Background
Zarama, Luis Rafael was born on November 28, 1958 in Pasto, Colombia. Arrived in United States of America, 1991, naturalized, 2000.
Zarama, Luis Rafael was born on November 28, 1958 in Pasto, Colombia. Arrived in United States of America, 1991, naturalized, 2000.
Zarama attended the seminary of Pasto and the Universidad Mariana, where he studied philosophy and theology from 1982 to 1987. In the mid-1980s and while he attended seminary, Zarama also taught at high schools.
Early life and education
He began his studies in canon law at the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá in 1987, and earned his licentiate in 1991. Ordination and ministry
Emigrating to the United States in 1991, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Atlanta on November 27, 1993. Zarama then served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Atlanta until 1996.
From 1996 to 2006, he was administrator of Saint Helena Mission in Clayton and pastor of Saint Mark Parish in Clarkesville.
He became an American citizen on July 4, 2000. On becoming a United States citizen, Zarama is quoted by Rebecca Rakoczy in Catholic Online, stating:
I"m happy here, I choose to be here, and I feel like I"m part of the system as a citizen.
Within the Court of Appeals of the Ecclesiastical Province of Atlanta, he has been advocate (1993–1997) and defender of the bond (1997–present). Zarama was named assistant director of the Vocations Office in 2000 and vicar general in 2006.
In 2007, he was raised to the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness.
In addition to his duties as vicar general, he became judicial vicar in 2008 and serves as the Archbishop"s delegate to North Georgia"s Hispanic community. Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta
On July 27, 2009, Zarama was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, and Titular Bishop of Bararus by Pope Benedict XVI. He received his episcopal consecration on September 29, 2009 from Archbishop Wilton Gregory at the Cathedral of Christ the King.
He also has been a member of both the Committee for Continuing Education of Priests since 1996, and the Priest Personnel Board since 2004.