Many pious vocational stories highlight a specific “call” moment. While these normally do not resonate with me, when it comes to my journey to the CSTM, I am happy to point back to a concrete moment when I heard my own “call” – or, better, my synodal invitation.
Of all places, it happened at St. Peter’s Square. In October 2023, as the first session of the global Synod Assembly took place, I met with a group from Discerning Deacons on their synodal pilgrimage to Rome. Casey Stanton had asked if I could share a testimony about my time working at the General Secretariat of the Synod.
We sat in a circle by the steps along the colonnades towards the left side of the square. Right after I finished what I had prepared on synodality as a call for an incomplete thought – and for a Church that embraces its own incompleteness – I immediately heard someone from the group asking me: “would you like to come study theology at Boston College?” As it turns out, it was Anthony Russo, responsible for admissions at the CSTM, who also handed me a CSTM sticker on the spot.
To be fair, he was sowing a seed in already well-cultivated soil. In a way, even if I did not fully realize at the time, I was flirting with theology during the whole of my college years. I technically majored in politics at Harvard, but I interned at the Holy See Mission to the United Nations and managed to write a senior thesis on the Latin American contribution to the development of Catholic thought on human rights. Deciding to go work at the Vatican after graduation was a further step in the direction of a more serious relationship. By the time Anthony posed that question, I was definitely considering moving on to graduate studies in theology, but I had already committed to a year of service with the Jesuits in Brazil. One year later, though, I followed up with him about whether the invitation was still standing and how to make it work.
It was clear that the CSTM was the best fit for me. When he visited our school earlier this semester, Archbishop Henning asked me why I ended up in Boston to study theology after the Vatican. “It’s the best place to be,” I replied without hesitation. Indeed, I cannot think of an academic program that can better respond to my particular interests in the intersection of ecclesiology and political theology, as courses with professors like Richard Lennan and Neto Valiente have confirmed. Then, there was the Jesuit connection and my affinity with Ignatian spirituality, as well as Boston and my close college friends still in the area.
It has been especially consoling to reflect on this story as I meet accepted students visiting our campus and remember how I felt when I was in their shoes. Ironically, my synodal invitation came full circle and turned into a proper synodal confirmation during my own Accepted Student Days. I was surprised to realize Sr. Nathalie Becquart, my superior during the time working at the General Secretariat of the Synod and herself a CSTM alumna, was sitting next to me as I prepared for the community mass. As it turns out, right during those days, she was visiting Boston College and engaging in different conversations here about synodality. “This will be a great place for you, Pedro,” she reassured me, as mass was about to start.
This, then, led to volunteering and working with different faith communities across the city, country, and world and eventually transformed the vision I held of Theology: Using what I learned in lectures and seminars to build bridges between people. I went on to participate in various interreligoius student programmes and conferences, and to organise interfaith events, helping students explore diverse (non-)religious communities. Participating in these efforts, I saw the effect of the Theology I had learned through the relationships and even friendships developing.
These experiences mad me resolute to continue theology at the postgraduate level. So I talked to my undergraduate mentor, who recommended BC to me based on my interests and aspirations. This might be cringe to say, but I had tears in my eyes when I first looked at the CSTM's website because their emphasis on globality, theology rooted in ministry and community deeply resonated with the direction that I wanted to take my theology and interreligious dialogue work. When I visited for ASD (Accepted Student Days), I had many conversations with students, fellow offer-holders, and the staff there that affirmed this feeling and manifested the CSTM as the right place to continue my theological education. Thus far, I have been proven right by the inspiring students and faculty and the courses offered at the CSTM and through the BTI (Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium), which have challenged me to become a better scholar and a better Christian.
So, looking back on my decision now, my journey to the CSTM and to Theology was not one of grand conversion, but rather one of being open to new possibilities, letting the Holy Spirit work through me. I'd like to think 18-year-old me would be suprised but also happy that I walked trusting my instincts and God.