The Rev. Ricardo “Rick” Lopez says the love of God is so incredible as to seem impossible.
And he says God’s love is so powerful and all-inclusive that no one should feel rejected or unloved.
“Just when we believe ourselves to be beyond the reach of God, he comes and finds us no matter where we are because he loves us impossibly,” said the Rev. Lopez, whose assignments include the chaplaincy of St. John’s Episcopal School and the pastorates of three churches.
“Over and over again, Jesus goes to those who are not supposed to be loved and says, ‘You are beautiful, you are loved.”
An Odessa native, Lopez graduated from Midland High School in 2000 and became a Catholic priest after graduating from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Westchester, Fla., and the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio. He served a church in Chula Vista, Calif., and was pastor of San Miguel Archangel Church and parochial vicar of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Midland till declining an assignment in Brownsville because he wanted to stay close to his family in Midland.
Lopez graduated from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin and last year became chaplain of St. John’s School and pastor of the Episcopal churches of St. John at 401 N. County Road West, St. Barnabas at 4141 Tanglewood Lane and San Miguel Archangel at 907 Adams Ave., where he preaches at 9 and 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, respectively. His dad Chico died in 2011. His mom’s name is Irma and he has a brother and a sister. He is also chaplain of St. John’s Episcopal School, where he leads chapel services each weekday from 8:40-9 a.m. for 150 students.
The only clergyman in his family, Lopez was drawn to the ministry “from a very young age,” he said.
“I had always known great love and I wanted to share that love with others,” he said. “I want people to know, ‘You are welcome. We will celebrate God’s love with you. Wherever you are, the possibilities are truly endless.’
“Over and over again, the Gospel message goes to those who are not supposed to be loved. Jesus blesses them and sends them on their way.”
Carmen Franco of Houston, who became friends with Lopez in San Antonio, said he ‘lives in the moment for those who are going through distress or a joyous experience.
“Rick has been a true friend through a lot of ups and downs,” Franco said. “He has always been there to give me advice or just to listen. He is generous and empathetic and very funny, always joking around. He meets people where they are and walks with them as they go on their way. He truly gives of himself.”
