The Very Reverend Father Lorenzo Hatch was born in June of 1984 in Borger, Texas and raised in Dumas, Texas graduating from high school in 2002. He was raised a very devout southern baptist but in 2001 he converted to Catholicism. Fr. Hatch comes from a “musical family,” himself being able to play many instruments including piano and organ and enjoys singing. He also grew up in a police family with both his parents being peace officers and later his brother becoming a Texas State Trooper.
Following graduation from high school, he attended Amarillo College studying Paramedicine. In 2004, he moved to San Angelo to join his family and began working at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart playing piano for the Spanish liturgies. Fr. Hatch began the process to enter the Diocese of San Angelo and was accepted and began seminary formation August of 2005.
Fr. Hatch attended Conception Seminary College located in the Northwest corner of Missouri and graduated in 2008 earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
Following graduation, Fr. Hatch was sent to Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas and began graduate studies in Theology at Oblate School of Theology. In May of 2013, he graduated from OST earning a Master of Divinity, a Master of Arts in Theology, and a Pontifical Degree with honors (Summa Cum Laude) from the Pontifical University of St. Paul, Ottawa Canada with the Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology. His concentration are in the fields of Liturgy, Canon Law, and Marriage / Family Counseling.
Fr. Hatch serves the Diocese of San Angelo in the following capacities: Rector of Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart, member of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, board member of the Southwest Liturgical Conference, member of the diocesan liturgical commission, member of the diocesan vocations board, and a Master of Ceremony for episcopal liturgies.
Fr. Hatch also enjoys serving as the only active priest/paramedic in the United States. He serves the communities of Pecos County and Comal County. He holds the following certifications in EMS:
National Registered Paramedic
Licensed Texas Paramedic
Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support
Fr. Hatch has had the distinct privilege and honor of serving as a chaplain for the San Angelo Police Department since August 31, 2015.
On October 27th, 2019, Fr. Hatch was Knighted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the annual meeting of the Southwest Lieutenancy. Fr. Hatch has enjoyed the honor of pilgrimaging to the Holy Land 10 times and enjoys great friendships that have been forged over the many years with men and woman from different religious backgrounds that he has come to know since his first encounter.