Argentinian juggler Paul Ponce performs during the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu Wednesday. PHOTO by Angeli Cantillana
CEBU CITY — It was a 10-year wait but it was worth it.
Renowned Argentinian juggler Paul Ponce prayed every morning to “consecrate” a woman who would be his wife and lead her to him.
But God didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, He made him wait for 10 years before finally meeting Lia, a counselor and who like him went to Mass and prayed the rosary daily.
And Ponce understood why it took that long.
“Now I realized it was worth it. If I [had chosen] another woman earlier, I should not have met her (Lia). I needed 10 years of purification,” he said.
Ponce was a young man when he became a famous juggler in Argentina.
He had fame, fortune and several women but he was not happy.
“All these are great achievements. [But] they didn’t give me the happiness I was searching for. I wanted more,” Ponce told delegates of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress during his testimonial at the IEC Pavilion on Wednesday morning.
His life changed after he received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the age of 21.
Ponce said he came to know about God and the teachings of the Catholic Church—something which opened his eyes to the truth and experience the joy he longed for.
“I was overwhelmed by the treasures of our Catholic faith. I used to see Jesus on the cross when I was little boy. But what shocked me was the fact that he’s just waiting for us. I was not obligated to follow Him. I have the choice to follow him or not,” he said.
Ponce, now 43, once performed before Pope Benedict XVI during the World Youth Day celebration in Cologne, Germany in 2005.
After he was drawn to Christ, Ponce saw the need to attend Mass and receive communion every day.
“I never knew that Jesus was really present in the Holy Eucharist. But if Jesus is present in the Eucharist, why are people not going to the churches? If Jesus is present in every church, it should be filled,” he stressed.
His love for God led him to many surprises and blessings, including a wonderful wife and children.
Ponce said he prayed for her lifetime partner every day.
“I have to consecrate her every morning, in my prayers, in the act of hope. I said ‘God I hope in you and what you want for me. Guide her, protect her, and lead her to me in 10 years,” he said.
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Ponce said he met ladies in the show business and in the parishes but nothing worked out because they didn’t share the same values.
“I kept praying. But I didn’t say 10 years anymore,” he said.
One day, Ponce met a woman named Lia in one of the activities in Mexico.
Although they were together for just three days, they continued communicating through email.
And he knew that it was Lia whom he had been waiting for.
Ponce said what she loved about Lia was that they both pray together every day.
“She was living her spiritual life very strongly. We had a holy courtship and prayed every day in the church,” he said.
Ponce added that chastity was an important aspect of their relationship.
“Some show producers gave us one room. But I told them we can’t stay together because we’re still dating but are not yet married,” he said.
Ponce and Lia got married in May 2005 and now have three children– Pablo, 9; Jose, 7; and Lili, 6.
They travel around the world together and made sure that they sanctify their family through constant prayers and by attending Mass regularly.
“We pray together before we go to bed. Each one of us would say ‘thank you’ for the things we lived that day, and ‘sorry’ for every wrongdoing,” Ponce said. CDG