Fr. Jose Alfaro V.F.
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Born in El Salvador on Sept. 5, 1974, Father Alfaro was educated by the Marist Brothers there until 11th grade, when he moved to South Florida. He graduated from Miami Beach Senior High in 1992, got a bachelor’s degree in psychology from FIU in 1997 and entered St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami that same year. He went on to St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, where he obtained a Master in Divinity, and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Miami on May 10, 2003. He served at St. John Neumann Parish in Miami until he was sent for higher studies in Rome. He obtained a licentiate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2009 and taught at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary until June 2013, when he was appointed administrator of Blessed Trinity.
Currently Fr. Alfaro is Pastor at St. John Neumann Catholic Parish.
What he did before becoming a priest:
“During my college years I had a part-time job as a bank teller at then-NationsBank. I was also very involved in the youth group and the youth choir in my home parish (St. Joseph, Miami Beach).”
When he knew he wanted to be a priest:
“I started considering the possibility of becoming a priest when I was around 20 years old.”
Person or event that triggered his vocation:
“I did a retreat that changed my life when I was 16, but I did not consider the priesthood at that time. Then when I was in college, a new priest came to my home parish. He inspired my vocation. Although he never spoke to me about the vocation to the priesthood, he showed me with his example how fulfilling the life of a priest could be. I then began to ask God if he could be calling me to this lifestyle.”
Person/persons most surprised by his vocation:
“Because I was so involved in Church at the time, I think the decision to enter seminary surprised very few people.”
What the seminary did not prepare him for:
“It’s impossible to learn everything in the seminary. It certainly did not prepare me to be a seminary formator something I did for four years.”
‘I greatly admire the example that Pope Francis is giving the whole Church.’
What he would be doing if he had not become a priest:
“Perhaps I’d be a psychologist or a teacher.”
The most difficult aspect of being a priest:
“Having to deal with administration, handbooks, financial concerns, managing staff, paperwork, etc.”
His description of the ideal priest:
“The ideal priest is someone who is a man of deep communion with the Lord. His prayer leads him to action in ministry and vice versa. Someone who makes himself available to the people of God and tries to respond to their needs as he walks the journey of faith together with them.”
A priestly stereotype that he feels should be discarded:
“That a priest is above the rest of the people or better than the rest of humanity.”
What he does on his day off:
“Rest, watch a good movie, read and/or visit my family and friends.”
Favorite movie:
Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Favorite TV series:
“24.”
Father Jose Alfaro, far right, is seen here during a visit to Disney World with his family.
Last book read:
“The Infancy Narratives” by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Favorite type of music:
Country, classical and Christian pop.
Person he most admires:
“I greatly admire the example that Pope Francis is giving the whole Church. He is preaching and teaching not only through words, but especially through his own actions. It’s been thrilling to see him and to listen carefully to all the speeches he gave in Rio de Janeiro during World Youth Day. His simplicity, humility, sincerity and zeal (are) inspiring a lot of people to come back to the faith.”
His greatest disappointment:
“My own flaws and sinfulness.”
His greatest joy:
“Celebrating the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and reconciliation.”
Thing he most fears:
“To give scandal.”
Regrets:
“None. I could not see my life being any happier or more fulfilled than doing what I’m doing.”
