Eduardo's Story

Hello, my name is Eduardo Chincha and I come from Port Chester, NY. I was born in Lima, Peru in 1989 and I moved to the USA in 2002 when I was twelve years old. I was educated by the Salesians in Peru since I was six years old, the school was called Colegio Salesian San Francis de Sales. I only have good memories that school and of the Salesians there.

When I moved to Port Chester I had no idea that of all places, I would find Salesians right there too. They ran the parish I that i became a part of, Holy Rosary.

From time to time the priests who ran Holy Rosary Church and youth center would tell me that I would make a good priest some day. At the beginning I just ignored it. Later on I would get annoyed because I didn’t want to think that was my call.

When I was in high school I needed I job, and I was asked to work as a counselor at the Don Bosco Boys and Girls Club, and it was fun. Later, I discovered that working with the youth was not always easy; there can be many challenges.

Despite the difficulties I continued to work there, and as time went on and I learned of the preventive system and more about Don Bosco. As time went I realized how much need many children had and how much I could help them. I began to dedicate more to my job, I was tutoring and organizing games for the kids at our Youth Center.

Almost two years ago, I began to discern more about my vocation to the priesthood. I went to NCYC and later to come and see weekend in South Orange and Life Camp; but I was hesitant and tried to fight my vocation. Along that year I met the Salesian novices and other guys in formation as well as others discerning like me.

One day I went to the movies with my friends (mostly girls) and tried to get this crazy idea about a vocation out of my head. And by some odd chance that day was the Salesian novices day out, which the spent at the same movie theater I was in, and were behind me in the ticket line. I saw them and the saw me and knew what I was up to, so I ignored them. A few minutes later i went to talk to them for a while, it was really funny and a little awkward.

As months passed and I meditated more on my vocation I felt that God was really calling me to follow him more closely and that God was present in all the events I have shared with you. So I applied to be accepted as a candidate. Right now, I am a pre-novice with the Salesians in Orange, NJ.

For me, everyday is a choice to continue to discern God’s call, and I pray to Him to help me continue in this path. I had never taken a bigger risk in my life and it is a steep climb, but I have never been happier with any other decision I made.