Ministry Monday’s Story Series continues with Rodolfo López and Estela García-López, a husband and wife duo who serve in music ministry in the pacific northwest and are two of NPM’s Pastoral Musicians of the Year. Rudy López and Estela García-López are pastoral musicians, composers, and event presenters originally from Los Angeles, California, and from Portland, Oregon, for the last twenty-six years. They have been committed to enriching the liturgy -- in both English and Spanish--through music. They have served as music directors, cantors, choristers, and instrumentalists in parishes throughout Southern California and Portland, Oregon, for over four decades. Today I sit with Rudy and Stella and discuss their pastoral music journey with its joys, challenges, and many blessings.

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Bio: Rodolfo López and Estela García-López

Rudy López and Estela García-López are pastoral musicians, composers, and event presenters originally from Los Angeles, California, and from Portland, Oregon, for the last twenty-six years. They have been committed to enriching the liturgy–in both English and Spanish--through music. They have served as music directors, cantors, choristers, and instrumentalists in parishes throughout Southern California and Portland, Oregon, for over four decades.

Estela earned a bachelor’s degree in music with an emphasis in voice from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). Her voice is heard on many of the Flor y Canto recordings.

Rudy, an accomplished guitarist, composer, producer, and arranger, is also a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), where he studied music composition.

Rudy and Estela have published two collections with Oregon Catholic Press (OCP), Brille Tu Luz and Cristo No Tiene Pies en el Mundo. They also collaborated on Misa Santa Cecilia/Mass of Saint Cecilia, the popular bilingual Mass setting used by multicultural parishes around the United States and featured in Flor y Canto. They have contributed music for many compilations. They currently have more than ninety pieces published through OCP.

Rudy and Estela have had the privilege to work with many composers, artists, and music ministers at OCP and have been integral to the development of the Flor y Canto brand, a flagship product for OCP’s outreach to the Hispanic Community.

Rudy has produced more than 150 recordings for OCP, including music from Flor y Canto (various artists), Vive Tu Fe (various artists), Grita de Alegría (Carlos Rosas), Día de Fiesta (Alberto Taulé), and Pueblo de Dios (Eleazar Cortés), among others.

Rudy has also been instrumental in the development of the Instituto OCP formational program model since 2008. The program continues to be successful to this day.

Estela has been instrumental in the development of new music for OCP, working closely with composers to create music to serve the musical expression of the Church. Estela has spearheaded the Music Suggestions portion of the Spanish liturgy planner, Liturgia y Canción, making it easier for music ministers to plan music for their liturgies.

Rudy and Estela have a strong desire to change the world through music, whether by directing a choir, developing young ministers, producing music, or leading workshops across the country. What drives them in their desire to serve is that they are disciples first. They have dedicated their lives to developing music ministers of all ages, especially the younger generations. Many young ministers have begun their journey in their children’s choirs and have gone on to become life-long music ministers.

Some of the highlights of their careers include:

· Rudy and Estela were commissioned to compose the theme song for the 2018 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, “Rise Up!/Levántate.”

· They have been featured artists and presenters at national and international conferences and events, including the LAREC, NPM, SWLC, HPMC and many archdiocesan events in the United States.

· They are currently the 2025/2026 composers–in–residence for El Coro Latinoamericano at Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis, Indiana.

· They were part of El Coro de la Ciudad de Los Angeles, which sang for the 1993 World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado, under the direction of Steve Grundy. As members of El Coro de la Ciudad de Los Angeles, they sang in recordings for OCP, including Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo (Bob Hurd and Jaime Cortez), Somos la Iglesia (Eleazar Cortés), and Cantaré Eternamente (various artists).

· They have had the honor of leading Spanish choirs from the Archdiocese of Seattle for their Misa de las Americas (Virgen de Guadalupe celebration) at St. James Cathedral for the past fifteen years, which includes over 120 volunteer musicians.

· They lead an all-community choir from neighboring parishes in the Portland area, which performs for The Christmas Festival of Lights and Music at the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, The Grotto in Portland, Oregon.

They are mission driven and are members of the leadership team of a local non-profit organization, Divino Salvador, that focuses on works of charity and includes a yearly mission trip to El Salvador. Through this organization, Estela leads a Prison Ministry team that ministers to the imprisoned. Estela says, “When we visit the inmates, they are always so happy to see us and so eager to sing and learn about their faith.”

Rudy and Estela’s biggest accomplishments are their children, Rodolfo David and Angelina. Both children are a part of their music ministry and often travel with them to their events. Estela says, “Seeing them blossom into young disciples and develop their gifts in music is all we can ask for.”