On the solemnity of St. Joseph, the Redemptorist family of Venezuela celebrates a double moment of joy in Barquisimeto.
On March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Andean-Caribbean Province—and especially the Redemptorist family in Venezuela—experienced a double moment of joy: the liturgical celebration of the patron saint and the priestly ordination of Deacon Jhonny William Vargas Vargas, C.Ss.R., conferred by the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer of Msgr. Polito Rodríguez Méndez, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Barquisimeto.
The ceremony took place in the parish of San José, the Redemptorists’ motherhouse in Venezuela, and was a particularly significant moment for the entire community: the new priest is originally from this city, known as the “twilight city,” famous for the extraordinary beauty of its sunsets.
Homily of the Archbishop
“This missionary dynamism has a very special resonance in Redemptorist spirituality. Following the example of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the Redemptorist missionary is called precisely to this: to reach out to the most abandoned, to proclaim Christ’s abundant redemption with creativity and closeness. Thus, what began as a call in Jeremiah becomes a missionary urgency in Paul,” said Archbishop Polito Rodríguez Méndez of Barquisimeto.
The celebration was attended by many Redemptorist missionaries from Colombia and Venezuela, diocesan priests, men, and women religious, seminarians, family members, and friends from various communities, all gathered to share this moment of blessing as one family.
The vocational journey of the new priest
Jhonny William Vargas Vargas was born on October 26, 1992, in Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela, the son of Jhonny Vargas and Anaís Vargas. His vocational journey within the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer was divided into the following stages:
- 2018 Aspirancy — Caracas (Venezuela)
- 2019–2020 Postulancy — Bogotá (Colombia)
- 2021 Novitiate — Piedecuesta, Santander (Colombia)
- 28 Jan. 2022 First temporary profession — Barquisimeto, Lara
- 2022–2023 Juniorate — Bogotá (Colombia)
- 2024 Pastoral experience — Valencia, Carabobo State (Venezuela)
- January 6 – February 14, 2025, Second Novitiate — Goiás, Brazil
- 15 Mar. 2025 Perpetual profession – Barquisimeto
- October 17, 2025: Ordination to the diaconate — Valencia
- 19 Mar. 2026 Priestly ordination — Barquisimeto
He currently resides in the Redemptorist community of Valencia, in the parish of the Most Holy Conception and Holy Infant of Prague.
Father John’s thanksgiving at the end of the celebration
“To conclude, I would like to recall a phrase from the prayer of perseverance that has deeply affected me: ‘Yes, to die well, I want to die a Redemptorist.’ May God always grant me the grace to continue the bond of our founder, Saint Alphonsus, to evangelize wherever mission is needed, always with the simplicity of a Redemptorist. Do not cease to pray for me: this will keep me strong in the various tasks entrusted to me. I too will keep you in my prayers.” – Fr. Jhonny William Vargas Vargas, C.Ss.R.
The Redemptorist family in Venezuela thanks the Lord for the gift of his vocation. We pray that he may be a faithful and joyful Missionary of Hope, in a Church that goes forth, following in the footsteps of the Redeemer. May his priestly ministry be filled with grace, health, and abundant blessings.
Text sent by Fr. Alexander Nieves, C.Ss.R.
