March 19, 2025
On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary celebrated the installation of Father Angel Perez-Lopez as its fifth rector—the first alumnus to lead the seminary.
Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, who presided over the ceremony, reflected on the significance of the day: “It is most appropriate that we have the installation of the new rector on the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The rector is called to be a father in the seminary—a role Father Daniel Leonard has faithfully fulfilled and now entrusts to Father Angel.”
Father Perez-Lopez, who previously served as Vicar for Clergy and pastor of St. Cajetan Parish, expressed gratitude for the new role. “I hope that the Lord continues to help me teach seminarians, by word and example, how to become holy priests,” he said.
Praised by Father Leonard as a man of “compassion, integrity, humility, and mission commitment,” Father Perez-Lopez steps into the role with strong support from seminary faculty and students. “God has blessed him with leadership, wisdom, and compassion,” said Fr. Jason Wallace, vocations director. Lay Division Director Daniel Campbell echoed this, calling the day “a great feast to install a new father of the seminary.”
During his homily, Archbishop Aquila highlighted St. Joseph’s virtues of faith, humility, and obedience—qualities he urged the new rector to embody. “These virtues are the foundation of priestly fatherhood,” he said, “and essential for forming future priests.”
Seminarians also shared excitement. “He is a priest I look up to,” said Luke Metzer, while fellow seminarian Tommy Myers added, “I know his focus is on being a father—showing us by example how to be fathers by first teaching us how to be sons.”
As he begins this new chapter, Father Perez-Lopez asked for prayers for himself and the seminary. “Seminarians are not born in seminaries—they are born and raised in families,” he noted. “Pray for us and continue fostering vocations in your homes.”
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