SAN DIEGO — “Bittersweet.”
That’s how Gerardo Rojas describes leaving the diocesan Pastoral Center, where he worked for the past 18 years, to teach theology at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP).
Rojas, 44, stepped down as director of the Diocesan Institute on July 10. He served in that role for seven years, following 11 years as director of the diocesan Office for Youth Ministry.
He feels grateful for his time at the diocese and sad to leave, but is excited about the future.
Originally from Mexico, Rojas earned his bachelor’s degree in 2004 from the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Political Science, with a supplemental major in Theology. Two years later, he earned a master’s in Theology from Notre Dame.
Rojas recalled “falling in love” with “the process of trying to unravel the mystery of who God is and who we are meant to be,” and he was inspired “to dedicate my professional life to that.”
After two years of ministry in Colorado, he came to San Diego to head the Office for Youth Ministry, beginning in August of 2008.
“For 11 years, he spearheaded the department and led thousands of youth to an intentional encounter with Christ,” diocesan Chancellor Marioly Galván said at a farewell reception July 8 at the Pastoral Center.
“Gerardo has been more than a colleague; he has been a trusted teammate, a dependable friend, and a source of joy for everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him,” Galván continued. “I would know. I was his assistant for nearly five years, while serving in the Youth and Young Adult Office, and I can attest to Gerardo’s genuine nature, servant leadership and pastoral kindness.”
Almost from the start, Rojas taught for the Diocesan Institute, a theological formation program that offers courses for Catholic adults, mostly those preparing for ministry work. It also provides intellectual formation for candidates for the permanent diaconate, who attend classes with their wives for the four years before ordination.
In July of 2019, Rojas became director of the Diocesan Institute.
He said that the Institute offers about 80 courses annually and averages about 450 students each quarter.
As the Institute’s director, Rojas appreciated finding himself once again “in the academic environment of the study of theology.” He contrasted that with the more “pastoral” nature of youth ministry.
That’s not to say that there weren’t aspects of youth ministry that he missed after making the transition, particularly how youth “experience life and God and the way in which they wrestle with the things that they’re … encountering.”
“Not that there’s anything wrong with working with adults … But I kind of missed that curiosity, challenge, but also wonder and awe,” he said.
Rojas felt called to return to working with young people, albeit in a different way than before. He first considered becoming a high school teacher after observing his daughters’ experience with Catholic secondary education, how their instructors and school environment had helped them “discern who they are, who they’re meant to be (and) who God is.”
“The more I thought about it, the more I prayed about it,” he said, “the more I felt like … this is something that I need to explore.”
At OLP, he welcomes students for the first day of class on Aug. 11.
At the farewell reception, Galván said that the new job “seems perfectly suited to (Rojas’) gifts.”
“His future students will not only learn theology from him,” she said. “They will learn compassion, integrity, joy and what it means to live one’s faith authentically.”
