Pastor Assignments: Fr. Carlos Guzman, RCJ

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Father Carlos Guzman, RCJ was born in the Philippines. He earned a degree in philosophy from the Father Hannibal Formation Center, and a degree in theology from the Don Bosco School of Theology. Both institutions are in Paranaque City, the Philippines. He also holds a master’s degree in religious education and is working on a master’s degree in special education. 

He was ordained a priest for the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus on May 16, 2004 by the Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes, Bishop of Antipolo. 

His first assignment as a priest was as assistant pastor of a parish in Papua New Guinea before being sent as a missionary to Poland. He then served for 17 years as an educator at St. Anthony’s Boys Village and eventually as rector of Rogationist College. 

In 2024 he arrived in Utah as a Rogationist missionary, and has served as temporary administrator of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy. In May, he was appointed as the diocesan vocations director, and on Aug. 1 he will become administrator of Saint Ann Parish in Salt Lake City. 

Being a priest for more than 21 years “has always been a continuous realization that God is a faithful God,” said Father Carlos, as he prefers to be called. “This conviction has led me to a greater discovery and appreciation of the gift of priesthood, that my priesthood is not a priesthood for myself, but for the people God.” 

A new assignment is always an opportunity to learn more about himself, he said, adding that he is always enriched by the challenges that it brings about. 

“I always believe that, though I have been a priest for several years, there will always be room for improvement and learning,” he said. “It is my prayer that the people of St. Ann will help me bring them closer to each other and to Jesus, the true and good shepherd.” 

In moments of leisure, he finds “a moment of silence and being with myself,” he said. “I spend it mostly in my room, having a time of rest.”

He also occasionally goes to the cinema to watch a movie, he said.

He is grateful to the parishioners of Blessed Sacrament, he said, because “when I first came to the parish, I didn’t have a clear idea of what to do and how to do things because I moved in barely a month after my arrival in the States,” he said, and the congregation was generous and willing to guide and help him.

His appointment as vocations director is particularly meaningful because “I belong to a congregation whose main charism is to pray for vocations – the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus,” he said. 

He asks all the young people in the diocese who may have a calling to the priestly or religious life to reach out to their parish and the diocesan vocation office. “We will help you in your discernment, in discovering the beauty of offering your life to the Lord, with the hope and prayer that one day you will be one of the future shepherds and consecrated persons of the local Church in Salt Lake City,” he said. “The Lord loves you and he calls you – just answer yes.”