From diamond and drug trafficker to priest in Castellón

From international trafficker to priest in a town. It could be the plot line of a new Netflix or HBO series. And it would be based on real events. Matteo Bordignon, 43, is the new parish priest Els Ports (Castellón), specifically from six municipalities: Cinctorres, Forcall, la Mata, la Todolella, Olocau del Rey and Portell.

With a house in Morella, his arrival is being widely commented as his life story is known, marked by a radical and revolutionary change, which led him from a dark past to teach the word of God.

The former Bordignon stagestarring drugs and crime, is revealed through an interview that can be seen on YouTube, on the Silent Help channel.

“I explain this testimony to make visible that changes in life are possible and bear witness to the work of Godaway from the curiosity for the activities of the past”, relates the now priest, who he remembers his experiences among the neighbors without hiding his old steps.

A stage that marks “dark” and lasted 16 yearsin which he summarizes that he devoted himself to drug trafficking in Europe, Asia and Africa. Remember that he experimented with all kinds of substances, “joints, vitamins, ecstasy or tripis”. From his origins in Treviso (Italy) he says that, at the age of 10, his dream was “to live as a trafficker”and note that his father “had sympathy for the Red Brigades”.

His personal Copernican turn began in Sierra Leone: “I traded diamonds, I was in a small village and the shaman, during a ritual, told me that I had no soul. That phrase marked me.” Back in Europe, he was aware that he had hit rock bottom and, “For the first time, I asked for help and my family, who managed to get me out of that spiral”.

In addition to his family, the call was key Cenacle Community. This religious organization was the one Matteo joined and where “the miracle happened”, to definitively break with his past. From there, self-demand, work and prayer led him through a long process that began in 2006 and has lasted until 2021, when he was ordained a priest in Tortosa. Previously, he was a missionary in different places such as bosnian and France. One of his destinations was Tarragonawhere he decided to become a priest.

“A fellow member of the community emphasized to me that I had to enter the seminary. I had the certainty, although it went against all logic, that it was the path I should take”affirms about his definitive consecration to God.

In March 2021 he was ordained a deacon and on September 25 as a priest, by the Bishop of Tortosa, Enrique Benavent. A few days later, on October 8, it was made public that Bordignon was the new vicar of Morella and curate of six parishes in Els Ports.

After his appointment and disembarkation in the region, he integrates, little by little, into the routine. After spending his first winter, he already knows the rigors of the cold and is becoming familiar with the winding roads he travels every day to move to the churches it manages. “I’m happy. I notice the affection of the neighbors, here they have a very rich religious and cultural life and we participate in many activities”manifests.

The parish priest also underlines his “demanding self”. “I want to do my job well. They are my first parishes and I like to reach people through my priestly vocation”, Add.

The predisposition of the mosén is total and highlights his “intense” agenda of initiatives: “We have a catechesis for children who are preparing for Communion and post-communion”. Matteo prefers to talk about the present, although He has no qualms about admitting his past. “I know that the video has circulated. At first I thought that it could create some damage or surprise, but nothing is further from the truth, I feel loved. People value transparency and then they also open up to talk about the issues that are necessary,” concludes.