Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV first met the Viatorians when he finished his degree in philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas in Bogotá in 1995. At the time, he was looking for a religious congregation in which he could teach and do parish work. When a priest friend told him about the Viatorian Community, he met with the vocation director and began the process towards Viatorian religious life. He has never looked back.
Fr. Suarez with his young students at Colegio San Viator
Fr. Edgar entered the affiliate program (postulancy) in 1996 while he worked as a teacher in a parish school. In 1998, he completed his canonical year of novitiate in Líbano (Tolima) and professed his first vows on December 12, 1998 at Colegio San Viator in Bogotá. He spent the next two years at there as a religion teacher in elementary school and was a member of its scholarship committee. Next, Fr. Edgar began studying theology at the Javeriana University in Bogotá.
On December 8, 2001, he professed his perpetual vows at San Basilio Magna Parish, in the Diocese of Engativá.
Fr. Edgar then oversaw the formation of postulants (2002-2004), served as a member of Council of the Foundation of Colombia for two terms, and served as a vocation director. Fr. Suárez was ordained to the priesthood June 26, 2004, at the same church where he had professed his perpetual vows, San Basilio Magna.
As a priest, Fr. Edgar moved further into parish ministry. He first served at San Basilio Magna as parochial vicar (2005-2006) and then as its pastor (2008-2012) before moving on to serve as parish administrator of Santa Inés of Guaymaral Parish (2012-2013).
Fr. Edgar Suárez at the dedication of San Viator Parish
It was at this time that Fr. Edgar became superior for the Foundation of Colombia (2012-2017), served as Archpriest of Consecrated Life in the northern zone of the Archdiocese of Bogotá, and became pastor of San Viator Parish in Bogotá. Fr. Edgar spearheaded the building of the new church there, which took eight years of planning, permitting, and construction. He celebrated Easter for the parish in its new church in 2021, and after some finishing touches, they dedicated the church soon after.
Fr. Mark Francis with members of the Provincial Council: Fr. Thomas von Behren, Fr. Edgar Suarez and Br. Michael Gosch
In November 2022, Fr. Suárez was elected to his first term on the Provincial Council. Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial appointed Fr. Suárez as pastor of St. Viator Catholic Community, effective July 1, 2025, and Fr. Edgar moved to the US several months earlier to study English, get settled in the US, and then to overlap with Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV in his last few months of service preceding retirement.
More on Fr. Edgar from Viatorians.com:
- FEATURE: St. Viator’s New and Experience Pastor, Fr. Edgar (2025): Introducing our Colombian brother to our American community and his new parish.
- Getting to Know Fr. Edgar (2025): Fr. Edgar moves into St. Viator rectory and begins ministering with the community regularly.
- Big Year Ahead for Fr. Edgar (2024): Looking ahead to Fr. Edgar’s move to the US and future assignment in Las Vegas.
- Parroquia San Viator Church Dedicated on Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (2021): Fr. Edgar joined in the dedication of his parish’s new church.
Updated July 8, 2025 by Associate Dan Masterton.