Lavergne Seraballs, Fr. Carlos J.

Father Carlos J. Lavergne Seraballs, SJ, died Oct. 11, 2020, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was 90 years old, a Jesuit for 69 years and a priest for 55 years.

Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 22, 1929, to H. Carlos and Carmen Seraballs de Lavergne. He was baptized in the historic church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar at Plaza de Río Piedras.

After high school he studied at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. On Jan. 24, 1951, he entered the Society at Noviciado San Estanislao de Kostka in Havana, Cuba, pronouncing his first vows on Jan. 25, 1953. After Juniorate, he studied philosophy and science at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. (1956-59), and then taught chemistry, science and religion for three years at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in San Juan.

He studied theology at Woodstock College in Woodstock, Md. from 1962 to 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1965 in the Cathedral of San Juan. He pronounced final vows Feb. 2, 1970, in Río Piedras.

From 1966 until 1976, Fr. Lavergne served at the Centro Universitario Católico in Río Piedras, doing campus ministry. From 1976 to 1982, he was pastor of San Ignacio de Loyola Parish in San Juan. As minister of the community of Colegio San Ignacio, Carlos was most attentive to the needs of the community. From 1994 until 2000, he was the treasurer of the Independent Region of Puerto Rico and then assistant to the treasurer.

In 2003, he had a sabbatical in Brazil, where he participated in a theological-spiritual renewal program for Jesuits from Latin America. While in Brazil, he also served among the poor. He spent a year in the Novitiate in Caimito and most recently was an assistant at San Ignacio de Loyola Parish in San Juan.

In all his various assignments, Carlos was known to be a very hard worker, whether that entailed preparing class, keeping accounts, maintaining buildings, attentively listening to students who sought his counsel, or preparing homilies and celebrating the liturgy. He was dedicated and generous in serving his brothers in community and in preaching the Gospel to God´s people.

A Funeral Mass was held on Wed., Oct. 14, 2020, at the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola in San Juan.

We remember with gratitude all that God has done through Fr. Lavergne’s life of service to God and God’s people.

Memorial gifts may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or through this website.