WEST VALLEY CITY — The journey of becoming a priest for Father Javier Virgen was not a simple or easy one. Fr. Javier was ordained 13 years ago. He became the pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, West Valley City, in 2003. Since that time, the parish has grown from 600 families to 1,600 families with the growth of the Hispanic population in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Fr. Virgen grew up in Guadalajara City, Mexico, in a family of 17 children. He was 8 years old and serving as an altar boy when he expressed to his parents that he wanted to become a priest. "I was influenced by the commitment, dedication, and prayerful life of my parish priest and his associate in serving the people in the community," said Fr. Virgen. "I went to public school until the fourth grade when the Sisters of Jesus and Mary opened a parochial school next to our parish. "The sisters influenced me so deeply as I watched them praying together and working together as a team in their pastoral life," said Fr. Virgen. "I was thinking of joining the Carmelite order because I was drawn to their spirituality and the spirituality of St. John of the Cross. But then one day one of the sisters asked me to help organize the library, and I came across a the biography of St. Francis of Assisi, and I sat down and just kept reading until I was finished. 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." When Fr. Virgen finished junior high, he joined the Franciscan seminary to attend high school. After finishing high school, he was no longer sure if he wanted to become a priest or a Franciscan, and received permission to leave the seminary to discern his vocation. One year later, Fr. Virgen decided to come to the United States. He said it was an adventure because he did not have a visa, but his brother was a coyote, who helped immigrants cross the border. It was about 30 years ago when it was not as strict as it is today. "I crossed the border in a group of 20," said Fr. Virgen. "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. 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." What Fr. Virgen realized at that time, was the profound need of Hispanic priests to serve the growing Hispanic population in California. He knew what they were facing and their difficulties because he could not speak English. Fr. Virgen moved to Milwaukee, Wisc., to live with another brother for three years while working in a factory. He was earning $5 an hour and was able to help his brother, send money to his family in Mexico, and save for himself. "I found a spiritual director who was an Anglo priest who spoke Spanish fluently. It was a blessing," said Fr. Virgen. "I decided to go back to Mexico and return to the Franciscan seminary. I knew my calling was to the priesthood after working and seeing the needs of the people, and my own experience." Fr. Virgen spent a year at the minor seminary as a novice learning Franciscan spirituality and the rules of the order. He received his habit, and took his simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He attended the major seminary at the College of Philosophy for three years, one year teaching in the minor seminary, and three years at the College of Theology "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. So I moved to Utah despite not liking the cold winters. I met with Bishop William K. Weigand, then bishop of the diocese, and was assigned to study English before going to St. Henry Parish in Brigham City to serve under Jesuit Father F. Warren Schoeppe, pastor. I taught religion and visited Hispanic families. I waited for six months before hearing from Father Michael J. Winterer, then vocations director, that I had been accepted into the Diocese of Salt Lake City. I continued studying English at the University of Utah before entering Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. I spent another year immersed in nothing but English. After my fourth year in theology, I was accepted into the transitional diaconate. That was the happiest day in my life." He received permission from Bishop Weigand to have his spiritual retreat with the Franciscans in Mexico. When he returned to Utah he had to complete his clinical pastoral experience training. He said that is a time when you have to face your own emotions, and learn how you are going to react when someone has a terminal illness or is dying, which are realities faced in a hospital every day. The training gave him the means to help his parishioners now as a priest as he counsels them is various situations. Fr. Virgen received permission from Bishop Weigand to be ordained in his home town of Guadalajara City, Mexico, which was the first ordination ever in that city. He was ordained Sept. 4, 1993, and said it was three days of celebration and rejoicing. Since then eight more priests have been ordained in Guadalajara City. Fr. Virgen’s philosophy is unity among diversity, which he learned from his mother. Among his parishioners are people from Mexico, Latin America, Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Japan, Korea, Tonga, the Philippines, India, Africa, and Somoa.
Stay Connected With Us