment to helping men discern the call to the priesthood.

I remember reaching out to the Vocations Office when I first started applying to seminary. They were very supportive and responsive to my questions as a brand new seminarian and kept me up to date on application requirements, such as sacramental records and other evaluations, so that I could enter seminary in a timely manner. With their help I was able to smoothly transition into seminary life!

When I was progressing in formation, I felt the need to get more experience in a parish in order to discern the call better. I reached out to the Vocations Office to see if they would allow me to do a pastoral year. They were relaxed about the whole thing, not pressuring me one way or another. They just wanted to help me discern what God wanted me to do. I appreciated that very much, and the pastoral year was a fruitful episode in my formation journey.

Here for you.

God speaks in your silent prayer. He also speaks through Holy Mother Church. Don’t discern your vocation alone. The priests of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe are on this journey with you.

Connect with us today so that together we can see what God is up to.