Torres was ordained on 5 June 1889 as a priest for the
Order of St Benedict. He made his solemn profession a few weeks later on 13 July 1889. He had a passion for missionary activity and helped to revitalise the
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey as a mission training centre. In 1898, he became rector of the
Santa Maria di Montesanto,
Naples. Here, he met
Rosendo Salvado, who chose him to be his successor as
Abbot of New Norcia in
Western Australia.
Abbot of New Norcia Torres left Naples for Australia on 12 March 1901 following the death of
Rosendo Salvado in 1900. He reached Fremantle on 9 April 1901 with eleven recruits for the Abbey. He was unanimously elected Abbot on 2 October 1902. He travelled to Rome to receive consecration in the
Sant'Ambrogio della Massima at the hands of
Cardinal Girolamo Maria Gotti. He returned to New Norcia in June 1903. As Abbot, he enlarged the monastery buildings using his own designs as an expert draughtsman. He designed and led the building of St Gertrude's College and St Ildephonsus’ College for Boys. He undertook several vast journeys through Western Australia, establishing missions in
Drysdale and
Napier. He also brought several religious orders to New Norcia. He commissioned Teresian Sisters from Spain for the Aboriginal Girls' Orphanage, invited
Sisters of St Joseph from Sydney to
Southern Cross, and then to run St Gertrude's College. He also enlisted
Marist Brothers for St Ildephonsus College, and
Presentation Sisters from
Geraldton for the
Goomalling convent. ==Episcopate==