Very Rev. Fr. Justo Hurtado, O.S.B., Ph.D., S.T.L.
Executive Director, Diakonia Americas
Abbot Emeritus (2017–2026) | Spiritual Director for Clerical Formation
Father Justo intimately embodies the ancient Benedictine tradition of the "worker-priest", seamlessly blending a life of deep contemplation with hands-on, frontline service. Following a communal discernment process by our synod in early 2026, Father Justo stepped forward from his structural role as Abbot to fully dedicate his visionary leadership to the rapidly expanding, continental demands of Diakonia Americas.
Concurrently, he serves the wider Church as the Spiritual Director for Clerical Formation for the Old-Catholic Worldwide Communion (OCC) in the Americas, ensuring that the future priests of the Church remain anchored in rigorous ethics and deep monastic prayer.
A Ministry Rooted in the Dignity of Labor
Father Justo’s path to the priesthood was not carved out in a quiet cloister, but within the demanding realities of the secular workforce. Before answering the monastic call, he spent 20 years as a corporate executive specializing in organizational psychology, Human Resources, and business operations.
The most profound cornerstone of this era was his specialized work within the agricultural sector. Working directly alongside migrant farmworkers navigating complex labor systems and injury recovery, Father Justo learned firsthand the structural dynamics of large organizations and the profound human resilience that shapes working communities. Entering the Benedictine brotherhood in 2013 and raised to the priesthood in 2017, he now channels this unique cross-border, human-centric expertise into leading global humanitarian work.
Compassion Forged on the Front Lines
Holding advanced doctoral and theological degrees, Father Justo bridges the gap between clinical psychology and empathetic spiritual counseling. For over 12 years, he has stepped into hemispheric crises to offer trauma-sensitive accompaniment:
Youth Resilience: He has designed pioneering pastoral frameworks for children and adolescents navigating systemic trauma, border-region displacement, and marginalization, serving as a trusted, safe adult for uprooted youth.
Institutional Transformation: Father Justo advises international youth care facilities, replacing punitive systems with trauma-informed, evidence-based care models that protect vulnerable youth from re-traumatization.
Living the Journey: This ministry is deeply personal. Living with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Father Justo brings a first-hand understanding of the patience, resilience, and inner grounding required to navigate a life-altering neurological condition.
Restoring the Divine Rhythm
For Father Justo, trauma-informed care is a sacred return to human wholeness. Fusing advanced pastoral psychology with an unshakeable reverence for indigenous wisdom, he honors the absolute interconnectedness of all life.
Under his guidance, Diakonia Americas' regional hubs and digital sanctuaries operate as unconditionally inclusive safe spaces where individuals navigating life's heaviest transitions can safely dismantle fear and restore divine balance.
"To live a life of true harmony, we must nurture the whole person. We cannot separate the health of the mind from the holiness of the spirit. When our minds are clear, our bodies are sustained, and our iwigá—our sacred breath—is at peace, we naturally align ourselves with the divine rhythm of the Creator." — Father Justo