​MACC Board appoints Father Juan Molina as new president

MACC Board appoints Father Juan Molina as new president

The Board of the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) announced October 16 the appointment of Father Juan Molina Flores, Ph.D., as president.

Father Larry Christian, episcopal vicar of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and chair of the Board, stated, “Dr. Arturo Chávez will be ending his 20 years of service to MACC as of December 31, 2020. I received this news with both a sense of loss, because we have known, loved, and admired Arturo for so long, and with joy for him as he moves on to new horizons in his life and career. Recently, through the leadership of Archbishop Gustavo, Dr. Arturo, and this board, Fr. Juan was appointed as executive vice president of MACC. Father Juan’s background in academics, pastoral work, and his years of experience working for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington make him uniquely qualified to now step into the role of leading MACC into the future as its fifth president.”

Father Molina expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the challenge ahead. He said, “I am privileged and blessed to be asked to lead MACC at this time in history. Throughout its almost 50 years now, MACC has successfully formed ministers for the Church in the United States and abroad. Now more than ever, MACC’s mission of forming bilingual and, many times bicultural, leaders in the multicultural setting of the Church here in our country and internationally is much needed.”

Since its founding in 1972, MACC has been a pioneer in Hispanic Ministry, faithfully serving as a bridge to connect people of many diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Father Christian further commented, “The story of MACC has a remarkable consistency of mission, fidelity to our purpose, and an ability to adjust to the emerging needs of God’s people nimbly and flexibly. This can be seen through the various moments of our history — from our foundation with Father Virgilio Elizondo and the remarkable first team he assembled, to its continuation with Father Rosendo Urrabazo, CMF, to Sister Maria Elena Gonzalez, RSM, to these past years with Arturo’s vision to expand MACC’s role in higher education for ministry in the Church in the 21st Century. We have been blessed with faithful and visionary leadership from our inception as an institution and community, and now, with Father Juan, I am sure this legacy will continue!”