By: Daisy Magaña
While most 10 year-old boys are busy pretending to be cowboys or making their mother’s task of doing laundry a test of patience, Father Alberto Rojas was contemplating life as a priest. He, of course, was not aware of all the obligations, sacrifices, and work of being a priest, but what greatly attracted him to such virtuous, disciplined life was the community involvement a priest can have. By the age of 13, he was convinced he would go into the seminary, and eventually he would be ordained a priest. However, this would not happen without a brief hiatus from the religious life for some “soul searching.” Now years later, he finds himself elected to serve as auxiliary bishop to Francis Cardinal George.
Father Alberto was born and raised in Aguascalientes, Mexico in a family of four brothers and three sisters [he is the third youngest with two younger brothers]. Since the age of 10, he began contemplating life as a priest as he had always attended Catholic schools and had been surrounded by the religious. There was one time he remembers distinctly as a child when seminarians visited his school sparking his interest in priesthood. He knew he wanted to be a priest; however, he did not know what that exactly entailed. In fact, he wasn’t really thinking about celebrating masses but more in the activity with the community. In his early 20’s he felt he needed to know what working was since he had never had a steady full-time job and took a break from his religious studies. He eventually continued his theological studies at University of Saint Mary of the Lake, also called Mundelein Seminary.
Before accepting his new role as auxiliary bishop [ordination August 10th], he will finish his service at Good Shepherd Parish. It was originally established as Polish parish in 1907, yet over the past few years it has experienced a strong growth in Latino presence. Father Alberto’s recently appointed service to the community of Good Shepherd Parish is what makes his ordination as [auxiliary] bishop even more unique. He explained that priests usually stay at the same parish for a period of six years with an opportunity to serve an additional six year service.
This new position was a blessing from the skies. He was not looking for it; it just came to him like “boom!” Father Alberto explained. He did not desire to be bishop—it wasn’t even on his “radar” until he received a phone call from the Vatican. He does not feel prepared enough to serve the Archdiocese in this new role. At first, Father Alberto even believed that they had the wrong number until the person on the other line started describing him. The election of a bishop is a long and elaborate process because candidates’ names are selected and then sent to the Vatican for deliberation in which much prayer and reflection takes place. In awe and shock, he went to the chapel and started praying for guidance.
He is clearly aware of the magnitude of this “fullness of ordination” as it requires an increase of responsibility and obligation, but also the highest blessing in the pastoral ladder. “There’s no school for bishops, so you learn in the process,” said Francis Cardinal George in a conversation with him. It is exactly his 14 years of service Francis Cardinal George explained to him, that serves as preparation for this new journey. Father Alberto will be overlooking 60 parishes and is excited for the opportunity to gain knowledge of what each and every one of them is like. What has helped Father Alberto’s strong commitment and service to the community? His relationship with God, “when we are ordained, we are priests 24/7. I’ve been to the hospital in the middle of the night and what refreshes us is Prayer. You have to have a relationship with God. And then of course, exercise is good!” Visiting his family in Mexico helps him re-energize to stay refreshed and full of vigor for his parishioners. He also knows how to take advantage of the plentiful museums and art life Chicago has to offer.
When asked about his greatest personal accomplishment he fully acknowledges that being a priest he can attribute that to God. Taking a moment to reflect and furrowing his eyebrow, “wow! I have come to a country with a different language and culture, and I have studied and graduated there from a university…” said Father Alberto. Especially since his family was all too familiar with the struggles of obtaining an education.
It was the seminarians who motivated Father Alberto and acknowledges the importance education. He urges to “take all the opportunities life is presenting them with here [U.S.], if [you] are able to go on with their studies, do it. As a Hispanic community in the U.S. we need people who are prepared…” He highlights the importance of one’s faith and advises not to abandon it. “Don’t let yourself be consumed by the current materialist, individualist society we are surrounded by. Don’t lose your cultural background or your faith because those are the most valuable things you have,” wisely imparts Father Alberto.
