DEDICATED MINISTRY Laura Lopez will retire after 25 years of ministry in the Diocese, including eight years as Pastoral Coordinator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Indio, and most recently, as Director of the Department of Pastoral Planning. Pictured are Lopez and her staff in the Pastoral Planning Department: left to right, Juan Flores and Monica Ballesteros (Program Coordinators), Lopez and Aaron Colin (Associate Director).
After a quarter of a century spent working for the Diocese, Laura Lopez, currently the Director of the Department of Pastoral Planning, will retire Jan. 31.
Lopez started her ministry in 1998 as Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry for her home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Indio. In 2002, she came to the Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) to become Vicariate Consultant for the Ministry Formation Institute (MFI) and catechetical offices. Two years later, in 2004, she rose to Associate Director of MFI.
From 2008-2016 Lopez was back at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, this time leading the parish as Pastoral Coordinator (a pastoral coordinator is a layperson who exercises pastoral care of a parish in the absence of a pastor). In 2016, she came back to the DPC to her most recent position as Director of the Department of Pastoral Planning.
“Witnessing the extraordinary things God does in the lives of his faithful and observing how Jesus continues to speak to and heal his people through the sacraments and ministries of the Church kept me motivated to work here all these years,” said Lopez when asked why she chose to work for the Diocese as long as she did.
“Another thing that kept me serving was the wonderful people of this Diocese, who lead and serve with love and compassion. Above all, being part of the transformation of many lives allowed me to remain passionate about the mission through these past 25 years,” she added.
Lopez noted that one thing that kept her anchored during her years of ministry, with all its blessings, responsibilities and challenges, was using spiritual direction as a tool to help her discern what path to take. Above all, she added, “maintaining an intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ” was key.
“[A relationship with Jesus] has led me to more profound freedom, that looks at reality without judgment, and makes me look at others and myself with hope, compassion and mercy,” she said.
In a statement announcing Lopez’s retirement, Bishop Alberto Rojas called her work “innovative,” spotlighting her leadership with Amazing Parishes, the Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX) program, the Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers (BICM) program, the National Advisory Council of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Stewardship with Intention program, and most recently, the Diocese’s implementation of the global Synod on Synodality.
Lopez was also involved in the Ecclesial Integration Process, a model of organization and pastoral planning that has been implemented with successful results in parishes in the Diocese and beyond.
When asked about things she was proud to have been able to accomplish, Lopez pointed to her time as Pastoral Coordinator at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, saying that she was able to witness “the transformation of the parish community and school.” She was sure to point out that it was only possible through the team of lay leaders, priests and deacons at the parish, working together to a common goal.
“One of the most transformative accomplishments that touched my life was opening the doors for laypeople to share their gifts, talents, and resources and organizing them into pastoral care ministries,” she said.
Lopez expressed her gratitude to Bishop Gerald Barnes, Bishop Rutilio del Riego, and Bishop Alberto Rojas for their support and the opportunities they offered her to serve the Church. “Their faithful trust and guidance made me the person and Catholic leader I am today,” she said.
“I will also be forever grateful to my family, priests, religious sisters, deacons, bishops and leaders at the national level, and lay leaders who believed in me and accompanied me with enthusiasm in my ministry all these years,” she added.
While Lopez may be retiring from full-time ministry, she plans to continue ministering in the areas of spiritual direction and parish retreats. “I retire from office work and a full-time schedule, but not from the joy and responsibility of continuing to evangelize and serve God’s people,” said Lopez.
“I firmly believe that walking together – the laity and clergy, in Synodality – presents endless possibilities to respond to God’s call to make missionary disciples who are co-responsible for the mission of the Church. With this sense of purpose in my heart, I hope and pray to transition easily into this next stage of my life,” she said.
Lopez’s new contact info is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and (909) 561-9337 and her website is lauralopez.org.