MALAGA, Spain – Juan Baena, a priest ordained for the diocese of Malaga in June 2018, has been appointed to a new role focused on vocational guidance. Baena, who also has a passion for music, released his first album, “Your Light on my Night,” in February 2024, following his EP “So Much Well Received” in November 2022.
Baena Embraces New Vocations Role with Humility and Song
Priest and musician aims to foster vocational discernment among young people.
Baena views his new position as a complex but service-oriented task, trusting in divine guidance. he highlighted the diocese of Malaga’s long-standing commitment to cultivating vocational awareness, a process he experienced firsthand at the Minor seminary. His appointment is an opportunity to express gratitude for the support he received from those who invested thier time and love in his journey.
- Juan Baena, a Malaga priest since June 2018, steps into a new vocational guidance role.
- He released his debut album, “Your Light on my night,” in february 2024.
- Baena emphasizes listening to God’s will as key to a fulfilling life.
- He believes personal testimony and shared experiences are vital for vocational discernment.
What are the most urgent challenges in vocational guidance for the diocese? Baena believes the core challenge is helping young people recognize life as a divine gift.True fulfillment, he suggests, comes from actively listening to what God asks of us.
Reflecting on his predecessor, Fernando Luque varo, Baena expressed deep recognition for his predecessor’s dedication. “We entered the seminary together,” Baena noted, “and now we give each other the relief in this house.” He hopes to build upon the path laid by Varo and others.
As for a theme song for his new appointment, Baena chose “Loving and Serving” from his 2022 EP. “That is the attitude,” he stated, “with which one has to face this and any other mission that the Lord and life puts us on the way. that is my desire: in everything, love and serve.”
Baena is pursuing a master’s degree in specialized theology in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical University Comillas in Madrid. He described it as a “lovely opportunity to deepen the Word of God.” Balancing his studies in Madrid with pastoral work in Malaga has been demanding, requiring careful time management and the crucial support of his parish community.
To encourage young people toward vocational paths,Baena stresses the importance of closeness and creating spaces for communal experience where vocational questions can be central. he believes that joyful and natural testimonies of priestly, religious, or married life powerfully challenge young people.
Baena’s own vocation emerged from two influential environments: the minor Seminary, where he encountered enthusiastic priests and seminarians, and the Salesians, where he witnessed lives dedicated to serving youth. These examples presented compelling life options, prompting his own serious reflection: “And you, why not?”
