Msgr. Ivan M. Rovira: Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Msgr. Ivan M. Rovira

Ordained: 1971

  • 1972 St. Joseph’s, Elgin, IL (RCK)
  • 1973 St. Therese of Jesus, Aurora, IL (RCK)
  • 1974 Associate, Diocesan Office Spanish Speaking Apostolate, Aurora, IL (RCK); Centro Cristo Rey, Aurora, IL (RCK)
  • 1975-1977 On Duty Outside the Diocese (RCK)
  • 1978 Unknown
  • 1979-1982 St. Pius X, Weslaco, TX (BWN)
  • 1983-1989 Our Lady of Sorrows, McAllen, TX (BWN)
  • 1990-1991 On Assignment Outside the Diocese (BWN) – P.O. Box 5207, McAllen, TX 78507
  • 1992 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Brownsville, TX (BWN)
  • 1993-1995 St. Joseph, Edinburg, TX (BWN)
  • 1996 On Special or Diocesan Assignment (BWN) – P.O. Box 2279, Brownsville, TX 78522
  • 1996-2003 Diocesan Offices (BWN)(1996-2002 Director of Seminarians;
  • 1997-2002 Diocesan College of Consultors;
  • 1998-2002 Chaplain, Sierra Club International;
  • 1999 Bishop’s Administrative Assistant;
  • 1999-2000 Coordinator, Vocational Team;
  • 2000-2002 Evangelization Commission, Presbyteral Council;
  • 2001-2002 Diocesan Finance Council;
  • 2001-2003 Catholic Foundation of the Rio Grande Valley)
  • 1997 Holy Family, Brownsville, TX (BWN)
  • 2000-2002 San Juan Nursing Home, San Juan, TX (BWN)
  • 2002 The Saint Joseph and Saint Peter Seminary, Mission, TX (BWN)
  • 2004-2019 Unknown

Msgr. Ivan M. Rovira, a native of Cuba, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockford on May 30, 1971. On June 6, 1977, Msgr. Rovira was incardinated into the Diocese of Brownsville. Msgr. Rovira has been accused by at least four survivors of child sexual abuse. In 2002, Msgr. Rovira admitted he sexually abused one boy and was sent by the Brownsville diocese to a treatment center. The Brownsville diocese found the allegations to be credible and removed Msgr. Rovira from ministry. In response to his removal, Msgr. Rovira fled to Mexico. Msgr. Rovira continued to celebrate mass and worked as a professor at a Catholic university for the Diocese of Matamoros. In 2005, Msgr. Rovira allegedly resigned from his position at the Catholic university and no longer celebrates mass. In 2019, Msgr. Rovira was included in the Diocese of Brownville’s list of “Clergy with Credible Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.” Msgr. Rovira’s status as a priest, current whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.