Province of Denver – USA

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Father John Charles Vargas was born in El Paso, Texas, USA on May 23, 1948. He graduated from Cathedral High School (De La Salle Christian Brothers) in 1966. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso from 1966 to 1970 where he studied chemistry. He then attended Commonwealth College of Sciences where he earned an associate degree.

Father Vargas began initial Redemptorist formation in 1972. He made his profession of vows as a Redemptorist on July 28, 1974. In 1975 he earned a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin. He continued his studies at Mt. St. Alphonsus Seminary, Esopus, New York. There he earned two degrees, a Master of Religious Education and a Master of Divinity. He was ordained a priest on June 24, 1978.

Having completed his initial formation, Fr. Vargas was appointed Co-Director of the seminarians at the Redemptorist minor seminary in Lacombe, Louisiana. While there he also taught religion and chemistry. In 1980 he became the Director of Holy Redeemer Retreat Center in Lacombe, Louisiana. In 1984 he was appointed Development Director for the Vice-Province of New Orleans and in 1986 the Vice-Provincial Treasurer.

In 1993 Father Vargas was appointed Vice-Treasurer General and transferred to the Redemptorist General House in Rome, Italy. In 1996 he accepted the position of Director of Development and Public Relations for the Alphonsian Academy of Moral Theology in Rome, Italy. In 1994 Father Vargas earned a Master of Science degree in Administration from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. In 2003, Father Vargas earned a Pontifical Licentiate degree in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. On June 17, 2010, Fr. Vargas was elected by the General Council to serves as Procurator General, a major official of the Congregation, during the 2009-2015 sexennium, beginning July1, 2010.

In addition to the above ministries Father Vargas has preached parish missions, retreats, days of recollection and novenas, as well as serving as chaplain for a number of law enforcement agencies in Louisiana. Father Vargas has also been very active in ministry to the deaf and hearing impaired.