05 July 2025
Bilbao Campus
On 5 July, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de los Milagros in El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) hosted the priestly ordination of four Jesuits, one of whom, Álvaro Zapata, studied at the University. The other three Jesuits are Juan Boronat, Óscar Cala and Pedro R. Rodríguez. The celebration, presided over by José Rico Pavés, Bishop of Asidonia-Jerez, was attended by a large number of family and friends, as well as many fellow Jesuits from the Spanish Province and others from countries such as Peru, Italy, and the United States. Among those present were Enric Puiggròs SJ, Provincial of Spain; Víctor Hugo Miranda SJ, Provincial of Peru; Francisco Cuartero SJ, Delegate for Formation; and Antonio Sabido, parish priest of the Iglesia Mayor Prioral, among others.
After the readings and the calling and presentation of the ordinands, Bishop Rico delivered a homily in which, reflecting on the Gospel, he encouraged them to “live out the new commandment given to us by Jesus, and thus love others as He has loved us.” In a reference to the origins of the Society of Jesus, he reminded them that Jesus’s call leads Jesuits to be “friends in the Lord” and, in this way, to help others encounter Christ.
Following the homily, the ordination rite continued with the litany of the saints, during which the ordinands lay prostrate as a sign of submission to God, followed by the laying on of hands. This was followed by the vesting with the stole in the presbyteral manner and the chasuble, carried out by their presenters, who were: Carlos Maza SJ (presenter of Juan Boronat), Alberto Cano SJ (presenter of Óscar Cala), Víctor Hugo Miranda SJ (presenter of Pedro Rodríguez), and José Javier Pardo SJ (presenter of Álvaro Zapata). Next came the anointing of the hands with Chrism, the presentation of the bread and wine, and the sign of peace exchanged among the priests. Following the ordination, the newly ordained priests went up to the presbytery to celebrate the consecration alongside their fellow priests.
In the final thanksgiving, delivered by Juan Boronat SJ on behalf of the four, special thanks were extended to the families of the ordinands and to all those who have supported them on their journey to ordination, many of whom were present. Additionally, Juan acknowledged the importance of the freedom the Society of Jesus has given them, allowing each to find their own path during their formation. Finally, he concluded by emphasising his gratitude for the vocation of being a Jesuit and for the many people who have accompanied them throughout this journey.
Álvaro Zapata Monllor SJ celebrated his first Mass on 6 July at 11:00 am at the parish of Santa Beatriz de Silva in Córdoba. Óscar Cala López SJ also celebrated his first Mass on 6 July, at the chapel of the Compañía de María in San Fernando. Juan Boronat Cot will celebrate his first Mass on 12 July at 12:00 noon at the parish of San Lorenzo in Valladolid, and Pedro R. Rodríguez López will also celebrate his first Mass on 12 July at 12:00 noon at the Royal Collegiate Church of San Hipólito in Córdoba.
Video summary here.
Full photo gallery here:
Álvaro Zapata
Álvaro Zapata Monllor was born in Granada in 1991, although he has lived all his life in Córdoba. He joined the Society on 4 September 2014, having studied law, which he later completed as a Jesuit in Deusto. In Bilbao, between 2016 and 2018, he completed a master's degree in Social Ethics and a master's degree in Secondary School Teaching. He spent the next two years in Tudela as a teacher and, in 2020, he was assigned to Madrid, where he spent two years in La Ventilla and another two in Maldonado. After his ordination as a deacon, he was assigned to Rome to study for a Licentiate in Fundamental Theology at the Gregorian University. Within the Society, he has always been closely involved in the social sector.
Reflecting on his vocational journey, he explains that the Lord has walked a path of faithfulness alongside him: "You soon discover that neither you are who you thought you were, nor are the Society or the Church what you believed them to be. Understanding this in terms of growth and hope — rather than as personal or institutional disappointment — has been crucial for him to keep moving forward, trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness, who never grows tired of our weariness and does not give up when we do. And so you keep moving forward, because He goes ahead of you and pulls you along".
You can read his full testimony here.
