Father Uriel was born in Páez, Boyacá, Colombia, the youngest of 14 children, where he lived until finishing high school. He did seminary training with the Roman Catholic Church in Colombia, Mexico and Chicago. 

He left Colombia in 1993 to continue his formation in the seminary with the Missionaries of San Carlos - Scalabrinianos, whose ministry is to work with migrants and refugees around the world. He lived in Michoacán, Mexico for more than a year and came to Chicago to study English as a second language and theology. 

Uriel was ordained a priest and graduated with a Master of Divinity and a Master's Degree in Christian Spirituality from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 2000. He did parish ministry with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford, Illinois, in the suburbs of Chicago. He was an associate pastor and pastor for 9 years before the transition to the Episcopal Church in 2011.

Father Uriel has extensive experience in bilingual parish settings, dealing with English and Spanish groups in the community. He is a passionate preacher and a motivational speaker. He loves spiritual direction and to direct spiritual retreats for individuals and couples. He was received as a priest of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and served as rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Elgin, Illinois for four years. He has done a multicultural parish ministry in many different churches and diocesan programs. 

Father Uriel was called to lead the creation of a new Hispanic / Latino mission in West Houston, and is now the vicar of his new church: the Episcopal Church of San Romero. He is married to María Luisa Mateus Cuesta, and they have two children: Meiby Yeritza and Carlos Uriel