I have loved you since I was a child, my friend Jesus. You have loved me always, Christ, Teacher and Lord. You looked at me with the little that I have; with your eyes full of love you pierced my heart. Today you called me by my name. Where do you live, Lord? (opening hymn of the ordination).

A genuine life begins with a longing, and that longing is what God wants from us, for he places it in our hearts, and it is revealed to us as we feel truly loved by him. Upon discovering this, an inner strength is born that drives us to want to meet Jesus… the good friend, the one who has always loved; the one whose gaze pierces the heart and who lovingly calls you by your name.

Santiago de Jesús Abella Peniche, whom we affectionately call “Santi Abella”, is a young man who was born in Mexico City, lived for a few years in Puebla, and by a twist of fate traveled to San Luis Potosí, where he learned about the Schoenstatt Movement on June 15, 2013, at the “Maravillas de María” (Marvels of Mary) Shrine. Santi has had a desire since he was very young, and it is in this place where he had his first encounter with the Blessed Mother. It is precisely in this Shrine where, last Saturday, February 8, 2025, he was ordained as a priest, as part of the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers, by the Bishop of San Luis, Monsignor Jorge Alberto Cavazos.

A little history

Alejandro Lomelí is the friend who invited Santi to visit the Schoenstatt Shrine. He won’t forget how it all happened and recounts it for us:

“Santiago and I had known each other for years, as we had both been together at a boarding school in Ireland in 2007-2008. Years later, in May 2013, I wrote to him to tell him that I was going to go to the seminary. But before I told him, he told me that he was about to graduate from high school, and when I asked him what he was going to study, he said, ‘I think I’m going to be a priest’. And I replied, ‘Hahaha, I wrote to you to tell you exactly the same thing.’

Then we started talking. I told him that I was going to Schoenstatt. I told him a little about the Movement, the charism, about Father Kentenich, the youth, and even about what classes we would take in Theology (I knew that Santi really liked to study). Shortly after, in June, Santi went to San Luis for a weekend. That’s how he got to know the Shrine.”

Father Andrés Espinoza, who at that time was in charge of the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth, remembers his first meeting with Santiago very well:

“How can I forget that June 15, 2013, when Santi first saw a Shrine and had his first and definitive encounter with the Blessed Mother?! I saw a totally genuine and strong ‘thirst for God, for Mary, for a consecrated life.’ I couldn’t understand how a young man could be so thirsty for God and not be afraid to look for him in the most unlikely places. Schoenstatt was something completely unknown to him and something in his heart made him travel there and get to know it and want to stay in that small place which opened the immensity of God and priesthood to him in a way that was both simple and transformative at the same time.”

Father Andrés speaks of his simplicity, and the same was true of his Ordination: very simple, nothing ostentatious, just flowers, tents and chairs. The flowers were the main feature of the decoration, as they framed the place while bringing life to the desert in which our Shrine is located. The atmosphere was one of unpretentiousness, without affectation, simply a demonstration of the affection people have for Santi. In short, his entry into the priesthood was a beautiful moment in the “shadow of the Shrine”.

The party begins

The day has arrived! It is difficult to express this event without delving into the emotions we experienced at this ordination. Each of us experienced it in a different way.

Months before, we began to make our contributions to the Capital of Grace so that the Blessed Mother would be present at all times and the Holy Spirit would give Santi and his family the peace of mind they needed to enjoy this celebration with joy. We also did it so that the Schoenstatt family in Potosi could have faith and certainty that everything would turn out well, just as the Blessed Mother had planned.

And the family arrived! Fr. Stefano Daneri and Fr. Thejus Peedikathundiyil, as hosts, welcomed Santi’s family; his brothers and sisters from the Community; the Schoenstatt Fathers from Monterrey and Querétaro; the Sisters of Mary; our dear Fr. Ignacio Camacho and Fr. Felipe Pérez, who were once rectors of the Maravillas de María Shrine. There were also some of Santi’s friends from Chile, Monterrey, Querétaro and, of course, the Schoenstatt family from San Luis.

Finally, the night before, the Blessed Mother enjoyed the early celebration that took place on the esplanade of the Shrine. That same night, the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament gave us all peace and the certainty that the next day all of heaven would be in Marvels of Mary.

What happened at the Ordination was a whirlwind of emotions, because seeing Santi visibly moved, walking alongside his brothers in the community, the Fathers and the Bishop, could only show us a heart truly surrendered to God. We will always remember the happy faces of the priests, because it was a gift for us.

So many things happened… the warm embrace that Santi received from his parents when he received the chasuble was very moving… And, furthermore, when we all applauded to welcome the new priest, we couldn’t stop crying. The choir was extraordinary, the atmosphere, the weather, etc. The Blessed Mother arranged everything.

The Schoenstatt Family ended this beautiful day giving thanks for Santiago’s YES, which in this year of hope becomes a clear inspirational sign for many young people.

Translation: Maribel Acaron