 Br. Stephen Maria Lopez, OP
The eldest of three children, I was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in
Seattle, Washington and San Diego, California. Originally from the Philippines, my
parents provided a strong family foundation. This wonderful gift shaped me as a
child and nurtured a love for Christ, the Church and the Blessed Mother.
I studied
accounting at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Upon obtaining
my degree, I enjoyed success in both my personal and professional life. However, I
sensed that something was missing. I supposed the void would someday be filled by a
wife and children. Little did I know that God was calling me to be a spouse and father of
a different kind. Certainly, the possibility of a priestly vocation had surfaced in the past. In
college, my fraternity brothers had even dubbed me "Father Lopez."
However, the call became clear during the grace-filled Jubilee Year when I met and began
to work with the Missionaries of Charity in nearby Tijuana, Mexico. Moved by the
life of Mother Teresa and the religious communities she founded, I was challenged to
deepen my commitment to Christ and intensify the interior gaze. In a matter of time,
the voice of God echoed loud and clear, "I have called you by name, you are
mine." (Is 43: 1) After exploring many options for priesthood and religious life, I found my home with
the Dominicans. Among the mottoes of the Order is contemplata aliis tradere -to share with
others the fruit of one's contemplation. This exemplifies the two-fold life of the
Dominican friar with is both active and contemplative. I love this life and feel
truly blessed to be here! In the future, I hope to serve God's people in parish or campus ministry. I am
also interested in missionary work in a Spanish-speaking country. Please pray for me
and all my brothers, that we will be faithful and fervent sons of St. Dominic-praising,
blessing and preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord!
"A vocation is a gift of Christ.
He has said, 'I have chosen you.' Every vocation must really belong to Christ.
The work that we are called to accomplish is just a means to give concrete substance to
our love for God."
-- MOTHER TERESA
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