Vicar Apostolic of Tucupita
Ernesto José Romero Rivas, O.F.M. Cap., was born on April 19, 1960, in Machiques (Zulia State), Venezuela. He completed his primary education at the San Pablo School, run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. After completing his secondary education and attending university for a brief period, he entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He pursued his three-year philosophy studies at the German Roscio Institute (run by the Jesuit Fathers) and his four-year theology studies at the Institute of Theology for Religious (ITER) in Caracas. He made his first profession on September 11, 1980, and his perpetual profession on March 24, 1990. He was ordained a priest on August 2, 1990. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1990–1992: Parish Administrator of San José Parish in the Apostolic Vicariate of Tucupita; 1992–1996: Master of Post-Novices, Vicar, Councilor, and Vice-Provincial Councilor of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Venezuela; 1997–1998: Studies in Rome, obtaining a Licentiate in Catechetics from the Pontifical Salesian University; 1999–2005: Superior, Parish Priest, Bursar, and Vice-Provincial Councilor of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Venezuela; 2005–2009: Master of Post-Novices, Superior and Rector, and Councilor of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Venezuela; 2008–2013: Vice-Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Venezuela. Since 2013, he has served as Pro-Vicar of Tucupita and Parish Priest of San José Parish.