A familiar face returns to Campus Ministry as chaplain at the University of St. Thomas-Houston on July 1. Father Eduardo Rivera ’14, M.Div. ’20, comes from his most recent assignment as Parochial Vicar at St. Anne’s Parish in Houston.

Fr. Eduardo is well-acquainted with UST, having earned his bachelor’s in theology and philosophy here and, six years later, his Master’s in Divinity through St. Mary’s Seminary. While studying for his undergraduate, he worked in campus ministry, so Fr. Eduardo knows many of the current faculty and staff at St. Thomas.

Fr. Eduardo takes over for Fr. Paul

Fr. Eduardo will replace Fr. Paul English as UST’s chaplain. Fr. Paul explained that his election last summer to the Basilian General Council redirects his responsibilities, and he is being assigned to St. Anne’s.

An enthusiastic Fr. Paul said, “The University is so fortunate that Fr. Eduardo will be coming back home to UST! He is an energetic young priest, bilingual in English and Spanish, a holy man and a fine preacher – and he’s an athletic person, among many other excellent and enjoyable attributes.  If you have not met him yet, you are in for a special treat!”

More on Fr. Eduardo’s Connection to UST

His time at UST was indeed memorable. The young, devoted Catholic began to discern the priesthood on this campus. It started after he was offered a job in campus ministry.

“In my first year at the University, I had a friend who was also discerning the priesthood,” Fr. Eduardo recounted. “I accepted his invitations to join him at archdiocesan vocation events and to a Basilian discernment retreat where I met Fr. Kevin Storey, the current superior general of the Basilian Fathers. On that retreat, we learned about the Basilian way of life, living out the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and discerning a call to the priesthood.”

During his second year at the University, he joined the Basilian Fathers as an associate and entered the novitiate after graduation.

Fr. Eduardo said, “My discernment and formation for the priesthood and religious life were always a steady process. God was leading me each step of the way through the Basilian Fathers, my family and friends.”

His future work within a community of faith

Now, God is leading him to work with students impactfully.

“I am looking forward to working with students, faculty and staff in a position that shaped my time at UST in many ways,” Fr. Eduardo said. “Campus Ministry made a huge impact on my life, especially my Catholic faith. At UST, I learned I could not reach Christ by myself. I needed a community of faith and learning to help me grow. Crescamus in Christo. ”