Fr. Rafael Venegas Raygosa was born on December 5, 1973 to Rafael and Adelaida Venegas. He studied at Seminario Felipe y Galindo (junior high seminary) and Seminario Menor San Jose (high school seminary) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. After immigrating to the United States, Fr. Venegas attended Blair High School in Pasadena and Pasadena City College. He completed his studies at Universidad Libre Internacional de las Americas and St. John's Seminary. Cardinal Mahony ordained Rafael Venegas a priest on June 2, 2007 at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Fr. Rafael's home parish is Sacred Heart in Altadena.
On becoming a priest: "I felt called to the priesthood at age 11. My pastor, Fr. Carlos Gomez was always willing to serve, and be became my role model."
"As a priest, I hope to be aware of and acknowledge my weaknesses and my gifts; to realize that I am not alone in this ministry, that God, my brother priests, friends and family all support me, and to accept and be honest in my commitment as a priest to God and His Church."
"The Eucharist is key to this. It is Christ's own offering of love for His people. I want to do the same. I want to be deeply in love with God and His Church. I want to be a bridge between God and His people, between races and cultures."
You can reach Father Rafael at (818) 247-2222 Ext. 227