September Issue: Interview with Fr. Zack Rodriguez

When Father Zack Rodriquez, parochial vicar at St. Louis King of France parish in Austin, was ordained into the priesthood in Rome two years ago, he figured that he was coming home to his native Texas. Unbeknownst to Father Zack, God and Bishop Vásquez had other plans. So, rather than pack his bags, Father Zack answered the bishop’s request and remained in Rome two more years, eventually earning a Licentiate of Canon Law. Altogether, he lived in Rome six and a half years, returning to Texas last spring. He is now the Defender of the Bond, working at the Diocese of Austin Tribunal. 

Father Zack says that Canon Law is necessary for the salvation of souls. 

“It’s to rightly govern man, sinful man, to help everyone live and operate correctly,” Father Zack said. “We just have to have those laws because we are fallen. It’s done in mercy, but sometimes we don’t have that option. You have to have the discipline aspect of the law. And it’s just for right governance. So, in order for everybody to be on the same page, we have to have those laws.” 

Father Zack said, for example, Canon Law is necessary so that Mass is celebrated in the same manner regardless what language is used and what continent it is celebrated on. Still, it is much more than that. 

“It’s an opportunity to heal somebody of a broken marriage, and if there are grounds for an annulment, to get them the help they need to succeed in that next marriage,” he said. “The church is 100 percent mystical and spiritual and divinely instituted by Jesus Christ himself. And at that same time, that mystical body of Christ is physically throughout the entire world. And so, in that way it becomes like administratively managing an international company, more or less.” 

While studying Canon Law in Rome, Father Zack lived in a dorm-like setting with about 50 other priests from the far reaches of the globe. 

“I was in the Casa Santa Maria with priests that had been ordained for ten-plus years. Priests that had been judicial vicars before, priests that had already worked in tribunals. So, to be able to form those friendships and really lean on their experiences was very beneficial,” Father Zack said. “And just the benefit of Rome — people there are from all around the world. You can get a sense of what the church looks like canonically, administratively, even spiritually, from all around the world. From Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, you just meet these guys from all over the place. And it’s really beautiful because you see the universality of the church firsthand. And you realize, because you’re studying in Rome, in the heart of the church, it matters because if Rome says something it goes to the entire church.” 

While sojourning in the Eternal City, Father Zack met Pope Francis three times. Once as a seminarian, and twice as a priest. He says the Vatican is a wonderfully, holy place. “The entire city of Rome, it’s literally a city built on the blood of martyrs. Every corner you turn around, there’s a church that has a martyr in it, a saint in it. It’s really wonderful to walk in those holy footprints.” 

Father Zack grew up Protestant in Elgin, 15 miles east of Austin. He converted to Catholicism while enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin. After graduation, he worked in real estate. But at age 25 he heard the call and entered the seminary, studying philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana. Then he moved to Rome where he finished his studies and was ordained. 

Looking back on his education, Father Zack fondly remembers a conversation with a youngster curious about how long he’d been in school  — from grade school to high school to university to the seminary and studying Canon Law. 

“A little girl asked me ‘so you’re still in school, huh?’ I said yes ma’am. She asked what grade are you in?” Although Father Zack didn’t have a quick answer, he later added it all up. The answer — 26 years.