New priest from Mexico assigned to cathedral

Courtesy photo

+ Enlarge

Father Alfredo Valdez Molina

SALT LAKE CITY — Father Alfredo Valdez Molina, the new parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, fell in love with Utah years ago, but it wasn’t until last month that he was able to come to minister here.

His path to the priesthood began when he was a young adult and was actively participating in the youth group in his hometown of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. It was then that one of the seminarians who ministered at his parish asked him to consider becoming a priest.

After that, the parish priest invited three young men, including Fr. Valdez, to attend the seminary. The three of them went to visit, but at the time Fr. Valdez was pursuing another career.

“When I finished my studies, I decided to enter the seminary,” he said. “I realized I was really very attracted to the priesthood life because our priest looked extremely happy, and that was very puzzling but at the same time something that I really wanted.”

As time passed in the seminary, he enjoyed hanging out with other seminarians and got to know more priests, so Fr. Valdez confirmed his vocation.

“God was really calling me to the priesthood ministry, I had no doubt,” he said.

He was ordained a priest in January 2002 by Monsignor Vicente Garcia Bernal, Bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Ciudad Obregon, his home town. He served in that diocese for five years. His first assignment was in Poblado Morelos, Sonora.

Then he received an invitation to minster in Utah from one of his seminary classmates, Fr. Martin Picos, who is now pastor of St. Mary Parish in West Haven.

“When I asked my bishop in Ciudad Obregon, he had already committed me to the Diocese of Phoenix,” Fr. Valdez said. “Despite the fact that I fell in love with Utah, my bishop told me I had to go to Phoenix, so I did.”

In Phoenix, he was appointed to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, where he was for three years. He spent another three years at St. Mary Parish in Chandler, Az., and then for nine years served as pastor of La Santisima Trinidad Mission in Littlefield, Az.

During his years of ministry in Arizona, Fr. Valdez made several trips to Utah. In 2004 he visited Logan, where Fr. Clarence Sandoval was then pastor. In 2005 he made another pastoral visit.

“I was really attracted to the community in Utah,” Fr. Valdez said, but the invitation to formally be part of the Diocese of Salt Lake City didn’t become a reality until this year.

“After several years of trying and trying and sending several emails, in January of this year I was finally accepted, but not until April was my appointment official,” he said.

Now that he is officially ministering in Salt Lake, he finally feels at home, he said.

“I am very happy and thankful for the opportunity to share my ministry in this diocese,” he said, recalling that one day a lady in Phoenix told him that when you wish something with all your heart God will grant it, “and so he did. He had the moment perfect for me to be here. … I can describe myself as a priest who doesn’t give up, who has lots of patience and that has the hope in the Lord through prayer.”

Now, at the cathedral, Fr. Valdez hopes to be able to continue living like Jesus did.

“During the years that God will grant me here I want to serve all, and in any place that I get sent to,” he said. “I am very in peace and thankful for having the opportunity to share the sacraments with the people of God in Utah.”

Fr. Valdez speaks English and Spanish.