A new chaplain has joined the community of the University of Dallas: Friar Mariano Veliz, O.P. Veliz is replacing the previous chaplain of the Church of the Incarnation, Fr. James Martin Nobles, who was reassigned over the summer to a parish in New Orleans.
Veliz is originally from California, born in Fresno and raised in Fireball (the same hometown as Josh Allen, the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills). Veliz studied with the Dominicans from 1995 to 2002 and completed his graduate studies at the Dominican School for Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA. After graduation, he quickly discerned a vocation as an itinerant preacher.
Veliz moved to Irving to join the Saint Albert the Great Priory for his novitiate. After more study in St. Louis, he moved to Houston for his ordination in 2015.
Since his ordination, he has served in four different parishes: Saint Dominic Church and Saint Anthony Padua Church in New Orleans, Holy Rosary Church in Houston and Holy Ghost Church in Hammond, LA.
Veliz is well traveled. While serving at the Holy Ghost Church, he traveled to Europe, the Holy Land, the Mediterranean and Turkey to preach about the Blessed Mother. He also notably was named the Promoter of the Dominican Laity for all the southern United States. He recently resigned from this post around June 2024 in order to serve at the Chapel of the Incarnation.
“I learned that I was coming here in late April, and it was unexpected but […] a welcome opportunity,” said Veliz.
One of the first to welcome Veliz was Deacon Ryan Sales, director of Campus Ministry.
“[He] has a huge heart and he really invests in learning about the people,” said Sales. “A lot of what he’s here for are those quiet, informal moments between him and students, where he has that opportunity to be that spiritual father.”
Sales said that Fr. Mariano is here to invest himself in the lives of the students, “in the hopes of helping them become saints.”
As chaplain, Veliz’s foremost priority is overseeing liturgical life and the sacraments at UD. However, Sales is hopeful that Veliz will also partake in as much of UD life as he can, perhaps in events such as Groundhog or Charity Week.
Veliz has been quite involved in the campus community already. When speaking about his interactions with students on the Genesis Retreat, he said, “I got to connect with them [and] talk to them, and they got to know who I am. It was a good experience for us to get to know each other and to build that foundation moving forward.”
Veliz also wants to make himself available in his office and on campus, as well as going on retreats.
“I raised the time for confessions during the week because of demand,” he said. “Through the sacraments, we’re getting to know each other.”
The friar encourages everyone who wants to know him better to visit him in his office, which is on the second floor of SB Hall, or to get familiar with him through the sacraments.
“[The students] learn about me through the Mass and how I celebrate it,” he said.
A month into the semester, Veliz is still getting adjusted to his new life, just as the UD community is getting to know him. Both Sales and Veliz are looking forward to a fruitful liturgical year with Campus Ministries and at the Chapel of the Incarnation.