{"id":147854,"date":"2026-08-25T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carfundacion.roymo.info\/?post_type=testimonios&p=147854"},"modified":"2026-07-29T08:32:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T06:32:57","slug":"cleyver-josue-gomez-jimenez-seminarista-venezolano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/cleyver-josue-gomez-jimenez-seminarista-venezolano\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleyver, a Venezuelan seminarian: \u00abI realized that God was asking more of me\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cleyver Josu\u00e9 G\u00f3mez Jim\u00e9nez discovered his calling to the priesthood while serving at his parish in Venezuela. Trained as a communications professional, he gradually came to understand that God was calling him to proclaim the Gospel not only with his words, but with his entire life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His journey took him to Spain, where he was able to continue his priestly formation<\/a> at the Bidasoa International Seminary in Pamplona. A decisive stage in their human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral preparation to serve the Church and the people of their diocese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A calling that began in his parish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cleyver Joshua<\/a> He is the oldest of three brothers. At age 15, he began to to participate actively in the life of the Church<\/a> thanks to the invitation from the Missionary Sisters of Parish Action, who served at their parish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abLittle by little, God began to give me small tasks along this path,\u00bb she recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his teenage years and early adulthood, he served as coordinator of the parish youth group. There he discovered a Church that was close to him, where he found a true family. \u00abFor this reason, the Church is, for me, a large family within which God shapes us so that we may attain happiness.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, although he was happy with his service at the parish, a sense of unease began to grow within him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abGod was asking more of me\u00bb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u00abI still felt a sense of unease in my heart. I realized that God was asking more of me.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating with a degree in communications, he worked on religious radio and television programs. His profession allowed him to talk about God, but he began to realize that his calling went much further than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little by little, an idea began to take shape: \u00abTo proclaim God not only with my words, but with my whole life.\u00bb So, after a process of discernment, on May 13, 2014\u2014the feast of Our Lady of Fatima\u2014he decided to take the plunge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abUnder the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, I decided to accept this adventure to which God was inviting me: the path to the priesthood!\u00bb.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That same year, Cleyver entered the seminary. Five years later, after completing his studies in philosophy, his bishop, Bishop Carlos Alfredo Cabezas<\/a>, he told him that he wanted to send him to Spain to continue his training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cleyver,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Venezuela to the Bidasoa International Seminar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On September 8, 2019, Cleyver arrived at the Bidasoa International Seminar, in Pamplona.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abI immediately heard the voice of God, who had first called me to a congregation founded in Spain and now wanted me in this country to further my formation.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Bidasoa<\/a> He also found a new family, made up of seminarians from many different countries and their formators. \u00abGod has given me a very large and diverse family in the seminarians and formators.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The formation of diocesan priests and seminarians like him is possible thanks to the generosity of the CARF Foundation's donors<\/strong>, which work together to ensure that young people from dioceses around the world can receive a solid education before returning to their home countries and serving their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venezuela: A Church Amid Hardship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Calling<\/a> Cleyver's work is deeply rooted in the reality of Venezuela. The difficult social, political, and economic situation the country has been facing has also affected the daily lives of the faithful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many families have been forced to emigrate in search of better living conditions, while others face great difficulties in meeting their basic needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid this reality, the role of the Venezuelan Church stands out, both in its mission of evangelization and in its care for the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For him, one of the greatest lessons he has learned in recent years has been discovering the strength of his people: \u00abThe greatest progress Venezuela has made, in my view, is discovering itself as a strong, fraternal, and persevering people in the face of difficulties. The Church in Venezuela has greatly contributed to this progress, which, though it may seem small, is of incalculable value.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among other initiatives, the work of Caritas and the many people who help families in need every day stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young Venezuelans: \u00abThey Are Dreamers\u00bb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cleyver takes a particularly hopeful view of the young people<\/a> from their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He describes them as \u00abdreamers\u00bb: young people who want a country at peace, with security and opportunities; a place where they can build their future without being forced to leave their homeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abThey dream of a country filled with peace and joy, where people feel safe and have enough food and medicine. They dream of being able to live in our homeland and not having to leave the country because of a lack of those resources.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many of them, he says, faith has become a response to hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abWe cannot speak of the Church in Venezuela without mentioning the youth, whose characteristic spirit permeates all apostolic groups and who strive every day for a better country.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why he believes it is essential to walk alongside young people and share the Gospel with them in a personal way, especially in times of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evangelize on Social Media, Too<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to his training in social communication, Cleyver is well aware of the possibilities the digital world offers for sharing the faith. \u00abAs a social communicator, I see social media as a great tool for evangelization. We live in an increasingly digital world, and we cannot fail to make God\u2019s presence felt in this space.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his view, there is no single way to evangelize online. Each person can do so using their own gifts and reach out to different audiences: children, young people, adults, families, priests, religious, or laypeople.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On his social media accounts, he shares messages and reflections on faith, as well as glimpses into his daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that is precisely where he finds one of the keys to evangelization: showing that faith is not something separate from life. \u00abWe cannot separate daily life from faith, since we live it not only in church but also in our everyday lives.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Spain Taught Him About Faith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

His stay in Spain also allowed Cleyver to experience firsthand places closely linked to the history of the Church. \u00abSpain is the cradle of great saints and a special place where important events for our faith have taken place.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It highlights, in particular, places associated with St. Francis Xavier and St. Teresa of Jesus, as well as the wealth of churches scattered throughout the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was also impressed by the Barcelona's Sagrada Familia and how beauty can become a path to God.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abWho isn\u2019t pleasantly surprised when contemplating, for example, the beauty of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona? I am one of those who feel captivated when contemplating the beauty reflected in these sacred places.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cleyver<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Media Professional and Seminarian to Priest in Venezuela<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Years after that testimony, his story has continued to unfold. The young communications student who came to Spain to train as a seminarian returned to Venezuela as a priest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, Father Cleyver G\u00f3mez served as the parish priest of Las Piedras and as an advisor to the Diocese of Punto Fijo\u2019s Pastoral Communication Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is something particularly significant about his career. When he was still a seminarian, he asserted that social media was \u00aba great tool for evangelization\u00bb and advocated for the need to make God present in the digital world as well. Today, his training as a communicator continues to serve the Church, now through his priestly ministry and his work with his diocese\u2019s communications office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this way, the intuition that marked the beginning of his vocation is fulfilled, in a sense: \u00abto proclaim God not only with my words, but with my whole life.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its history also illustrates the scope of the assistance provided by the benefactors of CARF Foundation<\/a>. The training he received during his years in the seminary did not end with his studies in Spain: he returned to his diocese to put that training to use in the service of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because helping to form a seminarian is like sowing seeds for the future of an entire diocese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that question Cleyver asked back then still makes sense today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abHave you ever wondered what God wants from you?\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cleyver<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Table of Contents<\/h2>