Salsa priest: A Columbian musician’s vocation journey

Oct. 4, 2019
Lorena Rojas
San Francisco Católico

Eudist Father Carlos Panesso, a professional singer of salsa music and other Latin rhythms, preached for the first time at the Day of Adoration at St. Anthony Parish in Menlo Park in August. He spoke with San Francisco Católico, the Spanish newspaper of the archdiocese, about daring to leave his artistic success behind to respond to God's call to the priesthood and how this decision has affected his life and that of his mother.

Father Panesso, a 32-year-old Colombian, ordained just a year ago, is currently the director of a Catholic radio station, “Minuto de Dios,” back in his native country. 

He has been and continues to be a fan of the great leading salsa singers of our time like Tito Nieves, Grupo Niche and others. "I also love reggaeton, among other reasons, because I am also a millennial," Father Panesso said.

San Francisco Católico interviewed Father Panesso during his recent visit to the archdiocese.

Q: Father Carlos tell us about your artistic past?

A: Well, I come from a part of the family that is very musical. We have an orchestra in Colombia called “Saboreo” that has released many popular hits, very Colombian tunes like “La vamo’ a tumbar.” I grew up in a musical family and there came a time when music had like two pathways, you can choose to save money and have a more quiet life or you can dedicate yourself to drinking and girlfriends. I chose the second one.

Q: So you were misbehaving?

A: I was behaving very badly. Let's say that was the place where God looked at me. I always say God does not look at perfect folks, God looks at weakness as the niche where he wants to make himself manifest because what God wants, is to save you.

Q: How did God manifest himself to you?

A: I have a cousin who is more annoying than carrying a pineapple under your arm, very intense. And she tells me, “Carlos can I invite to a youth group?” and I say, “To a youth group? What for, I want nothing with a youth group!” Then she tells me, “Liliana is coming too,” -- a girl that she knew I liked -- and then I say, “Fine, I’ll be there.” While in that group I had an encounter with God. I feel I went there in need.

Q: Was it a charismatic group?

A: Yes, it was a charismatic group.

Q: Well, there was music and that is what you liked.

A: Yes. That also connected me with God and I feel that God used that need I had, that existential emptiness that I wanted to fill with rumba, that I wanted to fill with alcohol, that I wanted to fill with women, God filled it with his love. God took advantage of it and made me full. And I started a life, without leaving music behind because singing isn’t anything that is bad, it is part of normal life and work.

Q: How long did that transition take you until you decided to change your life?

A: A long time. I think it took me a year, a year and a half. From when my cousin told me, went forth and went back, while falling even more for Liliana.

Q: So the thing was between Liliana and God?

A: Yeah sure. Well, it was more like boy falls in love so God uses that to give us life.

Q: What did your family tell you?

A: My mom didn't like it and neither did my dad because I was going through the last auditioning phase to join Grupo Niche and I had passed. Now the thing was between Grupo Niche and going to the seminary where I had also passed. A while back I had told my dad that I wanted to study piano in Russia and my dad said, “Well, tell Tarzan's mom to pay for it,” (a way of saying no) but once he found out that I was going to go to the seminary, he called me and said, “Say, how much would that cost? We’ll send you to Russia or Beijing, anywhere you want to go, but I don't want you to be a priest.” In the end, I decided to become a priest. It was a very tough decision. It was not easy.

Q: Because your family didn't want that. How many siblings do you have?

A: I have one sister from mom and dad. My dad has the charism of procreation so I have eight more brothers on my dad’s side, altogether ten. 

Q: After a year of your ordination, what do your father and mother think?

A: My mom was Protestant. My mother was Pentecostal, and on the day of my ordination my mother converts to Catholicism because she receives Jesus in the Eucharist and feels that there is something there in that bread, so she tells me “I’ve been touched, I felt something there with the Eucharist. What is it?” Then, I began to explain, “It is the Bread of Life,” and she began to change, to be more open. She didn't like priests, she wouldn’t have any of it, but when she saw the Eucharist she felt a very special presence. My dad has always been like he is not interested. He was always asking me what I was going to study, why not study something else. So, one thing I’ve learned was to teach God through witness ... I believe that one does not have to throw the Bible at people, the important thing is to reveal God.

Q: So, to be a priest you don't have to be born into a perfect family?

A: You don’t. You have to listen to God. It means letting God speak to you, he is always knocking on the door, and if you just leave a narrow opening, he will then enter and he will rob our hearts.

Q: After one year since your ordination, what do you have to say?

A: I am happy! And in three more months, my first production as a priest comes out, a record of religious music, but it’s got everything, merengue, salsa, it has worship ... It will be on Amazon ... you can look me up as Father Carlos.

Q: Do you work with young people?

A: Yes. In Medellín we have a community of 700 young people and with them we do a giant job. Recently we had a congress with almost 3,000 kids from nearby cities, they came to Medellin to partake in the experience.

Lorena Rojas is editor of San Francisco Católico.