Soldier-turned-priest uses near-death military experiences to inspire faith in others

David Santos observed the absolute worst of humanity while fighting in the Iraq War. Yet the evil he experienced did not poison his soul.

On the contrary, each time the young paratrooper was shot at by insurgents, he strengthened his belief in God. Every time he narrowly avoided getting killed by an IED explosion, he deepened his conviction that God was keeping him safe. When he finally returned to the U.S., Santos was never more passionate about his Catholic faith. And just as he had served his country, he was eager to devote his life to the Church.

Today, Father David Santos is the pastor of St. James the Apostle Church in Springfield, a role he describes as the hardest and most fulfilling work he has ever done. And while he believes the priesthood was always his true calling, Father Santos credits his time in the military with helping him realize his vocation.

“It showed me the Lord has a purpose for everyone, and He guides us to that purpose,” Father Santos said. “There were many times in Iraq when I should have died, but I didn’t. Those moments gave me greater confidence in God’s providence and His presence in my life. I wasn’t killed because God had a plan for me. And, eventually, I discovered that plan was for me to become a priest.”

Early call to the priesthood

The road to the priesthood was not an obvious one for Father Santos. Though he grew up within a Portuguese Catholic household in Kearny, the now-pastor said religion never played a prominent role in his childhood. It was only after he befriended his high school girlfriend’s priest, Father Antonio Bico of Newark’s Our Lady of Fatima Church, that he started exploring his faith. He even became a leader at a parish retreat run by his new spiritual mentor.

One day, while hearing Santos’ confession, Father Bico asked the young man what he wanted to do with his life. The answer Santos gave even surprised himself.

“I said ‘I’m really thinking about being a soldier of Christ,’ even though I had no clue what that meant — they were just words that came out of my mouth,” Father Santos said. “He looked at me and said, ‘That sounds like you want to be a priest.’ And I laughed and said ‘I don’t think so’ because I was happy in a relationship and had never really thought about becoming a priest. But I think that conversation is what planted the seed in my head that the priesthood was a possibility.”

Years later, the phrase “soldier of Christ” would play a pivotal role in Father Santos’ priestly formation. But an unimaginable tragedy led him to become a very different type of soldier first.

Life in the military

On Sept. 11, 2001, two planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center, killing about 3,000 people. The attack devastated the nation, but it particularly impacted Father Santos and his twin brother Brian, who witnessed the second plane strike the South Tower from their house in Kearny. The two young men were studying criminal justice at Rutgers University at the time, but they had always considered enlisting in the military. The 9/11 attacks were the impetus that got them to join.

At the recommendation of a family friend in the Rhode Island Army National Guard, David and Brian Santos enlisted in the 173rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment, 42nd Infantry Division, at the end of 2002. They then spent the next few years undergoing elite training, developing airborne and sniper skills while continuing their studies at Rutgers. Finally, in 2005 the brothers were deployed to Iraq for 11 months under the command of then-Captain Mike Manning.

What followed was the most exhilarating — and dangerous — period in Father Santos’ life.

“It was a very volatile time, and the unit was constantly in harm’s way,” said Manning, who retired from the military as a colonel and now works as a professor of engineering leadership at Northeastern University. “But Dave was a true leader. He always lived his values, his integrity was beyond reproach, and he was completely reliable. You knew that he would always be there for you. He would rise above his own needs and put the needs of others before himself.”

This comportment served Father Santos well while completing missions, which primarily focused on gathering intelligence to prevent insurgents’ attacks on American troops. As part of this effort, the Santos twins and the rest of their unit would often undertake counter-mortar operations clandestinely, like going subsurface in an Iraqi dump. This would be “exceptionally difficult, superhuman” work, Colonel Manning said, with the unit frequently spending up to 96 hours in the field. That is far more than the eight-to-24 hours soldiers typically are on missions, he said.

Such operations were also life-threatening, with Father Santos recalling that he was often shot at throughout his time in Iraq. On one occasion, a mission he was supposed to be on ended in the deaths of all participating soldiers when their team was ambushed by insurgents. His brother Brian was one of the paratroopers who responded to the scene afterward, which meant that if Father Santos had not been pulled from that ill-fated operation, Brian Santos could have been in the unenviable position of finding his twin’s body.

Then there was Father Santos’ many encounters with IEDs, which almost proved to be fatal. In one instance, he discovered he had driven over a grassy area that contained a bomb, but the device miraculously did not detonate when his Humvee was on top of it. In another case, an IED did explode near his vehicle, but the bomb had been planted too deep in the ground to cause any damage. The next day, Father Santos returned to the area and picked up a jagged piece of shrapnel left behind, a deadly keepsake that remains with him to this day.

“I keep it on my desk as a reminder of how fragile life is and how important it is to use the time we have to be a conduit to God’s will,” Father Santos said. “I think it’s sad that so many people move through life without a sense of purpose and without knowing that we’re here to be a unique expression of God’s love. We can’t control how long we live or what happens to us in life, but we can use the free will we do have to listen to God and do things in our life that will help us get to Heaven and help others get to Heaven, as well.”

Discerning in combat

Thoughts about God were a constant throughout Father Santos’ tenure in combat. If God has a plan for everyone, the young paratrooper pondered, then why did He keep sparing his life in Iraq?

At the same time, Father Santos began seeing signs the priesthood was in his future. For example, while attending Mass during his downtime, he picked up a pamphlet intended for soldiers interested in becoming priests. Inside the booklet were contrasting pictures of a man wearing priestly garments and military fatigues. Embroidered on the fatigues was one name — “Santos.”

By the time Father Santos returned to the U.S., the priesthood had become a strong possibility for his future. After a two-hour discussion with his old mentor, Father Bico, he knew he wanted to be a priest. Father Santos visited the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of Vocations the next day.

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It was a decision that felt right to the former paratrooper, but most of his family reacted with confusion when they learned of it. The only one who understood was his brother Brian, who often attended Mass with his twin in Iraq. Brian Santos recalled he had no idea his twin was discerning the priesthood while they served together, even though Brian himself was secretly thinking about becoming a priest at the same time. But he knew the importance of faith in a soldier’s life, and he could see the joy it brought his twin. 

“I actually had an intuition he was going to tell me he was entering the seminary before he did, even though we had never talked about the priesthood,” Brian Santos said, remembering the conversation. “I told him I was proud of him, and we hugged. I was happy he had found something he felt he was meant to do.”

After graduating from St. Andrew’s College Seminary at Seton Hall University in 2008 and Rome’s Pontifical North American College four years later, Father Santos was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark in 2012 — but not before receiving one last sign he was destined to be a priest. Because he did not own a chalice to celebrate Mass with, he asked Seton Hall’s seminary if any deceased priests had left behind their cups for new priests to use. The seminary had a few, and Father Santos gravitated towards one he thought was particularly beautiful. Since most chalices have the name of a patron or lost loved one printed on the bottom, he flipped this one over to see what was inscribed.

But Father Santos did not find a name there. Instead, he was shocked to discover the words “Soldier of Christ” — the same phrase that popped into his mind when Father Bico asked him what he wanted to do with his life about a decade before.

“I was so surprised I almost dropped it,” Father Santos said. “If I had any doubts about the priesthood, they went away in that moment. It was just another sign that God creates us with a purpose.”

Life as a priest

It has been many years since Father Santos fought in Iraq, but he still uses what he learned in the military. For one, he said the discipline, regimented lifestyle, and sense of sacrifice he developed as a soldier make it easy to live as a priest. He also credits the Army National Guard for teaching him collaborative and organizational skills — all teams in the 173rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment planned out their own missions — which he relies on every day as a pastor. And because of his combat experience, he said he can respond well in emergencies, like if a parishioner faints during Mass.

Father Santos is not the only one who has noticed how much his military skills come in handy. Father John Paladino, who worked closely with Father Santos over the eight years serving as his parochial vicar at Scotch Plains’ St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, said the former soldier’s leadership ability was a huge asset for their parish. That is because shortly after Father Santos arrived, Father Paladino was named the Archdiocese of Newark’s vicar for clergy, which limited his time at St. Bart’s. As a result, Father Paladino said Father Santos took on many administrative responsibilities like managing support staff and serving on councils with him. In essence, he said they ran the parish as a team.

“We had a great working relationship and friendship since the day he arrived at the parish,” Father Paladino said. “The parishioners used to call us ‘the dynamic duo.’”

Beyond helping to oversee St. Bart’s, Father Paladino recalled how Father Santos brought many innovations to the parish that were inspired by his military background. For instance, he used his security expertise to initiate an emergency response team. He also created a youth camp that blended prayer with physical fitness exercises.

By the end of their tenure together, St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church’s congregation had grown from 1,500 families to 3,000 families. Additionally, Father Paladino and Father Santos had started hosting parish missions that — thanks in large part to a winning combination of humor and God’s Word — attracted an astoundingly high 500-600 people per night.

Needless to say, Father Paladino was very sad when Father Santos was made the pastor of St. James the Apostle Church. At the same time, he was thrilled his protégé was getting the opportunity to shine.

“He deserved to lead his own parish,” said Father Paladino, who pointed out that Father Santos is particularly well-suited for his current work. “He was on the front lines of combat, and as a parish priest, he’s on the front lines of service in the Church.”

Friends and family

Life as the pastor of St. James’ can be hectic, but Father Santos loves every second of it. He also never lets his numerous responsibilities get in the way of staying in contact with his loved ones. In fact, he often speaks with his former commanding officer, Colonel Manning, who uses his leadership expertise to offer advice when needed. The colonel even occasionally travels to New Jersey from his home in Massachusetts so he can host training seminars for St. James’ staff.

Colonel Manning said he is “immensely proud” of everything Father Santos has accomplished, pointing out that he sometimes boasts about how one of his soldiers is now a priest. And as a devout Catholic himself, the colonel said he cannot think of anyone better suited for the vocation.

“He is an absolutely remarkable priest and a beautiful manifestation of our Catholic values,” said Colonel Manning, who added Father Santos now mentors the colonel’s own son, a soldier currently discerning the priesthood. “Dave would have been successful in any industry — he’s a top 1% guy. But thankfully for us, he answered God’s call to join the priesthood.”

Father Santos’ example has also had a profound impact on his relatives, according to his brother. Brian Santos explained his twin’s vocation has inspired the entire Santos family to develop a more intimate relationship with their faith. It has also led to some moving spiritual moments, he said, like the time Father Santos celebrated Mass for just their loved ones.

As for his own connection with his brother, Brian Santos said he is grateful to Father Santos for being a faith mentor to himself and a role model for his four children.

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“I’m glad my kids can see the humanity of the priesthood,” said Brian Santos. “Because of my brother, they can see God works through the people in their lives.”

Advice for fellow soldiers

Knowing what he does now, would Father Santos change anything about his life? If he could go back in time, would he bypass the death and destruction he experienced in the military and enlist in the seminary instead?

The answer is a resounding “no.” Though he believes he was always meant to be a priest, Father Santos said he is proud to have served his country and grateful for the brotherhood he formed with his fellow paratroopers. The skills he learned in combat also enhance his ministry to this day, he said.

And if there are any soldiers currently considering the priesthood like he once did, Father Santos would share this piece of advice — do not ignore God’s call.

“Even if it’s just a remote possibility in their minds, I’d encourage them to enter the seminary and think about what God created them for,” Father Santos said. “The world is so loud that it’s hard to hear God’s call. We need a place to hear God speak to us and guide us to our vocation. And even if they decide the priesthood is not right for them, they can leave having grown a stronger relationship with God. We all need a relationship with God to become the person He wants us to be.”

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Featured image: Father David Santos befriends Iraqi children while serving in the military. (Photo courtesy of Father David Santos)