Pastor Assignments: Fr. José Barrera Hernández

Friday, Jul. 28, 2023

Fr. José Barrera Hernández was born and raised in El Salvador. He attended the Collegio Seminario Pío in San Vicente, El Salvador, when he was 17 years old. Later, he studied philosophy and theology at the San José de la Montana Major Seminary in San Salvador. After eight years of pastoral work in various parishes in the Diocese of San Vicente, he left for a mission in the Diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico. During this time, Fr. Barrera studied at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, where he obtained a master’s degree in education, with concentration in psychology. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 12, 1992 by Bishop José Oscar Barahona Castillo for the Diocese of San Vicente, where he served in various assignments before coming to the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 2009.

His first assignment in Utah was as parochial vicar of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City, while also assisting at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale. Subsequently he ministered at St. Joseph Parish in Ogden, St. Rose of Lima Parish in Layton, the Cathedral of the Madeleine and again at St. Therese, where he has served as administrator since 2016. In addition, he served for eight years as spiritual director for the diocesan Charismatic Latino Group. On Aug. 2 he will become administrator of San Felipe Parish in Wendover.

I want them to know that I want to reach San Felipe with the joy of the Gospel. Above all, I want to proclaim a message of mercy and of God’s love for the entire community. I am going to build the community of faith based on Christ and on what other pastors have done for several years. Remembering the recent Eucharistic Rally, I will invite the community to promote the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life. I want to visit the families, share with them joys and sorrows; listen to everyone and promote formation in the Christian faith in children, young people and adults.

I expect openness and dedication from the Wendover community. I would like to strengthen existing ministries and work in unity and peace. I would like to observe the talents that exist in the people of San Felipe and put them on the path of work to build a joyful and strong community in faith.

My greatest challenge has been accepting the priesthood on Dec. 12, 1992 as a ministry of love and service. In truth, making Christ present in the celebration of the sacraments is something that I do not deserve. From the beginning, I have had a holy fear of not measuring up to the demands of the priesthood. Another challenge has been leaving my homeland twice; the first, in June 1999 to go on the mission in the Diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The second in August 2009, to come to Utah. However, I am happy to have found a bigger family in each parish where I have worked.

a) Having invested my younger brother as a priest in the Cathedral of San Vicente, El Salvador, on Dec. 15, 2012.

b) Investing a native priest of Midvale, Father André Sicard, at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City on June 30, 2023.

c) To have reduced the parish debt of St. Therese to very low levels, in a period of seven years, paying more than $1 million, with the support of this beautiful community.