Testimony of Fr Ottmar about his priestly vocation inspired by St. Alberto Hurtado

Summary:

Fr. Alberto Hurtado has touched and transformed many lives and continues to do so today. His legacy and teachings extend far beyond Chile’s borders. Here is an inspiring testimony from Fr. Ottmar-Tovar Almanza, 33, a young priest in Boerne, Texas, within the Archdiocese of San Antonio, about how St. Alberto Hurtado inspired his priestly vocation.

Content:

We met Father Ottmar-Tovar Almanza on December 25, 2025, thanks to his generous personal contribution to Hogar de Cristo USA in support of the organization’s work in Chile. When we learned about his kind gesture and what motivated him to contact us, his testimony deeply impressed us.

Born in Mexico City on February 14, 1993, Father Ottmar has lived in the United States since 2005 and currently serves as a priest at St. Peter Parish in Boerne, Texas, 15 minutes outside San Antonio.

He studied at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Philosophy. He later earned a Master of Theology from the Oblate School of Theology and a Pontifical Licentiate in Theology from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

Here is an excerpt from his full testimony, shown at the bottom of this article: “…It was August 18th, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas; on that day, my friendship with St. Alberto Hurtado began. I was in my room at my family home, scrolling through Facebook in the afternoon. Suddenly, I came across an article someone had posted (*) about the life of St. Alberto, whose feast day was celebrated that day. For some reason, the article and Fr. Hurtado’s picture caught my attention, and I realized he was a saint I was not familiar with. I decided to read the article, which moved me deeply….”

(*) ACI Prensa, a post on his feast day.

No comprehensive biographical records document how many priestly vocations Fr. Hurtado (St. Alberto Hurtado) inspired. Nevertheless, many testimonies from those he met throughout his life, including at “The Colegio San Ignacio, Santiago” and in his role in “La Acción Católica de Chile,” “ASICH-Acción Sindical y Económica Chilena,” emphasize that his prolific spiritual direction, retreats, and dedication to youth led countless young people to the priesthood. His extensive written work provides solid evidence that he accomplished an astonishing array of social, educational, and scholarly work across numerous fields during a compressed 15-year ministry before his death on August 18, 1952. He transformed and inspired many, calling them to service and continuing to do so today through his profound legacy, which extends far beyond Chile’s borders and is embodied in one of his best-known apostolic works, the Hogar de Cristo in Chile.

Full testimony shared by Fr. Ottmar-Tovar Almanza

It was August 18th, 2018, here in San Antonio, Texas; on that day, my friendship with St. Alberto Hurtado began. I was in my room at my family home, scrolling through Facebook in the afternoon. Suddenly, I came across an article that someone had posted on the life of St. Alberto, whose feast day was celebrated on that day. For a strange reason, the article and Fr. Hurtado’s picture caught my attention, making me realize that he was a saint that I was not familiar with. I decided, therefore, to read the article, which moved me very deeply.

I knew that this was an extraordinary person, whose priesthood had truly been remarkable. I felt inspired and motivated, especially because, at that moment, I was on the process of being admitted to the seminary. I felt the impulse and the inspiration to entrust my vocational journey to his care and special intercession, asking him in prayer to become the patron and protector of my priestly vocation. Soon after, I began to research more in depth the life and ministry of St. Alberto, trying to get to know him as best as I could. This led me to watch the 1990’s miniseries production on his life, Crónica de un Hombre Santo, as well as other documentaries and material on Fr. Hurtado’s story and spirituality.

The more I read, the more I was inspired and moved by his example of holiness. It was his only recorded speech on audio, though, which was engraved not only in my memory, but in my heart, giving me a sense of direction at that time, and continues to do so until today: “El hombre está en el mundo para amar y para ser amado…¡El sentido de la vida es darse!” (Man is in the world to love and to be loved…The meaning of life is to give oneself!). Saint Alberto Hurtado’s teachings taught me the importance of finding Christ in others, especially on the most vulnerable and those who suffer. Although I am very far to his level of holiness and love for God and others, he truly is my inspiration, a model, and a faithful friend and intercessor. To you, my beloved “Patroncito,” all I can say is: thank you, and please pray for me.

Fr. Ottmar Tovar-Almanza/Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX/Saint Peter Parish, Boerne