Father Javier Virgen retires

Friday, Jul. 28, 2023

WEST JORDAN — Father Javier Virgen, who has served as pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish since 2017, is retiring effective Aug. 2.  

Born in Estipac, Jalisco, Mexico, he joined the Franciscan Order in 1975, after junior high school. When he finished his novitiate he came to Utah in 1989, and applied to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. After he was accepted, he was sent to Mount Angel Seminary to finish his priestly training. He was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 4, 1993 in his home parish in Estipac, Jalisco, Mexico by the Most Rev. Bishop William K. Weigand, seventh Bishop of Salt Lake City. 

“Simply being ordained is a great blessing and a privilege, not because I deserve it; no, but because the essence of being priest is encapsulated in two words: to serve, with all my talents, gifts and limitations as well,” Fr. Virgen said.

Fr. Virgen has ministered in the Diocese of Salt Lake City since 1995. A past vocations director, he also has been a diocesan consultor, episcopal vicar for the diocesan Office of Hispanic Affairs and a member of the priests’ personnel board. He has served as parochial vicar at the parishes of St. Joseph (Ogden), St. Francis of Assisi in Orem and St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Midvale; as pastor of St. Elizabeth in Central Valley, Sts. Peter and Paul in West Valley City and Our Lady of Lourdes in Magna; and administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Salt Lake City and administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish from 2016 to 2017.  He has also been the spiritual director for the Hispanic Charismatic renewal.

“My experience in our Diocese of Salt Lake City has been one of the best I have ever enjoyed in my entire life,” Fr. Virgen said. “This diocese opened the doors for me in so many ways that I was able to fulfill my desire to priestly ministry among the people of God, under the wise direction of our bishops and along with my brother priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters during these years in Utah.”

Every place he ministered had its own challenges and satisfactions, he said, and he realized “always that I have been just a servant of the Lord and his instrument. St. Joseph the Worker Parish, my last parish, a wonderful community of faith, generosity with so many talented people, has touched my heart in so many ways. I will be very grateful to the staff and community for their understanding, love and patience. Every parish and its members are very unique. I always say that it is more that we learn from our wonderful and dedicated parishioners than what we can give. I will keep them in my prayers and my heart.” 

Fr. Virgen, who is a kidney transplant recipient, is retiring because of health concerns. In the years since the transplant, “even though my kidney is still working fine, I don’t have the same energy as before,” he said. “During Covid I got sick and other complications surfaced.”

After his retirement, Fr. Virgen will visit family and friends in Mexico but will spend much of his time in Salt Lake City, where he hopes to fill in for his brother priests when needed, he said.

“I am so grateful to everyone in the Diocese of Salt Lake City who has contributed in helping me through my priestly ministry since I was ordained through their prayers, love and friendship,” he said. “I will never forget those who have touched my life in so many ways particularly those who mentored me and are close to my heart since I started my priestly ministry.”   

Members of St. Joseph the Worker Parish wish him well on his retirement. “Speaking for our parishioners and myself, what a great fortune to have spent these past seven years with Fr. Javier,” said Deacon Sunday Espinoza. “If I can borrow from Mt. 25: 23, he has brought God’s message alive through his words, inspiration and dedication to the parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker. His primary goal was to bring a deeper spirituality here. He has succeeded. We sincerely appreciate his love and blessed service. He will be greatly missed, but he assures us we will be in good hands.”

At Fr.  Virgen’s request there will not be a retirement party. St. Joseph the Worker parishioners and others are invited to participate in small gatherings in the parish hall on Saturday, July 29 after the 5 p.m. Mass and on Sunday, July 30 after the 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Masses to say their goodbyes.

Fr. Eleazar Silva Galván has been assigned as the new pastor of St. Joseph the Worker; he will begin on Aug. 2.