Fr. Jonathan Raia was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He came to know Jesus Christ through his parents' faith, and he grew in relationship with the Lord through Catholic school and various opportunities for service and leadership. He was also inspired by the example of holiness he witnessed in the priests at his parish and began to consider the priesthood as a young boy.
His four years as a student at the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a B.A. in Plan II (Liberal Arts) and Spanish in 2002, were pivotal for his faith because of the friends he made at the University Catholic Center. The call to the priesthood grew stronger during his years at the UCC, and he entered seminary for the Diocese of Austin upon graduation. He was ordained a priest in 2009 and served for four years as parochial vicar at St. William Parish in Round Rock, then for a year as parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M University, before beginning as Vocation Director for the Diocese of Austin in July 2014. Six years later, he was named Chaplain/Director of the University Catholic Center.
Fr. Jonathan holds a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University, where he also received training in spiritual direction, a ministry that has been an important part of his priesthood. Ministry to college students has been a consistent source of joy for him, and he considers it an honor to return to his alma mater and to take on the mission of bringing Christ to the students of UT.