“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. My command is this: Love each other.” (John 15:16-17)
(Bolivia-Peru Province) – On Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Our Lady of Candelaria Parish in the city of Tupiza, an event of grace and joy took place with the priestly ordination of Deacon Ronald Agapito Bolívar Aparicio, a Redemptorist missionary who was born and raised among the customs and prosperity of the people of Tupiza.
This celebration was prepared by a vocation week, so, night after night, the different life learnings were presented. On Thursday, the priestly vocation was presented, in particular the Redemptorist vocation, which, faithful to the Alphonsian charism, continues to announce the abundant redemption.
People arrived at the Church as if it were their own child, excited, grateful, happy… that a Tupiza native “becomes a priest”.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Monsignor Nicolás Renán Aguilera Arroyo, Bishop of the Diocese of Potosí, who fraternally addressed Ronald Agapito during the homily, saying: “…the priest is of the people and is ordained for his people,” inviting him to love and accompany the people, and at the same time inviting the people to continue accompanying him with prayer at all times.
“Agapito, pray, pray always, in season and out of season, in joys and also in the difficult moments that will not be lacking, but let your strength be prayer, trust, love, and hope in the Lord… remember that it is God who has chosen you, just as the reading you have chosen has been.” Bishop Renánemphasized thatthe Lord chose them and commanded them to remain in love, sent them to live the commandment of love, to give their lives for love in the service of all, “…even those who fail, because He has entrusted even them to you. Therefore, this reading will mark your priestly life.”
For his part, Father Boris Calzadilla Arteaga, Provincial Superior, expressed his gratitude for the presence and support of Bishop Renán Aguilera. Addressing the new priest, he said, “Thank you, Ronald, for your ‘yes’ to the Lord—decisive, generous, courageous, and creative. Thank you for listening to God’s voice, for trusting in Him, and for taking this step in your life.” He then thanked the Bolívar Aparicio family for planting the seed of faith in their son, for supporting him in his vocation, and for entrusting a son to God.
Finally, the new priest, Fr. Ronald Agapito Bolívar Aparicio, thanked God for the gift of life and his calling, for it is in His infinite goodness that He granted him the priestly ministry. He thanked his family for the gift of faith and for accompanying and supporting him in his religious vocation. He concluded his expression of gratitude by entrusting himself to the prayers of his people, asking them to pray “that the Lord may continue to raise up shepherds after His own heart.”
Fr. Boris Calzadilla, CSsR.
Provincial Superior
