CV NEWS FEED // Colorado-based St. John Vianney Theological Seminary is welcoming Father Angel Perez-Lopez March 19 as the seminary’s new rector, making him the first alumnus to hold the position.
“I am happy and full of gratitude to God and to Archbishop Aquila for this assignment,” Fr. Perez-Lopez said, according to a profile story of the new rector by Denver Catholic. “I hope that the Lord continues to help me, as he has always done in all my previous assignments, so that I can teach seminarians, by word and example, how to become holy priests.”
Denver Catholic stated that Fr. Perez-Lopez has taught multiple classes at St. John Vianney for over a decade and has published seven books and 18 articles. He will be formally installed as the new rector on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19. He will be succeeding Father Daniel Leonard, who has served as the Rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary for eight years and is now preparing for a sabbatical.
In the Denver Catholic article, Fr. Perez-Lopez spoke about the importance of the formation of holy priests, which he said is a vital part of the archdiocese’s mission.
“They are close collaborators of Christ in His redemptive mission of rescuing men and women for eternal life and, ultimately, for the glory of the Father,” he said, according to Denver Catholic.
Further, cultivating the seminarians’ love of Jesus is at the heart of spiritual priestly formation, he said.
“This dimension of priestly formation is like its soul,” Fr. Perez-Lopez said according to the Denver Catholic. “It animates all the studies we do at the seminary so that they [seminarians] become a putting on of the mind of Christ, not conforming to the mentality of this world.”
Fr. Perez-Lopez also urged the faithful to pray for him in his new role, and for the whole seminary. He encouraged parents to be an example and live the faith boldly for their children.
“They can also cultivate the vocations of their children in their families from an early age,” he said. “After all, seminarians are not born in seminaries! They are born and raised in families.”
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