The Most Rev. Thomas G. Wenski has appointed the Very Rev. Roberto Garza to serve as the Rector-President of St. John Vianney College Seminary.  His appointment begins August 1st.  Fr. Garza has most recently served as the Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Miami.  An alumnus of St. John Vianney, he is very familiar with the work of formation.  While the pastor of San Isidro Church, Fr. Garza served the seminary community as an adjunct spiritual director.  He has a degree in Missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and works closely with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese.   An important focus of Archbishop Wenski’s episcopacy has been the immigrant experience.  Fr. Garza has lived that experience and can share it most personally with those discerning the priesthood of Jesus Christ in the Province of Miami.

Msgr. Michael G. Carruthers, after a dedicated five-year rectorship that brought the seminary to strong levels of stability and fidelity, has been appointed the Pastor of St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center at the University of Miami.  A key thesis of Archbishop Wenksi’s episcopal ministry is that the Church must be present in the public arena; all in the Church are responsible for that work; and in order to do that work we must give ourselves to deepening conversion in Christ.  Central to being in the public arena is a coherent and attractive presence at the major local university.  With his first two major appointments, Archbishop Wenski communicates his priorities clearly and dramatically asserts his intention to work to continue the renewal of the Church in South Florida at all levels.   The Archbishop has invited Msgr. Carruthers to return during the Fall Semester,  when the seminary community will gather together for a celebration and farewell.  He will continue to serve the seminary and the ministry of priestly formation in an adjunct position. 

The extended community of St. John Vianney College Seminary holds these two men in prayer as they begin their new assignments. Prasetantes invicum este.