Daniel del Castillo González
A boy raised by nuns grows up to be a bullfighter. This story might sound like a movie. But for Jordi Perez this is real life.
Jordi is a 26-year-old bullfighter. When he was 12, began living with The Mothers of the Forsaken at the San José de la Montaña shelter.
THE CONVENT KID
Bullfighter
Due to certain circumstances, my parents couldn’t take care of us at that time. And well, with all the pain in their hearts and all their regret, they had to make what you might call a drastic decision, because that’s not what they wanted, right? They wanted to take care of us, protect us—just as a father and mother want for their children.
Being raised by nuns alongside his siblings changed Jordi's life and set him on the path to his future calling.
THE CONVENT KID
Bullfighter
We’ve been given a second chance in life to make the most of it and become people of good character—and, above all, to gain an education and values that are truly remarkable today.
Jordi's “mothers” signed him up for rugby at first, but the sport wasn’t his passion.
He wanted to be a bullfighter. When the nuns went to sign him up, they thought Mother Elisa was asking for supplies.
MOTHER ELISA
Mothers of the Helpless
A teacher, Juan Carlos Vera, who was there at the school, was a little surprised when he saw me arrive. We told him a little about how excited and eager our son was, and he was happy to hear it. He told me, “Mother, don’t worry—he’s only going to learn good things here, and whether he succeeds or not, we’re going to instill values in him that we’ll agree on together with you.”
That is how Jordi Pérez began his journey towards being a bullfighter, with the nuns by his side every step of the way.
THE CONVENT KID
Bullfighter
The truth is that they offered to help right from the start. Whenever the bullfighting gear broke, they’d fix it. And well, that’s been their biggest… you could say, and then there’s also praying for me, which I think is the most important aspect—and the bullfighter, you could say, is the one who receives the most prayers during a bullfight these days.
The nuns accompany Jordi to the bullrings and give him advice such as telling him to get closer to the bull if he wants to succeed.
MOTHER ELISA
Mothers of the Helpless
We’ve always encouraged him—in fact, I always tell him, “You have to step up, because if you don’t…”
He made his debut in a Luces costume in Murcia, so we went to Murcia to watch the debut, and we took vans with all the children from the home to be with them.
We tried to have as many nuns there as possible so he would feel supported by those he considers his family.
Bullfighting isn't an easy sport. Jordi was seriously injured while bullfighting in Peru. But his convent family did not abandon him.
MOTHER ELISA
Mothers of the Helpless
motherelisa
When you find out what’s happening so many kilometers away, we’ve had a very, very difficult time. We’ve had a really, really hard time.
We haven’t slept, because when it’s daytime here, it’s nighttime there. So, in order to do anything, we were up all night, talking to one person, then another.
Jordi now makes grand entrances into bullfighting arenas, but to his convent family, he'll always be one of their kids.
