
After elementary (at the age of 13), I entered the high school seminary (1988). Did I ever know about vocation at that time? Admittedly, No. In fact my mother told me to take up engineering after high school so that I could help them send my siblings to school since I am the eldest among seven. But I said to my mother, 'I don't like engineering…I want to take up law.' That was our agreement and I proceeded to college seminary with philosophy as my preparatory for law.
1992 after graduating from college, I had a chance to experience what a corporate world means…I worked in an insurance company as Assistant Trainor and Statistics. August 07, 1993 our mother passed away and it was in her wake that I came to know through my aunts that since I wore cassock (investiture 1st Year College) my mother did not want me anymore to take up law…instead, she wanted me to be priest already.
1995 I started my theological studies but was interrupted with the death of our father on December 03, 1997. Being orphaned and eldest among seven, I decided to leave the seminary and went home to help my brothers and sisters. It was on this stage that I put up my small piggery just to eke out a living for us…it was a hands on experience and no matter what soap and tons of alcohol I used, I really smell like pig…the stench really stuck with me…telling me Rody no time for love LOL.
It was really God's grace that I was able to return in the seminary (2000). Even with the announcement of my ordination was remarkably beyond the description of dictionary for it was made on February 17, 2004 a day before my birthday. I am not holy…I am not the best…I am sinner…I am unworthy but God showered me with this gift of ordination…on which I could only say, I am eternally grateful to you my God and please always help me to serve at your vineyard…Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Father Rody can be reached at rmejia@dioceseofgreensburg.org or 724-736-4442.