Lacton Lucas Carvallo’s journey to  become a priest  began at World Youth Day in Brazil, held in Rio de Janeiro, an impressive apostolate with Pope Francis that left no one indifferent.

Lucas belongs to the Diocese of San Sebastián de Rio de Janeiro. He is currently continuing his studies at the  Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra , where he is pursuing a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology thanks to the support of the benefactors, partners, and friends of the CARF Foundation.

When Lacton recalls the origin of his vocation, his memory inevitably stops at an event that forever marked his life: the  World Youth Day held in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 with the visit of Pope Francis .

Discerning the path of marriage before becoming a priest

At that time, he was discerning the possibility of marriage and trying to discover God’s plan for him. However, during those days he experienced something that transformed his heart. “During those days  I experienced such a strong and personal presence of God  that it unsettled me inwardly.”

It was not a fleeting emotion, but a gentle and persistent certainty that the Lord was looking at me with love and inviting me to something greater than I had ever imagined.

He entered the seminary four years later

That experience opened a door that would never close again. The following year,  she participated in a spiritual retreat seeking clarity for her future.  There, through simple yet profoundly illuminating preaching, she felt God confirming that inner calling.

But he didn’t feel ready to take the final step.  For two years he continued discerning with his parish priest and the seminary instructors in his diocese, who accompanied him with patience, listening, and prayer.

Finally, in 2017 he entered the São José Seminary. For seven years he received a solid human, spiritual, pastoral, and academic formation that culminated in 2024. ” Those years were decisive in consolidating my relationship with Christ  and in understanding the beauty of the priestly ministry,” Lacton says.

Today he looks back on that period with gratitude, and also on the opportunity he now has in Navarre to deepen his theological studies, in order to better serve the Church in the future.  “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to deepen my faith and better prepare myself to serve the Church,”  he says affectionately.

Her mother, a key figure

Faith was present from her childhood. She was born into a traditionally Catholic family, where religion was part of daily life. She especially remembers the role of her mother, a fundamental figure in her religious upbringing .

“My mother was a key figure in my Christian formation:  she accompanied my sister and me to church celebrations when we were children, making sure that we received the sacraments and that faith was part of our daily lives,” she says with emotion.

However, as with so many young people,  adolescence was also marked by a period of estrangement.  He distanced himself from sacramental practice and sought to fit in with friends and experience what the world presented as freedom. “Even so, I never stopped believing; the seed of faith remained alive, though dormant,” he confesses.

Over time, he came to understand that  many of those experiences left an inner void.  Looking back, he believes that this search and a certain degree of rebellion helped him better understand human frailty and  the need for a personal encounter with Christ.

That is why he is convinced that  World Youth Day 2013 was providential for him and for thousands of young people , because it rekindled “the flame of God’s love, reminding us that true joy is born from the encounter with the living Christ.”

Brazil, a deeply religious country

To speak of his vocation is also to speak of Brazil, a deeply religious country with a Christian majority, where faith continues to permeate culture, popular celebrations, and daily life.

His diocese,  San Sebastián de Rio de Janeiro, also occupies a special place in the history of Brazilian Catholicism : the first cardinal of Latin America came from it and the National Conference of Bishops was established there, a decisive event for the pastoral organization of the country.

Although Brazil enjoys religious freedom and the Church can develop its mission without restrictions, this young priest recognizes  that social reality poses enormous challenges.

“We are facing serious social and economic problems:  inequality, unemployment, corruption, lack of political accountability, and poor public management. Many people are closing their businesses, others are unemployed, and this directly affects the lives of families and also  the Church’s ability to meet the temporal needs of the faithful,” Lacton explains.

Despite everything, he emphasizes that the faith of the Brazilian people remains strong and that the Church continues to be a moral, spiritual, and social reference point.

He arrived in Spain two months after his ordination.

Lacton Lucas arrived in Spain two months after his priestly ordination, with a huge enthusiasm in his suitcase to train and fully develop his ministry when he returns to his diocese.

Because he is well aware of the needs of the local Church . Although they have a considerable number of priests, he recognizes that many more are needed due to the enormous number of faithful and the breadth of pastoral challenges.

“The pastoral demand is enormous: large communities, neighborhoods with urgent social needs, families that require accompaniment, young people who are looking for meaning, elderly people who need comfort…”. 

In the face of this reality,  the generous work of priests and bishops stands out,  who, through listening, close presence and numerous social works, try to alleviate the suffering of the people.

Many parishes offer free medical and legal consultations, distribute food to families in need, support vulnerable people, and develop evangelization and educational initiatives. “For many Brazilians, the  Church remains a true refuge and a place of hope,”  he says.

People are thirsty for the sacred

Another challenge he observes is the growth of numerous Protestant groups and the  advance of secularism.  “Yes, the proliferation of Protestant groups affects us. This happens, in part, because we are still a religious country and people have a thirst for the sacred,” he explains.

However, he warns that some people end up drifting away from the Catholic faith due to a lack of solid formation, while certain groups use Sacred Scripture for proselytizing purposes.

Youth evangelization is alive

But his spirits remain high, and he views this reality with hope: “Many young people—in Brazil and other countries—are encouraging other young people to come to know Christ through retreats, meetings, praise groups, and community experiences.  Youth evangelization is alive, and that is a sign of hope ,” he declares enthusiastically.

Furthermore, he believes that the relationship with Protestant communities need not be conflictive, since there is a shared search for God and a sincere desire to live the faith. This closeness can also become an opportunity for many to discover the richness of the Catholic tradition.

Because Lacton is clear on this: ” To evangelize today, especially young people, it is essential to show the beauty of faith,  the depth of the liturgy, the power of the sacraments, and the joy of a life given to Christ. It is also necessary to use digital media, accompany personal journeys, and offer spaces for authentic encounter.”

His experience in Spain

His time in Spain has allowed him to view the reality of the Church from a different perspective. He is particularly impressed by the beautiful processions and the profound Marian devotion he finds in many regions. ” Spain preserves an impressive spiritual heritage, the fruit of centuries of faith ,” he affirms with admiration.

At the same time, he perceives  less participation in church life than is typical in Brazil.  Many people receive the sacraments of Christian initiation and subsequently drift away from religious practice. Therefore, he acknowledges that he has found a rather secularized society, especially in some parish settings where pastoral involvement is limited.

However, he hasn’t lost hope here either. “I also discover young people who are searching for God, vibrant communities, and parishes that work with creativity and enthusiasm. But I believe that we still need a Church that goes out to meet people, as Pope Francis urges us to do.”

To be a priest is to carry the presence of Christ in one’s life

When he reflects on the priest of the 21st century, his answer stems from his own experience as someone who has just begun his ministry. He is convinced that priests “must bring the presence of Christ through the witness of their lives,” making themselves available to all people and  being men deeply rooted in prayer  “so that the world may see that Christ is the answer to all problems.”

For him, the priest is called to be a bridge:  a bridge between God and humanity, between tradition and the contemporary world, between faith and culture. He must know how to listen, accompany, discern, console, and boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel.

“To evangelize,  it is essential to know people’s longings and desires, to understand their wounds, their searches, and their fears . It is also necessary to use social media, to be present in the digital world, and to promote greater participation of the laity, especially young people, who have an essential role in the mission of the Church,” Lacton concludes.

This young priest is convinced that  Christ continues to call, accompany, and transform hearts.