St. Ezekiel Moreno (1848–1906) was an Augustinian Recollect known for his simple, open, and compassionate spirit. He was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and dedicated his life to serving the Church and the people entrusted to his care.
Throughout his ministry, he courageously defended the rights of the Church while remaining a faithful and devoted pastor.
Ezekiel was born on April 9, 1848, in Alfaro, Logroño, Spain. His family was poor in material possessions but rich in faith. In 1865, he professed his religious vows as an Augustinian Recollect. He was later sent to the Philippines, where he was ordained a priest in Manila in 1871.
He spent 15 years serving in the Philippines, ministering to the faithful and carrying out his priestly duties with dedication. After his years of service in the country, he returned to Spain and served as prior of the Recollect community in Monteagudo for three years. He eventually went to Colombia, South America, where he devoted the rest of his strength to various forms of ministry.
In Colombia, St. Ezekiel became an important figure in the restoration of the Recollect Province of La Candelaria. He was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Casanare and, in 1899, became Bishop of Pasto.
His years as a bishop were far from easy. He ministered during a time of cruel civil war, growing anticlericalism, and persecution of the Church. Yet, amid these difficulties, he remained steadfast. With his simple and open spirit, together with his courageous defense of the rights of the Church, he proved himself a faithful pastor who was deeply concerned for the welfare of the people entrusted to his care.
Stricken with cancer, St. Ezekiel returned to Spain at the insistence of his priests to receive treatment. He died in Monteagudo on August 19, 1906, at the age of 58.
He was beatified in 1975 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in the Dominican Republic in 1992, at the conclusion of the celebrations marking the Fifth Centenary of the Evangelization of Latin America.
St. Ezekiel Moreno reminds us that faithfulness is not measured by how easy our journey is, but by how faithfully we remain with God when the journey becomes difficult. His life teaches us to serve with humility, defend what is right with courage, and care for others with a heart devoted to God.