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Name: Alexander Quiros Castillo
Date of birth: February 25, 1971
Hobbies and interest: reading, classical music, opera, traveling
Favorite saints: St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer
I was born and raised in Costa Rica, in a little family. I just have two brothers. My family is very traditional and we share everything. My mother is a retired teacher and my father worked for a private company until he died. When I was around 13, I began helping in my parish office typing documents and taking care of the archives. I am sure it was a gift from God to be there because it was the way to get involved in the Church, and I learned a lot about the priesthood during those years. However, when I finished high school I did not enter to the seminary. I decided to study Business Administration in college. When I was finishing college I strongly felt a call from the Lord, so I began my discernment process just after my graduation. I went to the seminary in San Jose, Costa Rica, and finished my philosophy studies and almost all the theology studies as well.
When I left the seminary I started helping as a consultant for the National Director of Missions. I had the chance as a lay minister to lead a national formation process, write articles and magazines, and travel to countries helping the missions. Finally in 2007 God led me to the Diocese of Oakland. I began a discernment process here and I re-entered the seminary last year. I’m still confident about God’s providence and guidance in my life and vocational process because I know I am just an “unprofitable servant” (Lk. 17:10) who believes that “each ones has received a gift” and has to “use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Pe. 4:10).