After 64 years of faithful and generous service as a Roman Catholic Priest, Rev. Jose Luis Varo passed peacefully into eternal life on July 27, 2020.
Fr. Varo was born in Garrovillas, Caceres, Spain on June 13, 1932. Perhaps his birth on the feast of the great Franciscan Friar, St. Anthony of Padua, would prefigure the vocational path that Jose Luis would follow. He joined the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) in Valencia and was ordained a priest on December 22, 1956. His missionary spirit would take him first to serve in Argentina. There he was engaged in teaching, pastoral work and even a stint as an air force chaplain in Buenos Aires. Eventually he would answer the call to serve the Spanish speaking faithful of the Central Valley in the Diocese of Fresno.
Fr. Varo arrived in the Diocese in 1980. He first assignment brought him to work with his Franciscan brothers in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Fresno. From there he would go on to serve the parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bakersfield; St. Elizabeth, McFarland; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hanford and St. Joseph, Los Banos. During his 14 years of shepherding the community of McFarland, Fr. Varo encouraged and supported the building of the beautiful church that has become the spiritual home of so many families.
Fr. Varo retired from administrative duties in 2003 but continued to be available to the many faithful who sought out his priestly wisdom and care. Father left the Franciscan Friars to become a diocesan priest in 1997 though he never lost his Franciscan spirit of poverty and charity. He lived simply and was always looking to the needs of the sick, the aged and the poor.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rogelio Varo and Luz Gonzalo; and his siblings Rogelio, Joaquin, Jaime, Francisco, Maria Pilar and Amalia. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Due to the present restrictions imposed by the Covid 19 pandemic, funeral services will be limited to clergy only. The services will be live-streamed on Facebook @DioceseofFresnoVocations. You are invited to join prayerfully for the Vigil and Recitation of the Rosary on Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be transmitted on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Fr. Varo will be laid to rest in the priests’ section at St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, Fresno. Services are under the direction of Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns and Blair Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, Fr. Varo would be best honored by a gift made in his memory to the Bethlehem Center, c/o 506 N. Garden St., Visalia, CA 93291 or Catholic Charities, 149 N. Fulton St., Fresno, CA 93701.
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