Twenty-five years ago, in Calbayog City (Philippines), Niño Vince Bernales was born. Raised in a Christian family, he says that at that time, in addition to being the only bakery in town, his home was the point of meeting of the Catholics in the area: "Since it was not yet constituted as a parish, but was a place of mission statement, my family's house served as a parish house". In addition, his grandparents were in charge of taking care of the small church and leading the daily prayers. It was precisely a priest of the community who gave him the name of Niño, "because I was born on the day of the Holy Innocents and in honor of the Santo Niño of Cebu, very dear to my land", he explains.

Niño Vince began serving the Church when he was only 9 years old: "One afternoon when I was attending Mass with my mother, a seminarian whom I knew from seeing him around my house came up to me and asked me if I wanted to be an altar boy. I answered with a yes. As time went on, my vocation matured until, at the age of 16, I entered seminar". When he reflects on the path he has followed, he assures us that for him the priesthood means being "an instrument of God, through the sacramental celebration; a channel of Grace that blesses, consecrates, forgives, absolves and makes present the love of God in the Eucharist. The priesthood is the availability of serving others in the name of Jesus Christ".

Four years ago, he arrived in Pamplona "on a wonderful summer day" to study Theology at the University of Navarra, where he is currently in his 5th year of his degree. high school diploma. It was there that he saw snow for the first time, in addition to tasting foods unknown to him until then, such as ensaladilla, chistorra or tortilla de patatas. But if there is one thing he takes away from his experience in Spain, it is having been able to share his vocation with other seminarians: "Here the universality of the Church is manifested in a special and evident way. Sharing different cultures, languages, ways of being and testimonies is a channel of grace to enrich us and to learn to love the Church more.

In addition to studying and receiving training, he has not left aside his hobbies. In his free time, he practices volleyball and soccer and loves to listen to classical music or read the famous quotes section of the Diario de Navarra every day. In the afternoons, after classes, he likes to run to high school Bidasoa International Ecclesiastical, where he lives, "to take advantage of the opportunity to exercise". He assures that his stay in this high school Mayor has also been a great opportunity to grow as a person and as a future priest: "It's a great experience. In Bidasoa we learn something new every day: to improve our character, to enrich the meaning of life thanks to the joy that each one brings in living together, to not leave our companions alone in moments of suffering or difficulty...".

For all this, he does not miss the opportunity to thank his benefactors for the possibility they have given him to study and train in Spain: "I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the benefactors who help me. I keep them in mind every day, during the most special moments I spend with the Lord. They are a torrent of water that does so much good in the lives of so many seminarians and priests.

In a few months, when Niño Vince finishes his programs of study in Theology, he will return to his country "to serve wherever he is needed". And he will do it with a new attitude: "With that special spirit that I have seen in Navarra, land of missionaries, where the attitude of going out to proclaim the Gospel is lived so intensely".