By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami

MIAMI | Father Juan Torres was a priest for only 14 years, and a pastor for only four. But he made an impression on the young people of Prince of Peace Parish in Miami.

“Father Juan was one of the biggest supporters of the young adult ministry at Prince of Peace while he was administrator to the parish,” wrote Maria Alejandra Rivas, a parishioner, on a Facebook post. “He showed unconditional support as we planned our trip to World Youth Day in Brazil. He didn’t think twice about attending our Wednesday night meetings on his day off and became a friend and spiritual director to my mom during some of the most difficult moments on her journey towards heaven.

“Everything he did, he did from the heart with genuine love for his family in Christ,” added Rivas, who now works as media coordinator and digital media specialist for the Archdiocese of Miami’s Office of Communications.

Father Torres died Oct. 23 in Orlando of complications from diabetes. He served as administrator and later pastor of Prince of Peace from July 2012 until February 2016. He served four months as parochial vicar at St. Joseph, Miami Beach, until his retirement for health reasons at the end of June 2016.

“He was always jovial and full of energy, willing to translate the Word of God into a life of pastoral service for the people of God,” said Father Juan Sosa, pastor of St. Joseph, who also taught Father Torres in the seminary. “I will miss his down to earth approach to pastoral life situations, as well as his hidden, but at times unveiling feelings, about the presence of God in our lives.”

Father Robert Ayala, administrator of St. Matthew in Hallandale, said in an email that his friend’s death came as somewhat of a shock, even though he knew he was ill and unable to drive anymore.

“We started seminary on the same day, even though he was a few years ahead of me. He became a part of my family, as he would spend time at home with me when we had breaks in the seminary,” Father Ayala recalled. “After he retired and went to Orlando, I missed the time we would spend together.”

He said Father Torres was a man who would let you know “where you stood with him,” and a priest with a profound devotion to the Miraculous Medal. So much so that he insisted on celebrating his first Mass at La Milagrosa chapel of Corpus Christi Parish in Miami.

Father Ayala and Father Torres also shared a common bond with Father José Maria Herrera, a retired priest from Cuba who spent a few years at Corpus Christi. “Both Juan and I took care of him and learned from Father José Maria what a holy priest looked like,” Father Ayala recalled.

He and Father Torres also shared a love of food. “He certainly loved to cook and he was my counterpart when it came to eating foods from all over the world� We liked to experiment with new food.”

Father Ayala added that “Father Juan wasn’t perfect but he certainly tried to be a holy priest. He loved his priesthood and he loved to deepen his knowledge to preach Jesus Christ.”

Born April 13, 1957 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Father Torres spent the first six years of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York. After his family moved back to Puerto Rico, he studied business administration at the Universidad de Puerto Rico and obtained a diploma in commercial banking from the American Institute of Banking. He worked for 10 years for Banco Popular in Puerto Rico. In 1987, he moved to Palm Beach, where he worked first for Barnett Bank and later for a computer company, installing networks. He returned to Puerto Rico in 1992, after his father became ill with cancer. While there, he set up his own business, installing computer and phone systems.

He applied to be a seminarian with the Archdiocese of Miami in 1997, writing in his biography: “I have spent the last 15 years searching for an answer, of why everything always after a while loses (its) appeal and turns boring. I prayed to the Virgin Mary to help me to find the answer and she did. The only thing that has not lost the appeal and is always new to me is Jesus Christ and his Gospel.”

He was ordained May 15, 2004. “I’m like 220 electricity running all over,” he told the Florida Catholic just after his ordination. “To me, this is the greatest moment of all.”

His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Kevin in Miami. A year later he was named parochial vicar at All Saints in Sunrise, where he remained until 2008, when he was named parochial vicar at St. Hugh in Coconut Grove. From there he went to Prince of Peace.

Father Torres is survived by his mother, Maria Torres, three younger sisters � Sandra, Gladys and Maria � their spouses and six nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will take place in Orlando: wake Thursday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Augustine Church, followed by funeral Mass Friday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. St. Augustine Church is located at 375 Sunset Drive N., Casselberry, FL 32707. Burial will be in the priests' cemetery at San Pedro Retreat Center, 2400 Dike Road, Winter Park, FL 32792.

Corrected to include Father Juan Torres' mother, María Torres, as one of his survivors.