New priest at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in SLC

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Father Roberto H. Montoro Sasia

WEST VALLEY CITY – Saints Peter and Paul Parish welcomed Father Roberto H. Montoro Sasia, who arrived last week from Mexico to become the parish’s parochial vicar.

Born and raised in Tehuacan Puebla, Mexico, Fr. Montoro heard a call to the priesthood when he was very young, but his family, especially his father, wasn’t sure he should follow that vocation.

"I knew I wanted to become a priest since I was a little boy, but it was a little hard for my dad to accept my vocation," said Fr. Montoro.

Rather than enter the seminary after high school, he attended college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration before entering the Misioneros del Espiritu Santo Seminary and studied philosophy. For a time he worked in what is known as the Integral System of the New Evangelization, then was invited to enter the conciliar seminary in Mexico City.

"I am very devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe; she was the one who helped me on my road to priesthood," Fr. Montoro said.

Ordained a priest on June 15, 2001 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City by Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Fr. Montoro worked in Mexico City for some years until he received an invitation from the Catholic Diocese in Dallas. This invitation opened the door for him to come to Utah later.

"I was invited to Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas, but the paperwork took a long, long time so the invitation was stopped," said Fr. Montoro.

He continued to work in Mexico. Then one day his spiritual advisor asked him a funny question: Do you mind cold weather? Fr. Montoro answered without having any clue of why he was being asked.

The next day a big surprise was waiting for him. He received a phone call from Father Javier Virgen, Vicar for Hispanic Affairs for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. After a bit of conversation, Fr. Virgen told the other priest that, if he didn’t mind, he was going to call the Diocese in Dallas about the application.

Fr. Virgen received good recommendations regarding Fr. Montoro, which he shared with Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, then the Salt Lake diocese’s vicar general; and the Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City.

As a result, a new invitation was extended to Fr. Montoro: to move to the Diocese of Salt Lake City rather than Dallas.

After praying and talking with his spiritual guide again, Fr. Montoro decided to come to Utah.

"I arrived here with a lot of joy," said Fr. Montoro, who wants to integrate with his new community and learn their culture because, as he said, ‘The love of God is integral commitment."

The community has received him with joy and thankfulness.

"He was very needed here," said Alfredo Encinas, parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul who with his wife, Alma, and two children were very excited when they realized they have a new priest.

Another parishioner, Victoria Perez, already feels a connection to the new priest. "I came from Puebla, so he reminds me where I come from and that makes me very happy and proud."