ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 15, 2024 / 06:00 am
In an increasingly digital world, many Catholic priests have found social media to be a powerful medium for evangelizing and connecting with hundreds of thousands of people. In light of Hispanic Heritage Month, here’s a look at five Hispanic priests who are distinguishing themselves in spreading the Gospel on various platforms.
Father Pedro Núñez: ‘Know Your Catholic Faith First’
Father Pedro F. Núñez, a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, is a prominent Catholic preacher in the Spanish-speaking world. Born in Cuba, he emigrated to the United States in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1977.
For more than three decades, he has produced and hosted several television and radio programs on faith, including “Conozca Primero su Fe Católica” (“Know Your Catholic Faith First”) on EWTN; and “A Solas con Jesús” (“Alone with Jesus”) on Catholic World Radio.
Núñez is also a prolific author, with books in Spanish such as “Know Your Catholic Faith First” and “150 Stories That Will Change Your Life.” He is currently the Hispanic Catholic priest with the most followers on Facebook, with more than 1.9 million followers on his official page. He also has hundreds of thousands more followers on other social media sites.
He travels constantly throughout Latin America and the United States, spreading the Gospel and reaching millions of people.
Father Jorge Obregón: ‘New Fire’
A priest of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Jorge Obregón has dedicated his life to the formation of young people in leadership, faith, and values. With a solid academic background, he studied business administration at the Technological Institute in Monterrey, Mexico, and completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Regina Apostolorum in Rome. In addition, he obtained a master’s degree in biblical theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego.
In 2012, Obregón founded the Search retreat, an innovative spiritual formation program aimed at young people. Then, in 2017, he launched the New Fire platform, a Catholic resource designed to connect and form young people throughout Latin America. This platform invites people to know God, be formed in the truth, and find answers to their existential questions. It offers clear, simple, and in-depth resources that facilitate understanding and provide solid formation. With an attractive approach, it promotes a comprehensive lifestyle and responds to St. John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization.
Obregón also participates, along with six other priests of the Legionaries of Christ, in the podcast “¿Qué Haría Jesús?” (“What Would Jesus Do?”), which offers daily reflections on the Gospel.
Currently Obregón resides in Rye, New York, a town outside of New York City, where he continues to carry out his mission.
Father Juan Carlos Vásconez: ‘Talking with Jesus’
Father Juan Carlos Vásconez, originally from Quito, Ecuador, is passionate about digital evangelization and spiritual formation. A systems engineer who holds a doctorate in moral theology, he was ordained a priest in 2015. Currently, he works as a chaplain in two educational institutions and leads several digital projects with the aim of bringing people closer to God through social media.
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Inspired by Pope Benedict XVI, Vásconez is one of the priests behind the project “Hablar con Jesús” (“Talking with Jesus”), a well-known channel found on different social media such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Spotify, and Telegram, where users can listen to 10-minute meditations every morning “talking with Jesus face-to-face.”
Father Ángel Espinosa de los Monteros: ‘The Ring Is Forever’
Father Ángel Espinosa de los Monteros, LC, has given more than 4,000 conferences on marriage, family values, and spirituality in various cities in Mexico, the United States, Spain, and South America. He has counseled numerous couples with advice and programs for marital and family growth. He is the author of the Spanish-language book “The Ring Is Forever” and has given more than 20 conferences based on it. Currently, he dedicates all his time to giving conferences and putting on marriage renewal programs in 20 countries.
In recent years, Espinosa has become a viral figure on social media for his simple, empathetic, and joyful way of presenting the Gospel, with millions of views of his videos. He currently has more than 500,000 followers on YouTube, more than 100,000 on TikTok, and more than 200,000 on Instagram.
Father Ignacio Amorós: ‘Rebels Wanted’
Born in Madrid, Spain, Father Ignacio Amorós initially had a career as a financial broker, but his life changed radically when he became involved in charitable missions in Madrid and later in Calcutta. This experience took him to Burundi, Africa, where he decided to become a priest and work on missions in a region plagued by civil strife. After his ordination, he dedicated himself to writing books and organizing humanitarian activities around the world, finally settling in Uruguay.
Currently, Amorós leads the digital evangelization project “Se Buscan Rebeldes” (“Rebels Wanted”), which provides Catholic formation on topics relevant to today’s society in line with the magisterium of the Catholic Church.
In addition, the priest leads the Spanish-language expansion of Bishop Robert Barron’s digital apostolate Word on Fire. This project is aimed at the global Spanish-speaking community in Spain, Latin America, and other regions. With more than 10 years following Barron’s evangelizing work, Amorós seeks to bring the mission of Word on Fire to a wider audience.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
