Parishioner Feature ⎸ Freddy Gomez

Freddy Gomez grew up in a strong Catholic family that modeled prayer and parish life, but it was during his first year at Franciscan University at Steubenville that he realized he had to claim the faith for himself. Growing up Catholic, he admits, can sometimes lead to going through the motions. That turning point - recognizing that the Catholic faith is not just inherited, but deeply personal - motivates him to live prayerfully, choose holiness daily, and serve others.

“Being at Franciscan really taught me that it’s my own faith, and I’ve learned a lot about how to pray, how to live it, and most importantly, how to keep it close, personal, and fruitful.” That sense of ownership also grounds his discernment of the priesthood. A seminarian for the Diocese of Raleigh, Freddy plans to spend one more year at Franciscan before transferring to St. Joseph Seminary in Louisiana for further philosophy studies, eventually continuing his formation at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida. All told, his journey of preparation will take about ten years.

‘I felt called to the service of the priesthood. I have grown in that discernment as I go on through the years. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for the future.’ Freddy’s experience at seminary has deepened not only his spiritual life but also his love of learning—a trait he shares with his favorite saint, St. Thomas Aquinas. At seminary, he engages rigorously with philosophy, theology, and liturgy, combining study with prayer in a way that mirrors St. Thomas’s devotion to both intellect and God. ‘It’s really awesome how dedicated St. Thomas was to learning about God and living his faith life. It was his ever-long mission to figure out all he could about God, and he was so enamored with the things of God that he always wanted to be in deep contemplation and meditation of God. That sort of zeal is something I want for myself.’

Freddie thanks his parents, Imelda and Fredy Gomez, who are also parishioners at St. Paul, for being the reason that he is still Catholic today. They taught him to go to Mass every week and to pray the Rosary, but they also lived out the pastoral life on a daily basis, and Freddie saw that being involved in the community was something he wanted for himself. ‘Having our life grounded in prayer was really important to them, and now it is important to me. I saw them lead by example, being active in the community, and now I see myself growing in how I participate in community life, both at Franciscan as well as here at St. Paul.’

During his summer visit back to his hometown of New Bern, one of the highlights was jumping back into the parish youth group, where he especially wanted to share something close to his heart: the Liturgy of the Hours. Also called the Divine Office, it’s the Church’s daily rhythm of prayer — Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and the Office of Readings. Alongside the Mass, it’s one of the two official prayers of the Church, uniting Catholics across the world each day. While priests and religious are bound to pray it, lay people are also encouraged to take part. Freddy loves showing that it isn’t complicated or intimidating — it’s actually a simple, powerful way to stay connected to God throughout the day and to live out St. Paul’s call to “pray without ceasing.”

Outside of seminary life, Freddy enjoys burning old-school CDs to listen to in his 2007 Toyota Tacoma, which frees him from having to use his phone so often. He particularly recommends the music of Brother Isaiah, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal. Freddy loves spending time with his family and is especially proud of his older sister, Carolina, an RN at New Bern Carolina East.

According to Freddy, one of the greatest challenges of being Catholic is staying faithful to daily prayer in the midst of so many responsibilities and distractions. It takes real effort and self-discipline to make time for God and to strive for holiness day by day. Yet Freddy sees that those small, daily choices truly shape who we are becoming.

‘We’re all called to live the moral life, and while it isn’t always easy to stay consistent in prayer or choose wisely in the little things, it keeps us focused on what matters most: that our lives are meant to be lived for the salvation of souls and in support of our brothers and sisters. That’s what I try to remember.’