Fr. Virgen assigned to West Jordan

Friday, May. 06, 2016

MAGNA —  Since being ordained for the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1993, Father Javier Virgen has served in a wide variety of parishes and ministries. Now, beginning Aug. 1, he will leave his role as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Magna) to become administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in West Jordan.

Fr. Virgen grew up in Guadalajara,  Mexico, with 16 brothers and sisters. He remembers hearing a call to the priesthood at the age of 8, while he was serving as an altar boy. He was influenced by his pastor and the parish associate as well as the Sisters of Jesus and Mary at the parochial school next to his home parish, he said in a previous interview. 

 Then he came across a book about St. Francis of Assisi, and “from that moment on I was so impressed with St. Francis’ life of simplicity and humility, his total detachment from worldly goods, and his commitment to God and to the poor that I changed my mind and I wanted to join the Franciscans,” said Fr. Virgen.

Before entering high school, he joined a Franciscan seminary, then received permission to leave to discern his vocation.

At that point he decided to start a totally new journey. One of his brothers offered to help him cross the border into the United States, which he did with a group of around 20 people.

That was more than 30 years ago.

 “One thing I remember, which was a blessing for us, was we started praying the rosary with so much faith and trust because we were afraid of being caught by immigration officers and being deported,” he said. “We would walk and rest and walk and rest all day and night. Finally I arrived safely in Los Angeles. I spent a couple of months living with one of my brothers and working in a sound system factory.” 

Seeing the difficulties faced by the growing Hispanic population in California, Fr. Virgen again felt a call to a priestly vocation, so he decided to return to the Franciscan seminary in Mexico. 

“I knew my calling was to the priesthood after working and seeing the needs of the people, and my own experience,” he said.

As a friar, Fr. Virgen took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 

“I started pondering again the possibility of being a seminarian among the Hispanics in Los Angeles. Finally after three requests, I received permission from my superior. By then I was 33 years old, and my brother from Milwaukee had moved to Utah. He told me there was a real need for Hispanic priests in the Diocese of Salt Lake City,” said Fr. Virgen.

With the approval of the Most Rev. Bishop William K. Weigand, seventh Bishop of Salt Lake City, Fr. Virgen studied English at the University of Utah before entering Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. 

“After my fourth year in theology, I was accepted into the transitional diaconate,” the step prior to being ordained a priest, he said. “That was the happiest day in my life.”

On Sept. 4, 1993 Fr. Virgen was ordained a priest in his hometown of Guadalajara.

Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, diocesan administrator, was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Ogden when Fr. Virgen was first assigned there as parochial vicar.

“He is one of the priests of the diocese who is fully bilingual in both English and his native Spanish language. This facility has enabled him to serve as the Vicar for Hispanic Affairs in the diocese since 2008. He has also served on the Priests’ Personnel Board, the Presbyteral Council, and as both Associate and Director of Vocations,” Msgr. Bircumshaw said.

Father Virgen said that even though he’ll miss the community in Magna, he is looking forward to his new assignment.

“It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to work with the people in Magna. Both the Anglos and the Hispanics worked hard together, and we were able to establish a good relationship,” said Fr. Virgen.

Aware that each parish has its own challenges, Fr. Virgen wants the community of St. Joseph the Worker Parish to know that he will arrive with an open mind, and with the will to learn and to listen to them.

“I want to spend some time getting to know them. I want to walk with them in their spiritual journey; together we will make stronger the community of love and faith,” said Fr. Virgen.

“Every faith community he has served in the 23 years of his priestly ministry has developed great affection for him, and I am confident the same will be true for the faithful of St. Joseph the Worker,” added Msgr. Bircumshaw.