Religious priests celebrate years of service to the church
The Diocese of Austin is blessed with more than 50 priests from various religious orders who serve in parishes and ministries throughout Central Texas. Recently three of those priests celebrated big anniversaries. We thank them for saying yes to God’s call and for faithfully serving the people of God in Central Texas.
The Diocese of Austin is blessed with more than 50 priests from various religious orders who serve in parishes and ministries throughout Central Texas. Recently three of those priests celebrated big anniversaries. We thank them for saying yes to God’s call and for faithfully serving the people of God in Central Texas.
Father John Calgaro, a Conventual Franciscan priest, entered the novitiate in 1965, professed his solemn vows in 1969 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1974.
He grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and studied as a religious in Chicago, Toronto and New York. He has served in parishes in Illinois, and he spent many years serving in the Franciscan missions in Mexico. Father Calgaro currently serves as an associate pastor of Cristo Rey Parish in Austin.
Father Hector Vega, a Schoenstatt priest, began his journey to the priesthood when he was a fourth grader at Most Holy Trinity School in Brooklyn, New York. “Four of us made a pact to enter Immaculate Conception Preparatory Seminary,” he said. Father Vega was the only one to complete the six-year program. He went on to study at Marquette University in Milwaukee where he discerned a vocation to the Schoenstatt Fathers.
Father Vega spent eight years in Germany studying with the Schoenstatts. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974 at the International Schoenstatt Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He began his work as a priest with the Schoenstatt Movement in Corpus Christi. He traveled throughout the state of Texas for more than 20 years, working where the Schoenstatt Movement was active.
In 2011, he was assigned to serve as pastor of St. Paul Parish in Austin. Despite dealing with kidney issues, he continues to serve as associate pastor of St. Paul.
“I can genuinely say that I have no regrets about having accepted the call to the priesthood more than 70 years ago,” he said. “It has been a fascinating journey through ups and downs and ministering to people in their joys and sorrows, but also being taught and challenged by them to become a better and holier priest. May God give me the health and strength to be able to continue this ministry for as long as is in his will!”
Father Lijo Thomas is a member of the Society of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart (OSH). Born in Kerala, India, he joined the minor seminary in 2004 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2011. In India, he served as an associate pastor and pastor before he was sent to Rome to further his studies in moral theology.
Upon completing his studies in Rome, he was appointed as the rector of OSH seminarians in India. In July 2023, he came to the Diocese of Austin, where he serves as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin.
Father Thomas said his time in the Austin Diocese has been an enriching and joyful experience.
“I have witnessed Christ’s love in action through the dedication of the parish team and the vibrant faith of the congregation. This time of ministry has deepened my own spiritual journey and strengthened my commitment to serving God’s people with humility and joy,” he said.
For more information about religious and consecrated life in the Diocese of Austin, visit www.austindiocese.org/consecrated-and-apostolic-life.
