Joy and comradery permeated the upper floor of the Cathedral Conference Center May 4 as the Annual Retired Priests Luncheon honored 58 priests for years of faithful service to the people of the church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Hosted by Cardinal Roger Mahony, the event drew new and veteran retirees, many of whom continue to serve in a myriad of capacities due to the ongoing priest shortage. In his invocation before lunch, San Gabriel Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala acknowledged the many contributions of the retirees, thanking them for their generosity and asking God to bless them "in a special way."

Recently returned from a five-month trip to his native Spain, Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Fernando Iglesias, who retired last July as pastor of St. Mariana de Pareses Church in Pico Rivera, is pastor emeritus of the parish and continues ministering by saying Sunday Mass as needed at churches such as St. Patrick's in the fast-growing Moreno Valley. Fellow retiree and friend, Father Diosdado Martin, pastor emeritus at Assumption Church in Los Angeles, also keeps busy presiding at daily and Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in East L.A.

"I see people coming more and more and wanting to be helped by priests," said Father Martin, who added that he's optimistic about the future of the church.

Still driving and active at 87, Msgr. John Fosselman, in residence at Nazareth Retirement Home for priests, helps out as needed at St. Raymond Church in Downey. He drove two of his fellow priests to the luncheon and expressed enthusiasm for changes in the church since Vatican II resulting in increased participation by the laity.

Also confident about the church's future was Father Gil Romero, former head of the archdiocesan ecumenical ministry, who retired five years ago after suffering a stroke. Having progressed in his recovery from "wheelchair to walker to cane," Father Romero credits "the prayers of family and friends and the grace of the Lord that brought me through."

Father Romero currently helps out saying Sunday Mass as needed in San Pedro Region churches. He said he has hope for the church, which he sees as returning to the early church's covenant model with a more horizontal, as opposed to vertical, type of structure. "People are taking more responsibility," said Father Romero.

"I think the future of the church is going to be fantastic," said Father Tom Acton, former pastor of Maria Regina Church in Gardena who's coming up on his first anniversary in retirement. He helps out at the parish saying Masses on weekdays and weekends and also does chaplain work at a West L.A. hospital.

"The people that make up the church are the strength of the church," declared Father Acton.