Msgr. Oscar F. Castañeda
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Born Jan. 21, 1954, in Moron, Cuba, Msgr. Castañeda came to South Florida with his family and graduated from Miami Springs Senior High. He attended Miami Dade College and Florida International University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a minor in special education. In 1982, he entered St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and continued his studies for the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. He was ordained May 16, 1987, for the Archdiocese of Miami. Among his assignments since then, he has served as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Carol City and rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami. He became pastor of St. John the Apostle in 2010 and also serves as director of Opus Caritatis, a ministry to the homeless, the elderly and people with substance abuse problems.
What he did before becoming a priest:
"I began working when I was 15, went to college and became an elementary school teacher for the public school system in Miami-Dade County."
When he knew he wanted to be a priest:
"At age 19 I thought of becoming a Franciscan brother. The call to become a priest was not in the beginning, it developed slowly under spiritual guidance. I didn't begin the seminary until I was 28 years old."
Person or event that triggered his vocation:
"After I read the life of St. Thomas de Celano (one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi) and reading about the radical decision to leave everything behind and follow the Lord. Being involved in parish ministry fueled my desire to serve the Church."
Person most surprised by his vocation:
"My family at first because they didn't understand; also the principal at the school where I taught. I remember she said, 'I have goose bumps,' when I told her I was going into religious life."
What the seminary did not prepare him for:
"I would have benefited from learning more about the fundamentals of the biblical languages and Latin since we are committed to read, study, preach and teach the sacred Scripture as part of our way of life."
'I do thank God for calling me and using me as his instrument in spite of my unworthiness.'
What he would be doing if he had not become a priest:
"Teaching elementary school and special education. I was very happy doing that!"
Favorite priestly assignment:
"Serving the poor in the inner city and serving the Virgin Mary."
The most difficult aspect of being a priest:
"This question reminds me of John 15:20: 'No slave is greater than his master, if they persecute me they will also persecute you.' The hatred and persecution that Jesus suffered is also our own suffering as priests."
A priestly stereotype that he feels should be discarded:
"People think that in order for a priest to be truly happy he needs to be married, and that simply isn't true."
A 3-year-old Msgr. Oscar Castañeda is pictured here dressed as a cowboy in his native Moron, Cuba.
Favorite movie:
"The Mission."
Favorite TV series:
"When I have a little bit of time I like to watch the show on A&E 'Intervention.' It is about a method or strategy used to help drug addicts recognize their problem and begin the process of recovery."
Last book read:
"Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist" by Brant Pitre.
Favorite type of music:
"I like music in general but my favorite is classical guitar and Bach's organ concertos."
What he collects?
"Nothing in particular, but throughout the years I have kept various editions and translations of the Bible as my own way of interest in sacred Scripture."
Person he most admires:
Blessed Teresa of Kolkata. "I admire her convictions, her courage and her poverty."
His greatest disappointment:
"When I see people abandon the practice of the sacraments or when marriages break and families are broken apart."
His greatest joy:
"To celebrate the Eucharist with my parents on their 60th wedding anniversary (which took place Sept. 10 of this year.) It is a joy and a special grace for my family."
His greatest accomplishment:
"I normally don't look at my life from that perspective, but I do thank God for calling me and using me as his instrument in spite of my unworthiness."
Thing he most fears:
"I try to live without fear because it tends to paralyze some aspects of my life. My apprehension is to not want to contradict myself and the ministry/ mission that I am called to."
