Fr. Claudio Rios

Fr. Claudio José Ríos Saavedra was born March 19, 1961 in Viña del Mar, Chile. He grew up in a deeply religious family, as the eldest of three children of Rodolfo and Eliana. He attended San Antonio Parish School, a school run by the Clerics of San Viator.

He entered the San Viator Seminary in 1979 in Puente Alto, Chile. He made his first vows in 1983 in his home parish, San Antonio in Viña Del Mar.

Fr. Claudio completed pedagogical studies in Religion and Morals at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, in Santiago, and his theological studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso. All of his studies were channeled toward working with children and young people.

Most of his pastoral ministry has been dedicated to teaching in the classroom as a tutor and religion teacher. He also directs “Experiences of Faith” weekends for young students, and as a chaplain in Viatorian schools in the Valparaiso Region of Chile.

From the beginning of his religious life, Fr. Claudio has been motivated by Fr. Louis Querbes as well as his fellow Viatorians who work in vocational ministry, who dedicate themselves to vocational accompaniment. Fr. Claudio has served as Director of Vocation Ministry of the Region and later of the Province of Chile, from 1989-2003 and from 2008 to the present.

Starting in 1988, and together with other religious, Fr. Claudio helped design a Viatorian youth pastoral platform, called JUVI (Viatorian Youth), for all the schools in the Province of Chile. The program combines Christian youth leadership with vocational discernment as part of the integral development of the person.

From 1990 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2017, Fr. Claudio held the position of Advisor to the Viatorian movement at the regional and provincial levels. Fr. Claudio also has served in positions of authority as Regional and Provincial councilor, leading the corresponding Pastoral and Vocations commissions.

Along with being named to the General Council, Fr. Claudio serves as parish priest of St. John the Evangelist Church, as Director of the Querbes Center for Vocational Orientation, as Provincial Vocations Officer and as Chaplain of the San Antonio Parish School of Viña del Mar.