Fr. Charlie attended Texas A&M University after graduating from Plano Senior High School where his family lived prior to moving to Central Texas. He was in third or fourth grade when a priest during a homily asked what God was calling the congregation to do with their lives. “That’s what planted the seed,” he said. “And it got watered over time.” While his parents didn’t openly encourage him to the priesthood, they provided a faithful environment, attending Mass regularly and praying the rosary weekly as a family. During a retreat at Texas A&M, he attended adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and felt the call rather strongly. “I said a silent prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament and then walked outside at night to be in nature with God,” he said. Garza said the culture at A&M, including priests such as Fathers Keith Kohl, David Konderla and Mike Sis, help foster vocations. His pastor from Plano, Msgr. Michael Duffy, was also a good role model, he said. Immediately upon graduation from Texas A&M, he entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. Garza said that young people considering a vocation need to grow in their relationship with God. “The closer we walk with him, the easier it is to hear God’s voice and know what we are being called to do,” he said. “Society is noisy. That’s why it’s hard to hear when we’re being called.”