Fr. Miguel Virella, SVD
From Puerto Rico to Newark: A Missionary Priest’s Story
For Fr. Miguel Virella, SVD, the seeds of his vocation were planted early. Growing up in Puerto Rico as the oldest of five children, faith was part of the fabric of daily life—especially through his grandparents. “My grandparents were the main influence in my religious upbringing and faith,” he said. “That’s where everything started—with them.”
As a boy, he was already drawn to the priesthood, often pretending to celebrate Mass for his siblings and friends by distributing crackers as the Eucharist. But as he grew older, that dream faded to the background—until a transformative experience at age 17 reignited it. Through the charismatic movement at his parish, he felt a powerful encounter with God. “It was not only about going to church or following the expectations of religion,” he said. “It was really from the heart.”
Having spent several summers working in restaurants in Newark, New Jersey, where his uncles were chefs, Fr. Miguel was already familiar with life in the United States. Those visits, along with the renewed faith he found in the youth group, eventually led him to enter formation with a religious community called the Servites. In 1984, he enrolled at a Divine Word Missionary school called Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa to refine his English and take some early undergraduate courses.
At the SVD school, he found a place that felt like home. Those two years not only strengthened his English and philosophy skills but also immersed him in a welcoming community. He was deeply moved by the diversity, the warmth of the SVD family, and mentors who showed him genuine care. He still remembers their encouragement when he struggled with discernment. “Those are things you keep in your mind—that there is a connection,” he said. “They cared.”
After completing his two years in Iowa, Fr. Miguel continued formation with the Servites at the University of St. Louis in Missouri, spending five years exploring life with the order. Although he valued the experience, he ultimately realized that the Servites were not the right fit for him. That discernment eventually brought him back to the Divine Word Missionaries—the community he had first encountered at DWC, where he felt at home and connected to their spirit of mission.
Ordained a Divine Word Missionary Priest in 1996, Fr. Miguel has spent his priesthood serving in the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey—working primarily with immigrant and low-income communities. “That’s our charism—working with the poor,” he said. “People who may be limited materially, but who are full of love and who really dedicate themselves to the community.”
In his early years of ministry, he served in several culturally diverse parishes, often celebrating Mass in both Spanish and English. He spent 23 years in one parish that later merged with others under his leadership. Guiding these communities through transition required patience, compassion, and a focus on unity, healing, and shared mission. “The building was in bad condition,” he recalled. “One Wednesday, they told us, ‘You have to move.’ So we called everybody and said ‘Next Sunday Mass is going to be in the other church.’ We traveled like the people of Israel. Everybody came. No problem, no fights. We just went.”
Over the years, he has guided parishes through transitions and growth, always focused on helping people strengthen their faith and live it more deeply. “It gives me the most joy to see the community have a personal relationship with God,” he said. “It’s not only about coming to church and doing things right—it’s about having a personal relationship with God.”
Today, Fr. Miguel continues to serve in New Jersey, ministering to both Hispanic and Irish parishioners. He remains passionate about lay formation, leading Bible classes and workshops that help people understand their faith more deeply and share it with others. “That’s part of our charism and mission,” he said. “We do a lot of formation for the laity—to help them do ministry outside of the parish.”
Now nearly three decades into ministry, Fr. Miguel continues to find meaning in walking with others on their faith journeys. “Sometimes through the people, I learn more about myself, and through the people, I also see God,” he reflected.
Fr. Miguel still recalls a conversation with a spiritual director during his formation with the Servites that left a lasting impact. The director asked why he wanted to remain on the path to the priesthood. “I think of Moses, who didn’t know exactly where he was going, but he believed. I would like to journey the same way—until my hair is white,” he remembers telling him. “I love it. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m very happy being an SVD priest.”
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