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Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV is the new pastor for St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas. Fr. Edgar brings a rich range of ministry experience as a pastor and a leader among Viatorians, along with a disposition his brothers believe make him a great fit.
A Viatorian Since 1998
Fr. Edgar, a Colombia native, encountered the Viatorians during university studies in Bogotá in 1995, began formation in 1996, and professed first vows on December 12, 1998 – the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In his first few years as a Viatorian, Fr. Edgar taught at Colegio San Viator, studied theology, directed formation, ministered in vocations, and served on the foundation’s council.
Fr. Edgar professed first vows in 1998.
Following ordination to priesthood on June 26, 2004, he began serving in parishes, as parochial vicar and then pastor of San Basilio Magna (St. Basil the Great) and then as administrator of Santa Inés (St. Agnes) de Guaymaral. Additionally, he was Superior for the Foundation of Colombia from 2012 to 2017.
Most recently, he was pastor of Parroquia San Viator for the 12 years leading up to his move to the United States. This was a deeply meaningful time for Fr. Edgar that contextualizes what he brings to Las Vegas.
Dreaming Bold Dreams
“From the beginning in 1962, the Viatorian Foundation in Colombia had long dreamed of having our own parish,” Fr. Edgar said, describing Bogotá’s desire for a namesake parish, like we had in Chicago and have in Las Vegas. “Making it a reality was incredibly special, not only for me personally but for the entire Foundation. San Viator gave us a sacred space for faith and celebration for our congregation and our local community.”
Parroquia San Viator offers the Viatorian Community in Colombia a beautiful, large worship space to host joyful liturgy, from Sunday and daily Mass to major milestones such as vow professions and ordinations, including Fr. Jhobany’s in February.
Working with the parish community, the Viatorians, and the builders, Fr. Edgar hoped to balance pastoral considerations with building an excellent worship space. “The details, designs, and spaces were created with great care. We wanted it to be a beautiful and welcoming place and, above all, built with deep love for liturgy, central to our Viatorian charism,” Fr. Edgar said.
For eight years, they worked through permitting, fundraising, and construction. Then, on Easter 2021, they celebrated Mass in their partially completed church. They would continue adding finishing touches, including a rosary chapel, and now San Viator is becoming a quintessential gathering place for the Viatorian Community.
Just this year, it hosted the profession of first vows for Br. Carlos Suárez, CSV as well as the presbyteral ordination Mass for Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV and his first Mass.
Fr. Edgar was able to return to Parrqouia San Viator and the church he helped build to celebrate Br. Carlos’ first vows profession and Fr. Jhobany’s presbyteral ordination earlier this year.
Fr. Edgar returned for both occasions, and being with this parish community again on special days was a deep joy. “The people of the parish were full of faith, generosity, and commitment. They became family. I carry them in my heart with deep gratitude,” Fr. Edgar said.
Striving to Help Raise Another Great Community
Late in 2024, Fr. Edgar moved to Las Vegas, where he overlapped with Fr. Rinn for the past several months to prepare and acclimate. “Along with the parish, I deeply appreciate Fr. Rinn’s dedication, ministry, testimony, and generous service. His legacy is engraved in the hearts and minds of many parishioners,” Fr. Edgar said.
Now, Fr. Edgar begins as pastor, drawing on over 20 years of parish ministry experience as well as his desire to learn and collaborate. “I come with a very open heart, ready to learn from those I will walk with in this community, to share experiences, and to build together our path of faith,” Fr. Edgar said, affirming his parochial vicar, Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, and the many associates who minister in the parish. “Everyone is invited to be part of the parish and the Viatorian pastoral mission. I am confident that, working as a team, we can continue to strengthen and deepen the Viatorian mission in Las Vegas, especially here at St. Viator Parish.”
To continue raising this community of faith, Fr. Edgar wants to sustain faith formation, Scripture study, retreats, Adoration, and youth ministry and to continue the strong liturgical life of the parish. As a native Spanish speaker, Fr. Edgar adds a capacity for outreach and ministry that the parish can now embrace further. “I especially hope to be present for the Spanish-speaking community in this area of Las Vegas, welcoming them into our parish and offering sacraments and formation in their language,” Fr. Edgar said.
A Good Fit for Our Brother
When Fr. Jhobany, a fellow Colombia native, was joining the community, Fr. Edgar was serving on the foundation council, and he came to Jhobany’s family farm to visit. “From that first visit, I found him to be a humble person who is kind and compassionate,” Fr. Jhobany said. “When I returned from novitiate, he was superior. In that role, he quietly listened to people to try to see the whole picture and consider as many voices as possible. People felt heard by him and that their ideas matter. This will be enriching as he serves this new community as their pastor.”
In 2022, when the congregation elected Fr. Mark Francis, CSV as Provincial Superior, the congregation also elected Fr. Edgar as a provincial councilor.
Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial credits fellow provincial councilor Br. Michael Gosch, CSV with suggesting Fr. Edgar for St. Viator Las Vegas, which quickly made great sense to him. “Having seen the wonderful parish church that Fr. Edgar built in Bogotá, as well as the vibrant Sunday Masses held at San Viator since its founding, I was delighted when Fr. Edgar said ‘yes,’” Fr. Francis said. “He brings a warm personality and an easy way of working with all kinds of people. He will be at home in this multicultural parish and sensitive to the needs of all parishioners.”
Br. Michael has valued Fr. Edgar’s insightful collaboration on the council – Fr. Edgar was elected as part of the council that began its four-year term with Fr. Francis in late 2022 – and appreciated Fr. Edgar’s openness to this invitation. “Following Richard Rinn will be no easy task, but Edgar’s years of experience shepherding parishes honed his skills as a pastoral leader,” Br. Michael said. “His good-natured personality and sense of humor will work well alongside Viatorians Dan Belanger, Rosy Hartz, and Michael Underwood as well as the rest of parish staff.”
As a fellow bilingual priest, Fr. Jhobany knows the challenges of learning on the job. However, he believes Fr. Edgar’s authentic focus on careful, beautiful liturgy will connect him to people as he settles in. “His piety for celebrating these Sacraments comes through with love and with engagement of people. At San Viator, people didn’t just go to Mass to fulfill a duty; they went to listen to what God has to say because Fr. Edgar was focused on that,” Fr. Jhobany said.
For his part, Fr. Edgar acknowledges the challenges but relishes the opportunity. “Naturally, there is some nervousness. Coming to a new place, in a new country, and serving in another language and culture is not easy,” Fr. Edgar said. “But I also see these challenges as opportunities for growth. I ask for patience, support, and prayer—from both the parish and the Viatorian Community—as we get to know one another and build this journey together.”
As Fr. Edgar partners with the people of St. Viator, it’s another chapter that builds on over 70 years of Viatorian ministry in Las Vegas. “All this is possible because of the firm foundation laid by Fr. Richard Rinn over the last twenty-five years,” Fr. Francis said. “In both their outgoing and incoming pastors, St. Viator has been blessed!”