I Was Once a Catholic Priest…Here’s My Story

Did you get married in the Catholic Church?

You can't be an "ex-priest". You are priest forever, regardless of current situation.

Don't ever leave the Catholic church. I left it and spent years in the protestant churches. It's the biggest mistake of my life.

I always knew you were a priest but never said anything. I went to confession with you at St. Francis De Sales. You were really good in confession. You’re still a good man. 🙏🏼

Quote to SHARE by St. Teresa of Avila "Behind each priest, there is a demon fighting for his fall. If we have the language to criticize them, we must have twice as much to pray for them."

Tough topic. I also spent five years in three seminaries, but I wasn't ordained and now I see why the Lord has not made me part of the clergy in our troubled times. I wouldn't have been able to bear it and I would have sinned in a far worse way than I do. No matter what your story is, no one can judge you about it. The only thing I see and that counts is the good you do through this channel. Your videos have made me grow a deep love for the souls in Purgatory and a whole sensitivity that had to be revealed to myself. Just for that, I thank you. I pray that a lot of people be touched by them and get an epiphany about what is really at stake in this life.

Dear Brother, as a former priest myself, I know what it's like to leave and the personal, difficult reasons we do that. I agree while we may leave ministry we can't leave Jesus or our Blessed Mother Mary. That would be the biggest mistake we could make. I'm very shy, but I know we're all called to pray for each other. I pray each day the divine mercy chaplet, a rosary and chaplet of precious blood for the souls in the world, especially those who will die soon and in most needs of God's mercy. I watched your recent video about devotion to souls in purgatory being the most important but I'm particularly focused on the souls that will fall into Hell if they're not prayed for. For anyone reading, know this you: don't want to show up for your own judgement with empty hands. While we all can't save ourselves we can corporate with Jesus and Blessed Mary in their work of saving souls. I like this channel and the work you do, keep the faith and if the numerous messages from heaven are true, Our Lord is coming very very soon. Come Lord Jesus! Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us, Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

Without our beloved Catholic priests we wouldn't have the sacraments. Pray everyday for our priests, nuns and deacons. They are gifts from heaven.

I have 44 yrs in the priesthood, so far. I feel your pain, but sometimes a man has to lift the load and carry on- but if you aren't happy, you'll just make others miserable, too. Maturity is acknowledging what isn't working and either fixing it or moving on to something else. God bless you on your journey.

I pray for priest who have left the priesthood every day. Now I will include you. Beautiful to see you face your past with humility and honesty, I have seen others who react with proud arrogance and defiance. I have no doubt that God is still using your priesthood and training for his purposes in the laity. Your channel has greatly blessed me.

My father-in-law was brought up Catholic and was in the seminary for 6 years and left. He got married, but converted to Baptist because of his wife. My husband converted to Catholicism after our 10 years of marriage. He was a protestant growing up, became an atheist, and then through the green scapular the Blessed Mother converted him. Job lost everything and his children, but he never lost God.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever." Thanks for your sharing and your openness and honesty. May our Lord continue to bless you and lead you along His path. Fr. Gilbert Walker

Not gonna lie - when I first saw the title coupled with the photo of you in your Roman collar, I did not want to watch this. Yet I'm glad I did. Your story is compelling and very human; we are none of us perfect or faultless. But your example has shown how God is prepared for everything and uses every and any opportunity to expand His flock, despite our faults, despite our stumbles. Trust me, you are not the only one regretting past decisions. But life isn't about falling; it's about getting back up again, and you have done that and then some. Pax Christi xx

God has guided your steps. You might have left the priesthood, but you never left God. You’re doing,through your channel, what many of us think the Holy Spirit is directing you to do. God blesses many people through your faith, which is one of His blessings to you. Humility is courageous.🙏🏻

Being a priest is such a super hard job

Every first Saturday of each month, we pray for Priest and also Priests that already left the service.. And ask GOD to bless them..

The truth will set you free! I’m very proud of your bravery. I love your Chanel and I do believe that this is your calling, to help the holy souls in purgatory. Because of you I am a much better prayer warrior for the holy souls in purgatory. Thank you Alvaro, May God continue a good work in you. Blessings

I was on the seminary for 5 years and even graduated, but I didn't want to be ordained. You can not undo an ordination, once you got it, because it is a mark on your soul forever. Years after that I got a diagnosis of autism. Life is unpredictable. I have seen some strange cults, but I gradually came to realise that it is the Traditional catholic church that I love. Did your wife have any seconds thoughts about marrying an (ex) priest?

Thank you for sharing this personal story. I’m glad that for those years you had the utmost privilege of any human being: to be the instrument for the consecration of the bread and wine into the Holy Eucharist. I have a little understanding of the difficulties new priests face. When I was a senior in high school in the 80’s I worked in the rectory of a church in So Cal answering phones and assisting with church prep for ceremonies on Fridays. I remember when a new associate pastor fresh out of the seminary named Fr. Pat started to work at our church. I remember how gung ho he was in the beginning…so full of energy and enthusiasm. By the end of that year he was so full of stress and despair…I felt such sympathy and sorrow for him. I’m glad that you are allowing God to use you as an instrument to spread this devotion for the souls in purgatory. This is such a good use of the YouTube platform. We will keep you in our prayers 🙏🏻

Alvaro, as a young priest, I was hesitant to watch your video when I first saw it in your feed. It's the very first I've ever seen from your channel. Too often, every time I see testimonies like this, I just see the forces of evil we fight every day just score another victory. These men go on and make a seemingly touchy video that tries to drag as many as possible with them away from the Faith. As we probably both learned at seminary, "a priest never saves himself alone, and never damns himself alone". And too many ex-priests just cause the latter to happen. What I saw here was something completely different. Someone speaking with no tears or commotion, who acknowledges our fight, and still wants to do his part, even if driven away from the ministry by mental difficulties. And that's honestly worth all my respect. When I meet priests who left the ministry but are still faithful, practicing Catholics, I kiss their hand when we greet, as I do to all my brothers in Orders. It reminds me (and, hopefully, also reminds them) who God made them to be by their character. So, dear brother in the priesthood, good luck with your front in the spiritual combat and thank you for your help and your videos. Rest assured of my prayers for you, and please keep me in yours.