Father James Forsen, the director of the archdiocesan Office of Vocations, is celebrating his silver jubilee of priesthood in 2004.

A native of Mission Hills, Father Forsen attended St. Ferdinand School, San Fernando; Queen of Angels High School Seminary, Mission Hills; and St. John's seminary College and Theologate. He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Timothy Manning in June, 1979.

As an associate pastor, Father Forsen served at St. Mark, Venice; St. Joan of Arc, West Los Angeles; and Our Lady of Lourdes, East L.A. In 1990 he was named pastor of St. John the Baptist, Baldwin Park, serving for 12 years. He then took a year's sabbatical at Louvain University, Belgium, and the Washington (D.C.) Theological Union before assuming his current position July 1, 2003.